Buying Center

(noun)

A group of employees, family members, or members of any type of organization responsible for finalizing major purchase decisions.

Examples of Buying Center in the following topics:

  • Buying Centers

    • A buying center is a group of people within an organization who make business purchase decisions.
    • The stock market is an example of a buying center.
    • The employees that constitute the buying center will vary depending on the item being purchased.
    • In a generic sense, there are typically six roles within buying centers.
    • They control the flow of information to and among others within the buying center.
  • Influences on Business Buying

    • Certain environmental and economic factors can lead to an apprehensive buying center.
    • Organizational factors such as the company's objectives, purchasing policies, and resources can influence the buying process.The size and composition of the buying center also plays a role in the business buying decision process.
    • The interpersonal relationships between people working in the company's buying center can hinder the buying process.
    • Buying center members need to trust each other and operate under full disclosure.
    • The personal characteristics of people in the buying center can influence the buying decision process.
  • Decision-Making Units

    • In the business-to-business (B2B) context (as opposed to B2C), buying decisions are made in groups.
    • The group responsible for making the buying decision in companies is referred to as the decision making unit (DMU).
    • In some cases, the buying center acts as an informal ad hoc group.
    • In other cases, the buying center is a formally sanctioned group with specific mandates, criteria, and procedures.
    • The infrastructure buyer - This role influences the buying decision at the execution level.
  • Stages of Business Buying

    • Understanding the stages of business buying is important to a marketing firm if it is to market its product properly.
    • Buying center participants assess problem and need to determine what is necessary to resolve/satisfy it
    • Understanding the stages of business buying and the nature of customers' buying behavior is important to a marketing firm if it is to market its product properly.
    • Buying one can of soft drink involves little money, and thus little risk.
    • Buying B2B products is much riskier.
  • The Federal Reserve System's Structure

    • President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York City is a permanent member of the FOMC and is always the FOMC vice-chairperson because New York City is the financial center of the United States.
    • The Fed buys and sells government securities through the New York Fed Bank.
    • Moreover, the Fed buys securities from the secondary markets.
    • If the Fed bought securities directly from the primary market, then it would be buying directly from the U.S.
    • Treasury if it buys new securities in the primary market.
  • US commercial centers, trade intermediaries, and alliances

    • Another method of doing business overseas has come in the form of US Commercial Centers.
    • (Eileen Cassidy Imbach, "US Commercial Centers: The Future of Doing Business Abroad," Business America, November, 1994, pp.25-26. ) A Commercial Center serves the purpose of providing additional resources for the promotion of exports of US goods and services to host countries.
    • The Commercial Center does so by familiarizing US exporters with industries, markets, and customs of host countries.
    • US Commercial Centers provide business facilities such as exhibition space, conference rooms, and office space.
    • These entrepreneurial middlemen typically buy US produced goods at 15 per cent below a manufacturer's best discount and then resell the products in overseas markets.
  • Distribution Centers vs. Direct Store Delivery

    • Depending on customer needs, marketing channel strategies can utilize distribution centers or move products directly to a store.
    • Depending on the product being sold and ultimate end user, companies can choose a marketing channel strategy that involves utilizing distribution centers (wholesalers) or moving their products directly to a store, or retailer.
    • Chain Stores - Chain stores are able to buy a wide variety of merchandise in large quantity discounts.
    • The firm must also understand the buying specifications of the retailers themselves.
    • Although some retailers prefer to buy directly from the manufacturer, others would rather buy from local distributors who have lenient credit terms and offer a wide array of merchandise.
  • Types of Buying Decisions

    • Buying decisions are based on buyer behavior.
    • Consumers will often buy on emotion or impulse whereas businesses will buy based on need.
    • Because consumers often buy on emotion, ads can affect the buying decision.
    • Sometimes the type of product will make a difference in the buying decision.
    • This is why companies can influence what type of car a person will buy, but not when they will buy one.
  • Is the Federal Reserve Independent of the U.S. Government?

    • Low interest rates encourage people and speculators to buy houses, inflating both the housing bubble and housing prices.
    • If consumers buy this computer, then the corporation earns profits.
    • As a government's debt continually grows, investors will reach a point when they stop buying bonds.
    • Greece, Spain, Ireland, and Portugal reached their debt limits, and investors no longer want to buy these governments' bonds.
    • Cypress is an offshore banking center that attracted sizeable deposits from British and Russians.
  • Future Changes in Retailing

    • It personalized the buying experience and insures future business by consistently suggesting products that fit a customer's personal profile.
    • The consumer has taken center stage in the future of retailing as new information about their expectations shape the way retailers select, stock and sell their products.
    • Look for more hypermarkets, super malls and shopping centers that make the experience easy and convenient for customers.
    • Products will be offered based on customer preference, buying habits, suggestions and feedback.
    • Social commerce will flourish and become a keystone of the buying experience.
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