Market Segmenttion, Acorn System

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Market segmentation is the division of a market into different groups of customers with distinctly similar needs and product/service requirements. Or to put it another way, market segmentation is the division of a mass market into identifiable and distinct groups or segments, each of which have common characteristics and needs and display similar responses to marketing actions. Market segmentation was first defined as ‘a condition of growth when core markets have already been developed on a generalized basis to the point where additional promotional expenditures are yielding diminishing returns’ (Smith, 1956). The purpose of market segmentation is to leverage scarce resources; in other words, to ensure that the elements of the marketing mix, price, distribution, products and promotion, are designed to meet particular needs of different customer groups. Subsequently, a market can be divided into different segments using different marketing research techniques such as a priori segmentation, usage segmentation, attitudinal research, and needs based segmentation. These techniques can be used to develop different market segments using the ACORN (A Classification of Residential Neighborhoods) system which operates on the principle that people living in similar areas have the same needs and lifestyles, that is ‘birds of a feather flock together’. Firstly, most market research projects require respondents from a variety of different groups. For example, a study about a new MP3 player may require respondents from multiple age ranges and socioeconomic categories. Priori segmentation is based on the notion that there are certain stereotypes about different groups. In this instance, it can be assumed that teenagers and young adults are more likely to buy and use MP3 players than those people who are middle-aged. Likewise, individuals classified under wealthy achievers by the

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