1. PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE

2. WHAT IS PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE?  According to Phillip Kotler: PLC is an attempt to recognise distinct stages in the sales history of the product.  According to Arch Patton: PLC has many points of similarity with the human life cycle; the product is born, grows lustily, attains dynamic maturity then enters its declining year.

3. WHAT IS PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE ?  It describes the stages a new product goes through from beginning to end.  It is a tool used by marketing professionals to understand the market and plan the marketing mix.  The life cycle concept may apply to a brand or to a category of product. Its duration may be as short as a few months for a fad item or a century or more for product categories such as the gasoline-powered automobile.

5. PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE STAGES 4 STAGES : 1. Introduction stage 2. Growth stage 3. Maturity stage 4. Decline stage

11. CHARACTERISTICS STAGES INTRODUCTION GROWTH MATURITY DECLINE 1. Sales lowRapidly increasing at peak declining 2. CostsHigh cost per customer Average cost per customer Low cost per customer 3. ProfitsnegativeMore profitHigh profitDeclining profit 4. CustomerinnovatorsEarly adoptersEarly majority+ late majority laggards 5. CompetitorfewMore in number Stable number, beginning to decline Declining numbers OBJECTIVES Create product awareness & trial Maximize market share Maximize profits & defend market share Reduce expenses

12. STRATEGIES STAGESINTRODUCTION GROWTH MATURITY DECLINE 1.ProductOffer basic product Offer product extension, service, warranty Diversify brands/ models Phase out weak products 2.PriceChange cost plus Price to penetrate market Price to match better competition Cut price 3.DistributionSelectiveintensiveMore intensiveSelective phase out of unprofitable unit 4.AdvertisingBuild product awareness among early adopters & dealers Build awareness & interest in mass market Stress on brand difference & benefits Reduce to hardcore loyals 5. Sales promotion Heavy to induce trial Reduce due to increased demand More to encourage brand switching Reduce to minimum level

13. PLC PATTERNS

14. Style, Fashion, and Fad Life Cycles

15. LIMITATIONS OF PLC  Unreliability  False assumptions  Changing customer needs  Increase complexity between phases  Inefficient when dealing with brands or services  Too much emphasis on new development of product  Not every product goes through every stage  The length of time a product spends in any one stage may vary  Some products may move through the entire cycle in weeks  Repositioning of a product can lead to a new life cycle