An important aspect of understanding your business ecosystem is knowing your position within it (positioning), whether you hold a higher or lower (subordinate) role, and whether your offerings are substitutes or complements. Netflix started as a DVD rental service. With the rise of online streaming, Netflix saw it as a replacement for DVD rentals. Kimbap and Ramen are complementary goods, but Ramen and Udon are substitutes. This is why, even when setting up a snack bar, paying attention to the menu is crucial. Complementary goods increase sales, while substitutes are more likely to lead to no change or even a decline in sales. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Believing that customers and consumers are identical can be misleading. These two terms are fundamentally different. For instance, parents don’t purchase a diaper after trying it on themselves, and pet owners don’t eat pet food before buying it. When the buyer is distinct from the actual user of the product, it’s crucial for sellers to approach product strategy and purchasing considerations with this distinction in mind. Often, we engage in business without fully understanding the nature of the products involved, which can lead to failure. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”