Marketing mix must focus on the product, pricing, promotion, and placement of item in order to make it successful. Marketing strategies must feature customer orientation, input, and accessibility in the fight to the top of the market. McDonald's is no different. An example of this is illustrated with a comparison of McDonalds and Wendy's. At first glance, they may appear to have roughly the same marketing mix and target markets. Both are fast food and provide similar products. However, looking closer, one can recognize that McDonald's primary target market is children ages 3-11 and their parents. McDonald's understood that the parent was making the purchasing decision, most likely based on price.
What McDonald's marketing executives did was ingenious. They put a $.50 toy in with the hamburger, french fries, and drink and gave it a special name, the "Happy Meal". Then McDonald's marketed the Happy Meal to the kids. If you have you ever asked your child where to buy a Happy Meal, they will tell you that there is only one place you can buy one, and that is at Fun McFactsWhen Was Your McDonald's
Favorite Introduced?
1955 - Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, shakes, soft drinks, coffee and milk
1963 -Filet-O-Fish
1968 -Big Mac and Hot Apple Pie
1973 -Quarter Pounder and Egg McMuffin
1974 -McDonaldland Cookies
1977 -Breakfast Menu
1978 -Sundaes
1979 -Happy Meals
1983 -Chicken McNuggets
1986 -Biscuit Sandwiches
1987 -Salads
1998 -McFlurry Desserts
1999 -Breakfast Bagels
2000 -Chicken McGrill and Crispy Chicken
2001 -Big N' Tasty
2003 -Premium Salads, Newman's Own® salad dressings and McGriddles
2004 -2004 Chicken Selects® Premium Breast Strips
McDonald's.
McDonald's has Ronald McDonald, playgrounds or PlayPlaces, "Happy Meals," and fun advertisements with brightly colored "Fry Guys" or the "Cheese Burgerler". Contrastingly, Wendy's targets a more adult market and the restaurants represent a more mature atmosphere with carpet floors and