Additional information
by Acnielsen (Author), John Karolefski (With), Al Heller (Author)
In some parts of the world, especially in developing markets, category management today remains a stretch goal - a new idea full of untapped potential. In other areas, the original eight-step process that emerged in the late 1980's forms the foundation of many companies' approach to category management. In still others, particularly in developed countries like the U.S., the U.K., and others, refinements are being made - most of them designed to place consumer understanding front and center.
New ideas are emerging - from "trip management" to "aisle management" to "customer management." Whether a new descriptor emerges to replace "category management" is yet to be seen. Even if that does happen, what won't change is the overall objective - to help retailers and their manufacturer partners succeed by offering the right selection of products that are marketed and merchandised based on a complete understanding of the consumers they are committed to serving.
This book, which explores both the state of and the state-of-the-art in category management, is for everyone with a vested interest in category management. It can serve such a broad audience because category management is about bringing a structured process to how executives think and make decisions about their businesses, no matter what information and information technology they have access to.
Front Jacket
In recent years, new technologies, new approaches, and new research have significantly al-tered the category management landscape.
In addition to a comprehensive review of the discipline, Consumer-Centric Category Management offers guidance in the form of real success stories from top brands like General Mills, Chiquita, Hershey, and Hewlett-Packard. You'll learn how they use category management to succeed and how you can apply their success to your own efforts.
Arguing that category managerstoo often neglect the most important part of the equation--the consumer--this indispensable guide helps marketers keep up with the evolution of category management without abandoning the proven basics. Marketers who want to win in today's cutthroat marketplace should start here.
Back Jacket
New Strategies and Cutting-Edge Practices in Category Management
When category management first appeared, it turned marketing basics into an organized eight-step process that helped retailers and manufacturers sell products more efficiently and effectively. But over the years, many marketers--obsessed with the bottom line--have forgotten that the key to sales success lies in knowing the consumer. This book demonstrates how today's leading category management practitioners put the consumer first. The book also applies powerful new insights to category management basics.
From initial planning to pricing, promotion, and supply chain management, every aspect of category management is covered, including guidance on how to implement category plans effectively and keep them on track. Plus, the classic eight-step process that forms the foundation of successful category management is reviewed in detail, showing marketers the latest methods of implementation for today's consumer marketplace.
Author Biography
ACNielsen, a VNU business, is the world's leading marketing information provider. Offering services in more than 100 coun-tries, the unit provides measurement and analysis of marketplace dynamics and consumer attitudes and behavior.
JOHN KAROLESKI is Editor of an e-magazine called CPGmatters.com. It covers in-store marketing and category management. He is the coauthor of two books, Target 2000: The Rising Tide of TechnoMarketing and All About Sampling. He was formerly senior editor of Supermarket News and editor in chief of Brand Marketing.
AL HELLER, President of Dis-tinct Communications, LLC, is the author of numerous consumer packaged goods industry studies and three books. He was formerly editor in chief of Nonfoods Merchandising and Supermarket HQ Quarterly, and executive editor of Drug Store News.
