Impact of Macro Environment in Marketing | Advertising | Impact of Natural Environment in Nepal
Impact of Macro Environment in Marketing:
The marketing environment consists of forces that directly and
indirectly influence the organization's marketing activities. In Nepal, various external forces influence marketing activities. Marketing
performs several activities like purchasing, selling, branding, grading,
standardizing, packaging, advertising, wholesaling, etc. for the satisfaction
of consumers. Marketing firms formulate various plans, programs, policies, and
strategies for the implementation of their activities. But, the plans and the
policies of the marketers get affected by various elements of the environment.
A favorable economic system, economic policies, political stability, and fair
competition provide opportunities for marketing firms. But, an unstable
political system, unhealthy competition, unfair and frequently changing
economic policies, etc. pose challenges to marketing firms. There are
various macro-environmental factors, which have an effect on marketing
activities. They are as follows.
Impact of Macro Environment in Marketing:
The marketing environment consists
of forces that directly and indirectly influence the organization's marketing
activities. In Nepal, various external forces influence marketing activities.
Marketing performs several activities like purchasing, selling, branding,
grading, standardizing, packaging, advertising, wholesaling, etc. for the
satisfaction of consumers. Marketing firms formulate various plans, programs,
policies, and strategies for the implementation of their activities. But, the
plans and the policies of the marketers get affected by various elements of the
environment. A favorable economic system, economic policies, political
stability, and fair competition provide opportunities for marketing firms.
But, an unstable political system, unhealthy competition, unfair and frequently
changing economic policies, etc. pose challenges to marketing firms. There
are various macro-environmental factors, which affect marketing activities.
They are as follows.
1. Political Impact on Marketing Activities in Nepal
a.
Deregulation:
The economic liberalization and
privatization policy of the government had brought about several changes in the
legal provisions favorably contributing to an open economy, liberalized trade
regimes, and simplified procedures.
b.
Short-term profit venture:
Business firms today focus on the venture that gives quick and large profits. Investment in the manufacturing
sector is low. Large manufacturing companies are facing employee problems such
as strikes, press, the union of labor, etc. The medium and large industries are
mostly sick and small and cottage industries are almost dying. On the other
hand speculation on real states, particularly land reached its peak in 2010. The
central bank had to intervene to stop the madness created in the land property
dealing by the banking sector of the country.
c.
Unhealthy business development:
The public banks are overburdened by
bad debts from big business houses that have become rich personally. These big houses
enjoy political and administrative protection through the corrupt mechanism.
The focus Of Nepalese traders is more on speculative trade and import
activities. The export sector is rapidly declining. The overall effect is
visible in the slow development of marketing activities in the country. The
rampant corruption among politicians, administrators, and technocrats has
increased the marketing costs tremendously.
2. Economic Impact on Marketing Activities in Nepal
a.
Urban lifestyle products:
The rapid urbanization and growth in
the non-agricultural sectors show positive signs in the marketing activities
centered in the urban centers of Nepal. The current Nepalese economy provides
opportunities to manufacture and sells a variety of products related to urban
life. The products range from housing colonies to prepared foods. The Nepalese
urban market has a very high demand for consumer durables and communication
devices. The consumption of cars, two-wheelers, television sets, fashion
products, and mobile phones has increased very rapidly.
b.
Financial institution:
The financial institution has grown
very rapidly in Nepal. The number of commercial banks is twenty-nine with
almost eighty-six development banks and innumerable finance companies and
consumer cooperatives. The major source of deposit for most financial
institutions has been foreign remittance. Their operation has increased due to
the expansion of financing needs for housing, automobile, and consumer
durables.
c.
Tourism:
Although the economy as a whole is
not doing well, the tourism sector is growing steadily. This has opened the
possibility of introducing new tourist destinations and products. Due to the
lack of national flight carriers, the tourism sector has not been developed as expected.
3. Socio-cultural Impact on Marketing Activities in
Nepal
a.
Housing:
The rapid growth in community
housing projects is a direct result of the small family concept. There are more
than 70 such housing projects under construction in the Kathmandu valley
itself. Half of the housing projects focus on building high-rise apartment
blocks suitable for nuclear families.
b.
Entertainment:
The entertainment industry is
rapidly growing in Nepal's cities and towns. Restaurants, clubs, discos,
multi-dimensional cinemas, and many other forms of entertainment offers are
increasing in the cities. The opening of multinational food chain outlets Pizza
hut and KFC in Kathmandu is an example.
c.
Status related offers :
The increasing use of cars, mobile
phones, fashion-related products, department store shopping malls, jewelry, and
beauty parlors is reflected by the growing desire of Nepalese people to achieve
image and status in society.
d.
Education:
As part of the westernization
process, Nepalese are increasingly attracted to English education and sending
their children to so-called boarding schools and high-profile colleges in and
outside the country. The education sector has seen the biggest explosion in the
last decade. More people today take technical and professional education than
ever before.
4. Technological Impact on Marketing Activities in
Nepal
a.
Automation:
Nepalese business sector is
increasingly using machines in their business processes. The use Of ATMs by
banks is a very healthy development in Nepal. Business houses are increasingly
using electronic communications via the internet.
b.
Modem packaging:
Technology has effectively touched
the product packaging system in Nepal. Manufacturers are found to use more
plastics, paper, and tetra (metallic paper) packages in places of glass and tin
packages.
c.
Transport and communication:
Nepal's transport and communication
system have achieved rapid growth in the last two decades. A variety of
transportation services has emerged to join the various developed and
underdeveloped areas of the country. The use of mobile phones has expanded
gradually. Marketing firms can contact their salesperson to know the market and
field situation. Often the sales report arrives at the head office on the same
day through an email.
d.Advertising
Marketing firms have also benefited
from new technology in the promotion of their product. Now Nepalese enterprises
have changed their thinking about advertising. They are positive about
promotion expenses. Earlier they thought that advertising is an expense, not an
investment. Telephone and television marketing is already in use. Nepalese
firms also have started e-marketing. The e-commerce sites like muncha.com and
themel.com are servicing a large number of customers, particularly those who
live abroad and would like to send some presents back home.
Impact on Natural Environment in Nepal
a.
Landlinkedness:
Nepal has been using the landlocked
ness idea for a very long time to beg for money and favors from foreign donors.
This idea needs to be changed into a new idea of Landlinkedness to develop the
country's economy. Nepal's geographical location between the two Asian giants
India and China is strategically important for the development of marketing
activities. Nepal can achieve it significantly if it can effectively assess its
competitive advantage and penetrate these markets with a competitive advantage.
b.
Natural diversity:
Nepal is blessed with a variety of
topography and climate that facilitate the production of a variety of
horticultural products that have unlimited market potential in India as well as
China. Tourism can be promoted in both countries where large segments of the
population have become affluent and travel frequently to exotic places in the
world.
c.
Hydropower:
Nepal should move strategically to
attract investment from the global source in the hydropower sector to produce
electricity for export. Nepal has huge resources of fresh water in the form of
glaciers and glacial rivers that can be tapped and sold as drinking water.
Freshwater is going to be the hot product in the years to come as it is as
scarce as oil in the present time.