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1.0
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The scope of the research is limited as outside the model competitors strategy does affect
DrinkMes sales and omitting them from the analysis would result in a different
conclusion. Whether the data collected represents the whole population is another
question that needs to be taken into account. Besides that, the research would assist the
marketing director in making the ultimate decisions regarding the selection between price
reductions and advertising promotions.
2.0 INTRODUCTION
This research is conducted to gain an insight into the effectiveness of a Temporary Price
Reduction (TPRs) activity and an Advertising Campaign (media spend) for the DrinkMe
brand in Queensland. The research will be able to prove whether a TPR or an increase in
media spent would be more effective.
Objectives
To measure the effects of a media campaign worth $100,000 spread evenly over
10 weeks on DrinkMes sales volume and sales value
Data have been extracted from Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) database dated 1st
September 2002 to 26th June 2005. The data includes DrinkMe and its competitors
weekly sales volume, weekly sales value, weekly distribution, weekly media spent and
the average temperature in Queensland.
For the purpose of the research, the data that has been collected is time series data as it
has been collected over a period of time. The measurement of the variables falls into the
category of ratio as the variables are conceptually quantitative measurement. The
numbers of units sold which in this case, volume, the dollar value of sales which in this
case value, are all conceptually quantified. The methodology that has been used is linear
regression. Multiple regressions have been used to find out the relationship between the
independent variables with the dependent variable which is volume in this case. The
affect of changes in 1 unit of independent variable on the dependent variable can be
determined from the regression summary output and in this case it is very important to
know this relationship as the ultimate objective is to find the effects of sales volume and
value due to the promotion of a $1 reduction in the price and the media campaign.
Moreover, as non normality of residuals, heteroscedasticity and serial correlation can
affect the explanation of the dependent variable accurately, Jarque-Bera test, White Test
and Durbin-Watson Tests are also done.
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
A descriptive statistics was conducted and the following data was obtained. DrinkMes
sales volume shows an average of 14.35 tonnes while its competitors sales volume
shows an average of 0.36 tonnes..
DrinkMes sales value shows an average or mean of 131.11 ($000) while its competitors
sales value shows a mean of 3.38 ($000) DrinkMes sales value shows a standard error
2.2893 and its competitors sales value has a standard error of 0.0817.
DrinkMes media spending has a mean of 2.2043 ($000) while its competitors media
spending has a mean of 0.1421 ($000). DrinkMes media spending has a standard error
of 0.3162 and its competitors media spending has a standard error of 0.0695.
DrinkMes average price has a mean of 9.1644 ($000) while its competitors average
price has mean of 9.3959 ($000). DrinkMes average price has a standard error of 0.0274
and its competitors average price has a mean of 0.0394.
DrinkMes Adstock has a mean of 4.3106 ($000) while its competitors Adstock has a
mean of 0.2841 ($000). DrinkMes Adstock has a standard error of 0.5173 and its
competitors Adstock has a standard error of 0.0958.
The average temperature in Queensland has a mean of 24.4179 degrees Celsius and has a
standard error of 0.3272. The maximum average temperature in Queensland was 30.4973
degrees Celsius while the minimum was 14.8676 degrees Celsius.
These averages will later be used in testing the effects of price reductions and media
spending.
3.2
Graph 2:
DRINKME Volume VS Average Temperature
Based on Graph 2, the temperature has a negative effect on sales, thus when temperature
increases, sales drop and vice versa. This relationship is also explained by the scatter plot
which is in Graph 3. The scatter plot shows that Drink Me volume has a negative
relationship with temperature.
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Using the assumption, a regression model has been made to test the variables and to
obtain a linear regression line.
Regression Statistics
Multiple R
R Square
Adjusted R Square
Standard Error
Observations
Intercept
DRINKME AVEP
ADVERTISING
COMP AVEP
COMP_QLD_DIST
COMP
ADVERTISING
AVETEMP_QLD
0.917327265
0.84148931
0.834744175
1.307455676
148
Coefficients
61.96243134
-3.866274167
0.075013926
-0.054796191
0.069203934
Standard
Error
4.621776157
0.330496193
0.021237149
0.238855478
0.085094437
t Stat
13.4066275
-11.69839245
3.532203206
-0.229411492
0.813260374
P-value
6.11421E-27
1.61554E-22
0.000557438
0.81888155
0.417439939
0.140780109
-0.580864368
0.103847518
0.035845385
1.355642497
-16.2047182
0.17738033
5.23847E-34
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Graph 8: Histogram
Although there are a few outliers in the histogram data, these outliers are usually omitted,
thus making the histogram normally distributed. Using the Jarque-Bera test to double
check on normality, the answer backs up the histogram as it is more than 0.05 which
means we cannot reject the null hypothesis, thus making it normally distributed.
In order to test for Heteroscedasticity and Serial Correlation, a graph was constructed
from the residuals in the regression.
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Graph 9: Heteroscedasticity
From the Graph 9, homoscedasticity can be seen instead of heteroscedasticity or a serial
correlation. Thus, two further tests have been conducted to test for heteroscedasticity and
serial correlation. For testing heteroscedasticity, a white test had been used, and the result
of the test too proved that there is no heteroscedasticity. For serial correlation on the other
hand, Durbin-Watson test had been used, and the result shows that there are no serial
correlation.
After deleting the 3 variables, only 3 variables are left. Redoing the regression with the
remaining variables (temperature, DrinkMe price and DrinkMe ad stock), the adjusted R 2
is 0.838633657 as shown in table 2.
Regression Statistics
Multiple R
R Square
Adjusted R Square
Standard Error
Observations
Intercept
DRINKME AVEP
ADVERTISING
AVETEMP_QLD
0.915769435
0.838633658
0.835271859
1.305366564
148
Coefficients
63.46456658
-3.775534315
0.063328017
-0.605418237
Standard
Error
3.031207128
0.323850659
0.019739416
0.03121047
t Stat
20.93706035
-11.65825731
3.208201203
-19.39792144
P-value
1.55237E-45
1.55599E-22
0.001646425
5.30031E-42
This indicates that the postulated regression model explains 83.86% of the total variation
of the sample observations of the dependent variable. This shows that the three variables
that had been removed do not give a big impact to Drink Me sales volume. From the
regression model, price and temperature is negatively correlated, if there is a drop in price
or temperature by 1, the effect of Drink Me sales volume would increase by 0.6 tonnes
from temperature and 3.78 tonnes from price. Advertising on the other hand, has a
positive correlation between Drink Me sales volume and Ad Stock (the effect of media
spent). If there is an increase in ad stock by 1, there would be an increase in Drink Me
sales volume by 0.063 tonnes. Therefore it explains that if introducing the TPR DrinkMe
can increase their sales and by increasing advertising they can also boost their sales. As
explained earlier that by removing the 3 variables, the R square is still strong it can be
said that the competitors media strategy doesnt affect DrinkMes sales volume that
much. Same concept can be applied for other competitors variables.
By removing the 3 data, a histogram has been drawn to see whether the assumptions of
normal distribution still holds. From Graph 10, it can be seen that the residuals are still
normally distributed. A Jarque-Bera test has been done again and this time, the results
also indicates that the normal distribution still prevails. The summery Jarque-Bera test
has been included in the appendix.
14
15
Once again the plot shows that there is no heteroscedasticity or serial correlation. To
further check for heteroscedasticity a white test has been done which agrees that there is
no heteroscedasticity. For serial correlation, Durbin-Watson test has been which also
concludes that there is no serial correlation.
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5.0
Now that the final 3 variables that have a direct impact on Drink Me Sales Volume have
been identified, GoodsCo can look at how these variables effect sales volume. The first
variable under analysis is the average price.
0.00
9.16
4.31
24.25
14.45
132.46
1.00
8.16
4.31
24.25
18.23
148.83
16,371.6
0
17
PRICE REDUCTION
AVEP
ADSTOCK
AVETEMP
VOLUME
VALUE
MARGINAL
DIFFERENCE
0.00
9.16
4.31
24.25
14.45
132.46
1.00
8.16
4.31
24.25
18.23
148.83
2.00
7.16
4.31
24.25
22.00
157.65
2.67
6.49
4.31
24.25
24.53
159.34
3.00
6.16
4.31
24.25
25.78
158.92
5.00
4.16
4.31
24.25
33.33
138.81
6.00
3.16
4.31
24.25
37.11
117.42
16.37
25.19
26.46
6.35
(15.04)
16371.60
25192.13
26.88
26877.4
4
26461.59
6347.31
(15036.44)
18
19
By calculating the cost of the TPR activity (Expected Sales Volume * Price Reduction)
GoodsCo can also calculate the profitability of a price reduction.
Profit Margin % = [ Marginal Difference - Cost of TPR Activity ] / Marginal Difference
Graph 13 shows how the profitability of a TPR activity has a negative relationship with
price reduction. As price is reduced the profitability of the activity also reduces. This is
because while there is extra sales value created through TPR there is also additional cost.
Unfortunately the additional cost grows at an increasing rate when compared to the
growth in sales value.
Thus the break even point of a TPR activity is at around a price reduction of $ 0.70. Thus,
a marketing director who wishes to carry a TPR promotion has to be very cautious. The
first question to be answered is the objective of carrying out a TPR promotion. If the
objective is to increase company profitability then the marketing director should have a
price reduction of about $ 0.20. However, if the objective of the TPR activity is to
reposition the company as a price competitive company then the marketing director has
to decide the trade off he or she is willing to make in the repositioning activity. Every
increase in price reduction will bleed the company of profits.
20
6.0
To analyze the effects of a media campaign worth $ 100,000 allowance has to be made to
examine the residual effects on AdStock. A 10 week media campaign would require the
analysis to be made over an additional 10 weeks to account for the residuals effects of
AdStock.
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Media
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
100
Adstock
10
15
17.5
18.75
19.38
19.69
19.84
19.92
19.96
19.98
9.99
5.00
2.50
1.25
0.62
0.31
0.16
0.08
0.04
0.02
Avep
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
9.16
AveTemp
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
24.25
Sales Vol
14.81
15.13
15.29
15.37
15.41
15.43
15.44
15.44
15.44
15.45
14.81
14.50
14.34
14.26
14.22
14.20
14.19
14.19
14.18
14.18
Vol
Base Case
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
14.18
MD Vol
0.63
0.95
1.11
1.19
1.23
1.25
1.26
1.26
1.26
1.27
0.63
0.32
0.16
0.08
0.04
0.02
0.01
0.00
0.00
0.00
MD Value
(000)
5.80
8.71
10.16
10.88
11.24
11.43
11.52
11.56
11.58
11.60
5.80
2.90
1.45
0.72
0.36
0.18
0.09
0.05
0.02
0.01
116.06
MD Value
($)
5803.66
8705.49
10156.40
10881.86
11244.59
11425.96
11516.64
11561.98
11584.65
11595.98
5797.99
2899.00
1449.50
724.75
362.37
181.19
90.59
45.30
22.65
11.32
116061.87
21
Without Media
Campaign
100
2715.20
2615.20
0
2599.14
2599.14
96.31702806
100
22
By taking the total marginal difference in sales value and subtracting the cost of the
media campaign we can calculate the profitability the extra sales generated by the media
campaign. This would be the profitability of each extra dollar earned by the media
campaign.
Profitability % = [ Total Marginal Difference Cost of Campaign ] / Marginal
Difference
A media campaign spread evenly over 10 weeks results in a profit of 13.84% after taking
into account the residual effects of Ad stock.
23
Activity
TPR
Advertising
Marginal
Difference
3895.59
116061.87
Cost of
Activity
3042.11
100000.00
Profit
($)
853.47
16061.87
Profit Margin
(%)
21.91
13.84
Marginal
Difference
3895.59
116061.87
119957.46
Cost of
Activity
3042.11
100000.00
103042.11
Profit
853.47
16061.87
16915.34
Profit
Margin
21.91
13.84
14.10112
25
growing franchises in the world today and it owes its success to the niche position it has
acquired for itself.
These are the reasons why Goods Co should adopt advertising instead of price
promotions. Focus should be on long term returns not short term profitability.
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8.0
CONCLUSION
In conclusion it has been seen how out of all the variables in the model, only three
variables stand out. Drink Mes average price, their advertising and the average
temperature turned out to be the major factors in determining the sales of DrinkMe.
Therefore it made sense on how to alter the price and the advertising of DrinkMe can
actually result in a boost in their sales.
However like every other model there are also limitations in this model. Firstly even
though the regression output has revealed that competitors activity does not affect
DrinkMes sale but in reality the promotion of the competitors as well as their price place
an important part in determining the sales volume of DrinkMe. Secondly it is also a
matter of question whether the data that has been used actually represents the whole
population. Such as only extracting data from EPOS of Woolworths and Coles
supermarket can only provide half of the picture. People who do not shop in these
markets will be left out. Another limitation could be that for media campaign, sales have
been forecasted for 20 weeks. In 20 weeks, competitors might come up with more
desirable drink in which case it would actually affect the sales volumes of DrinkMe.
Therefore all these should be taken into account before going ahead with TPR and media
campaign.
For future research, it would be advisable if panel data as well as qualitative data can be
collected instead of time series. Qualitative data would give more insight on the behavior
of consumers both before and after the TPR and media campaign. Based on that, further
research can be done on how DrinkMe can have an edge over their competitors.
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