Two Key GroupsAlthough sales promotion classified as business-to-business is used in many industries, these types of promotions are more limited than the consumer and trade sales type promotions. The business-to-business method is used for buyers in larger companies who make the purchasing decisions inside the company. The techniques commonly used in business-to-business sales promotion include price reductions, free products, trade-ins, and trade shows.
Sales promotions can be aimed at various people including the consumer, sales staff, or distribution channel members. According to Know This.com (2008) "Sales promotions targeted at the consumer are called consumer sales promotions. Sales promotions targeted at retailers are called trade sales promotions". Consumer and trade sales promotions are the two key groups.
Sales Promotion Aimed at ConsumersConsumer sales promotions are the most well-known methods of sales promotion. As discussed in Principles of Marketing, Consumers are exposed to sales promotions almost everyday and many of them are conditioned to look for these types of sales promotions before they make their purchase decisions (Know This.com, 2008). One common technique used is price-based consumer sales promotion. This technique uses temporary price reductions that persuade people to choose a certain product.
Price-based consumer sales promotions