3.4 Marketing

IV. Marketing

A. Market potential for goods to be handled or services to be provided
B. Markets to be served (current and future) and their attributes
C. Ease or limitations of entering the market
D. Marketing plan (strategies to be followed, associated costs, summary of key actions)
E. Overall assessment of the marketing situation and plan

Various components of the project's proposed marketing plan, whether for products to be marketed or goods to be sold, need to described and analyzed. The marketing environment should be fully described. The description should include how the product or products will be introduced and channeled into available markets. A description of potential customers, processors, handlers, etc. should also be provided.

Procurement and sales strategies for commodities or goods to be purchased and/or sold should be described. This section should address market demand implications, marketing costs, transportation issues, coordination with others in the market chain (e.g., brokers, venders, manufacturers, processors, pooling, etc.), the quality and form of the products to be marketed, and an overall strategic assessment of marketing the product or products. When applicable, information from market outlook reports (e.g., USDA and other government agencies) that provide forecasts on specific crops, products, and industries are helpful for providing a context for the marketing plan.

Relevant charts, graphs, and tables should be provided to present a clear picture of the marketing environment. If it's a value-added venture, the implications of marketing the resulting products should be defined. How those products fit into existing markets given competitors' similar products should be researched and reported. From the overall marketing analysis, an assessment of the feasibility of the proposed marketing plan should be included.