【正文】 Should you plan for exclusive, selective, or intensive distribution? What decisions must Sonic make to develop the five service outputs (lot size, waiting time, spatial convenience, product variety, and service back up) for Sonic 1000?Document your remendations about marketing channels and strategy in a written marketing plan or type the remendations into the Marketing Mix and Channels sections of Marketing Plan Pro.ASSIGNMENTSSmall Group Assignments1. The opening vignette of this chapter talks about Kmart’s decline into bankruptcy in January of 2002. The causes cited, in part, for the bankruptcy were poor locations, unfavorable image, and a poor replenishment system. In an outofclass assignment, students should visit local Kmart stores, to see if their impressions confirm that the firm is overing these difficulties or if problems remain. Student answers should be specific. Such as X item was advertised but was not in stock at the time of the store visit, store Y’s parking lot was not lighted well enough to convey a feeling of safety, etc. 2. The chapter refers to the firm SeaYu Enterprises Inc. as one firm taking a slow and steady approach to channel development for its pioneering product. Students should do research and find two or three other examples of startup firms, entrepreneurs, and others engaged in a onechannel distribution approach for its products. After pleting the research, students should ment on what they see as disadvantages or advantages such an approach offers the firms. Does such a strategy increase the “buzz” for the product (exclusivity) or does such a strategy ultimately frustrate consumers who try to find the product in their local retailers and cannot? Individual Assignments1. Today, some of the countries more successful panies are using a hybrid channel system to increase its effectiveness of reaching the consumer. The text uses the examples of IBM, Charles Schwab, and others and notes that channel integration and its features are what the consumer prefers. Students should choose or find one additional example of a firm using the hybrid system, and ment on how they see this system delivering value to the consumer. Student answers should be directed toward the three features of channel integration found in the textbook. 2. In the Marketing Insight article entitled, MCommerce Opens up New Opportunities For Marketers, the author, Douglas Lamont, talks about a new field called mmerce. Comment upon the stated advantages and disadvantages of mmerce or locationbased services for marketers. Specifically, knowing what you now know about consumer buying decisionmaking, will emerce have to change consumerbuying habits to be successful? Alternatively, will this field have to wait until today’s younger consumers grow older to bee another channel alternative for marketers? ThinkPairShare1. Read the Marketing Insight entitled, Burst of the DotCom Bubble, the author suggests that the “dots” failed for a variety of reasons. Comment on how this channel of distribution (the Internet) has been affected by these well publicized failures. Specifically, are consumers more adapt to shop online or “once burned,” are consumers turning to the more traditional channels of distribution for their shopping? Students should include in their answers data from the most recent holiday season to analyze consumerbuying trends. 2. Channel members add value to the consumer’s purchase of certain products and services. Table details key channel member functions. Yet some firms have abandoned channel partners and tried to reach the consumer on a onetoone basis. Selecting a product or firm that (a) is maintaining it channel members, and (b) a firm that has decided to sell directly to the consumer thus bypassing channel intermediaries. Comment on these two systems in terms of the information contained in the chapter. MARKETING TODAY—CLASS DISCUSSION TOPICSIn late 2003–early 2004, Levi Strauss and Company introduced a line of jeans specifically for the massmerchant stores, called Levi Strauss Signature?. In addition, Levi Strauss and Company introduced a new line of jeans called Type 1? to be sold in mid and hightier department and chain stores. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of channel partnerships, the importance of the marketing channel system, discuss the implications that this decision is to have on Levi’s more traditional (highend department stores) channel partners. Specifically, is Levi’s decision to move from selective distribution to an intensive distribution network, likely to produce increased channel conflict for Levi? If the answer is yes, what can Levi Strauss do to minimize such conflict? Speculate on why you think that Levi Strauss made such a decision? ENDOFCHAPTER SUPPORT MARKETING DEBATE—Does It Matter Where You Are Sold? Some marketers feel that the image of the particular channel in which they sell their products does not matter—all that matters is that the right customers shop there and the product is displayed in the right way. Others maintain that channel images—such as a retail store—can be critical and must be consistent with the image of the product. Take a position: Channel images do not really affect the brand images of the products they sell that much versus channel images must be consistent with the brand image. Pro: Buyers buy products or use services to meet a particular need or want. In the marketingdecision making process, a consumer has a preformed image of the product or service based upon the pany’s reputation or marketing messages. Therefore, where the consumer finally purchases the product is immaterial to the consumer, as long as, the product performs to expectations and that the process of purchasing the product is as simplified as possible. Strongly advertised products, or those products, with strong brand names will have consumers seeking out their