The Photographic Market
Essay Preview: The Photographic Market
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First, the photographic market is kind of oligopoly. The industry is dominated by a small number of producers. According to Table A in the case, Kodak and Fuji together control a total number of 81% of the market shares in 1993 in the U.S. market. In the global market, they also dominate the worldwide sales (with Fujis $10 billion and Kodaks $20 billion sales amount).
Second, the market growth rate is relatively low. Over the past 5 years, the markets annual unit growth rate averaged is believed to be only 2%.
Third, four categories differentiated based on the pricing and ISO. The product are categorized due to different ISO, and there is corresponding difference price according to the quality of product.
Fourth, consumers usage is relative fixed with a means of 15 rolls per year (Exhibit 1). This market characteristic is also the reason why the Funtime will be available only in limited quantities by the way.
Fifth, actual quality differences among films were unclear. Consumers know little about photography. The Consumer Reports show a huge difference between the actual quality and the perceived quality among consumer, which indicate that the consumers need to be educated about the quality of the product.
Sixth, there is a growing body of price-sensitive consumers. Since the consumers are not clear about the quality of the product, they tend to be affected by the price more than the quality.
Trends
The macro market: Shrinking & low sales growth rate
As consumers relative fixed film usage and more and competitors like Fuji and Konicas competition, the markets annual unit growth rate averaged only 2% over the past five years. And its likely to be shrinking in the long round as the development of relative technology.
From the angle of product life cycle, the photo film is in the maturity stage now. This industry is going to decrease in the future.
If Kodak launches Funtime, they will take a place in the Economy Brands, which will help them regain the market share. But the launch will not boost the industry, or the market.
The micro market: market share will change depends on the strategy of companies
Kodak is losing its market share due to the increasing competitors in the film market and their lower price strategy.