In the world of small business operations, understanding and effectively managing market share is crucial. Market share refers to the percentage of the total sales in a specific market that a business holds. This term is often used to gauge the success of a business in comparison to its competitors.
Market share is a key indicator of market competitiveness—that is, how well a business is doing against its competitors. This can be measured in terms of revenue, but also in terms of units sold, and is often used in strategic decision making.
Understanding Market Share
Market share is a measure of the size of a company in relation to its market. It is calculated by taking the company's sales over a certain period and dividing it by the total sales of the industry over the same period. This metric is used to give a general idea of the size of a company to its market and its competitors.
Market share can be a reflection of a company's competitiveness, its customer loyalty, and its ability to grow in the market. A high market share indicates a dominant company that has a large portion of the market's consumers, while a low market share can indicate a smaller player or a new entrant to the market.
Importance of Market Share
Market share is important because it allows businesses to understand their market position relative to their competitors. A company that has a high market share is likely to be more stable because it is less reliant on the actions of its competitors and changes in the market.
Moreover, market share can be a valuable indicator of market growth. If a company's market share is increasing, it's a clear sign that the business is growing faster than its competitors. Conversely, a decreasing market share can indicate a need for strategic change.
Limitations of Market Share
While market share can provide valuable insights, it also has its limitations. For instance, a high market share does not necessarily mean high profitability. Some companies may intentionally accept a lower market share because they are focusing on serving a niche or premium segment of the market.
Furthermore, market share is just one aspect of a business's overall health. Other factors, such as profitability, revenue, and customer satisfaction, should also be considered. Therefore, while market share is an important metric, it should not be the sole indicator of a company's success.
Calculating Market Share
Market share is calculated by dividing a company's total sales by the industry's total sales. The result is then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage. This calculation can be done using either units sold or revenue.
For example, if a company sells 100 units in a year, and the total market sales in that year are 1,000 units, the company's market share would be 10%. Similarly, if a company's revenues are $1 million, and total market revenues are $10 million, the company's market share would be 10%.
Market Share by Units Sold
Calculating market share by units sold is a straightforward method that involves dividing the total units sold by a company by the total units sold in the market. This method is particularly useful for industries where units of goods are identical, such as the automotive industry.
However, this method can be less accurate in industries where products are not identical. For instance, in the fashion industry, a high-end designer brand may sell fewer units than a mass-market brand, but still generate more revenue.
Market Share by Revenue
Calculating market share by revenue involves dividing a company's total revenue by the total market revenue. This method is often used for industries where products are not identical and prices can vary widely, such as in the technology or fashion industries.
However, this method can be skewed by factors such as price changes and inflation. For instance, if a company increases its prices, its market share by revenue may increase, even if it is selling fewer units.
Strategies to Increase Market Share
There are several strategies that small businesses can employ to increase their market share. These include innovation, strengthening customer relationships, smart hiring practices, and strategic pricing.
However, it's important to note that increasing market share is not always the best strategy for every business. For some businesses, focusing on a niche market or maintaining a stable market share may be more beneficial.
Innovation
Innovation can be a powerful way to gain market share. By offering a product that is superior to those offered by competitors, a company can attract more customers and increase its market share. This can involve improving an existing product, introducing a new product, or even innovating in areas like customer service and marketing.
However, innovation is not without risks. It requires a significant investment of time and resources, and there is no guarantee that customers will embrace the new product or service.
Customer Relationships
Strong customer relationships can also help a company increase its market share. By understanding customer needs and meeting them, a company can build loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing, which can lead to increased sales.
Building strong customer relationships can involve a variety of strategies, including providing excellent customer service, creating a loyalty program, and regularly engaging with customers through social media and other channels.
Strategic Pricing
Strategic pricing can also be an effective way to increase market share. Depending on the market and the product, a company might choose to offer lower prices than its competitors, hoping to attract more customers and increase its market share.
However, this strategy can be risky. If a company lowers prices too much, it may not be able to cover its costs, and if it raises prices, it might lose customers to competitors.
Monitoring Market Share
Monitoring market share is an important part of managing a small business. By keeping track of changes in market share, a company can identify trends, monitor the effectiveness of its strategies, and make informed decisions about future strategies.
There are several ways to monitor market share. These include conducting market research, using industry reports, and analyzing sales data. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages, and they can be used in combination to provide a comprehensive view of a company's market share.
Market Research
Market research involves gathering information about a company's market, customers, competitors, and other factors that affect its business. This can be done through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other methods.
Market research can provide valuable insights into a company's market share. For instance, it can help a company understand who its customers are, what they want, and how they perceive the company's products compared to those of its competitors.
Industry Reports
Industry reports are another useful tool for monitoring market share. These reports provide information on market size, market growth, and the market shares of the leading companies in the industry.
While industry reports can be expensive, they provide a wealth of information that can help a company understand its position in the market and plan its strategies accordingly.
Sales Data
Finally, sales data can be a valuable source of information on market share. By analyzing sales data, a company can see how its sales compare to those of its competitors and to the market as a whole.
However, sales data can be difficult to obtain, especially for small businesses. In addition, sales data can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors, so it's important to interpret it carefully.
Conclusion
Understanding and managing market share is a crucial part of running a small business. By understanding market share, a company can gauge its competitiveness, plan its strategies, and make informed decisions that help it grow and succeed.
However, market share is just one aspect of a company's success. Other factors, such as customer satisfaction, profitability, and growth, are also important. Therefore, while it's important to strive for a high market share, it's also important to focus on other aspects of business performance.