Jim manages a small factory that produces circuit boards. Jim operates from the belief that a good product creates demand. He focuses much of his energy on developing operational efficiencies and increasing output. The company's salesperson Darlene, however, views customer relationships and personal selling as being the highest priority. Between the two of them, the firm has become known for its quality products and excellent customer relationships.
Refer to Scenario 1.4. Recently, Darlene has found that they have begun to reach market saturation. She is having trouble finding new customers. One solution would be to increase the company's reach, perhaps by opening up locations in other areas. However, she knows this will be expensive. After noticing that many of their customers are planning on expanding and purchasing bigger facilities, Darlene feels that the best option is to increase the company's __________
a. market share
b. customer lifetime value
c. share of customer
d. product output
e. promotional efforts