Jal
Which component of the marketing mix focuses on where and how the product is delivered to customers?
Place
This value chain activity deals with sourcing and receiving raw materials.
Inbound Logistics
Give one example of how a pricing decision is dependent on operations efficiency.
Eg: Cost-based pricing from lean production
How can HR practices influence promotional success?
Well-trained salespeople align with promotional strategy
Name a company where mismatch between product and promotion led to failure.
Tata Nano – promoted as cheap instead of aspirational
What is the formula for Contribution Margin?
Revenue per unit – Variable cost per unit
Define Unit Economics in business terms.
Revenue and cost at the per-unit level
What is the difference between Gross Margin and Contribution Margin?
Gross includes fixed; contribution excludes fixed
In food delivery, what unit would you measure unit economics on?
Per order or per delivery
Why did many quick commerce startups collapse despite high valuation?
Unsustainable unit economics, high CAC, poor retention
Nykaa is perceived as a marketplace, but is actually what kind of business model?
Inventory-led
What’s the risk in building a perceived “tech” company that is operationally a manpower-based service?
Overvaluation and scale issues
What is a ‘collapsed valuation’?
When market perception drops drastically upon reality checks
What is value creation in simple terms?
Delivering more benefits than cost to the customer
How does a value chain help identify points of value creation?
Breaks down each activity to assess efficiency/value-add
What is disintermediation, and how can it create customer value?
Eliminating middlemen to improve price and speed
Give an example of an Indian company that used value chain thinking to enter new segments.
Patanjali entering retail from manufacturing
How is MVP different from a prototype?
MVP is market-tested; prototype is internal
What is A/B pricing and how is it used?
Testing two price points on different segments
Why is storytelling a critical tool in promotion for early-stage startups?
Builds emotional connect, simplifies complex offerings
What is channel churning, and give one reason why it occurs?
Frequent changes in distribution; due to low margins, competition
What is CAC?
Customer Acquisition Cost
What is LTV and why is it important?
Lifetime Value; shows total value from a customer over time
What’s the ideal LTV:CAC ratio for a healthy business?
Greater than 3:1
Name two real companies that optimized LTV to outperform competitors.
Amazon Prime, Netflix