Hello everyone.
Today I would like to talk about the 3Cs, which are very important concepts in marketing strategy.
I’ll explain it to you, so let’s study together, KANA-san.
Hello , Yuya-san.
What is the concept of 3C?
I’ve heard the name before, but I’m really curious about what it actually means.
The 3C Framework – Customer, Competitor, and Company Perspectives
The 3Cs are a method of thinking about things from the three perspectives of “customer,” “competitor,” and “company,” and considering how a company can formulate strategies in the market and how they can lead to success.
First of all, with regard to ”customers”, it is important to have a deep understanding of the needs and expectations of people who are seeking your company’s products and services.
KANA-san, if you were to offer products at your store or company, what kind of ideas would you use to meet customer expectations?
Customer Analysis – Understanding Needs and Expectations
Well, in addition to the attractiveness and quality of the product, I feel that we also need to consider what kind of problems our customers are facing and how the product will be useful in their lives.
For example, given the rise in health consciousness, one might consider developing products that use natural ingredients.
That’s right.
By understanding your customers’ backgrounds, behavior patterns, and preferences in detail, you will be able to go beyond just selling products to providing what your customers really need.
What is important here is to deepen customer understanding through market research, not only based on quantitative data but also on actual voices and experiences.
In other words, it is a process of building a relationship of trust with customers
By accurately understanding customer needs, it becomes clear what kind of value a company will provide, and as a result, customers will be happy.
So, how should we think about the next ”competitor”?
Competitor Analysis – Benchmarking Against Other Players
That’s a good question.
”competitor” refers to other companies and products that aim for the same needs in the market.
A thorough understanding of the competitive environment is essential to determining where your company can differentiate itself and where it excels.
For example, if you have a new service that your competitors don’t offer or a field in which you have unique strengths, you can consider a strategy to actively promote that.
Competitive analysis is not just an imitation, but an opportunity for learning and development.
It is not only about checking the trends of other companies, but also about the underlying market trends and customer reactions.
And the process of exploring how we are different and where we can improve becomes very important.
That’s right.
By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of their competitors, companies can think strategically about how to highlight their strengths or compensate for their weaknesses.
Find an approach that is unique to your company while referring to what your competitors are doing successfully. This is the key to survival in the market.
In the field of marketing, this competitive analysis can sometimes provide great hints.
It’s easy to understand. Rather than looking at the trends of competitors, I felt that there was a need for a perspective that looked for hints for the company’s growth.
By the way, what can you tell me about the last word, ”company”?
Company Review – Reassessing Internal Resources and Strengths
The ”company” perspective is based on the two factors I just talked about, and considers what strengths we have and what value we can provide to the market.
It is important to comprehensively review all internal factors, including your company’s vision and mission, existing technology and know-how, and corporate culture.
Highlight your company’s strengths and build a unique position in the market based on them. This is the core of the overall strategy.
In other words, by looking at ourselves objectively and properly sorting out where we have our charms and strengths, and how we can utilize them, we can formulate better strategies that take into account both our customers and our competitors.
That’s exactly right. Reviewing your company’s internal resources and organizational capabilities can sometimes lead to greater confidence.
This is because by reaffirming your current strengths and areas of expertise, you will be able to take on the market with confidence, and you will also be able to clearly take concrete actions to improve areas where you are lacking.
In fact, marketing strategies based on the 3C concept are used not only by major companies, but also by small and medium-sized businesses and startups.
Case Study – A Successful Restaurant Example
I think it’s a very attractive approach, as even small companies can firmly grasp their strengths and respond flexibly to customer needs.
What kind of ideas can be cited as specific examples in actual business settings?
For example, let’s say a restaurant has a strong point in its signature menu.
First, we take a deep dive into customer needs to understand what kind of taste and experience they’re looking for.
Based on this, we develop unique ingredients, cooking methods, or special services that cannot be provided by competing restaurants.
In this way, by highlighting your company’s unique appeal, you can create a strategy to increase word of mouth and repeat customers.
On the other hand, by learning about the successes and failures of competing stores, you will be able to come up with more innovative ideas while avoiding the same mistakes.
If you think about it in conjunction with actual examples, you will deepen your understanding of the 3Cs.
I hear that strategies to meet customer needs and ways to clearly differentiate your company from your competitors are very effective in reviewing your overall marketing.
Broader Use of the 3C Framework in Marketing
The 3Cs are more than just an analytical tool; they are used in many industries as a basic framework for reviewing the attitude and direction of a company as a whole.
In fact, the application of this technology is expanding into areas such as product development, service improvement, and new market development.
For example, when launching a new product, there are many cases where a more effective strategy can be derived by first considering the company’s strengths, the potential needs of customers, and the trends of competitors.
It’s interesting. When developing new products, it is important to not just come up with an idea, but to thoroughly understand the actual market environment and your company’s potential before proceeding.
Make the most of your company’s resources while providing the value that customers really want. The advantage of 3C is that you can organize the process systematically.
That’s right. By utilizing the 3Cs, a company can take on the market with confidence, and by comprehensively understanding the internal and external environments, it becomes possible to respond flexibly even in rapidly changing markets.
In the field of marketing, the situation sometimes changes dramatically due to new trends and technological innovations, but formulating a strategy based on the basic 3C perspective can serve as an effective guideline for those changes.
Hearing this gives me a sense of security that any company will have a better chance of winning the competition if they have a firm grasp of the basics.
Of course, market trends change every moment, so periodic reviews and flexible thinking will be necessary, but yes
Summary
You’re right. The 3C concept is just a guideline for correctly understanding the current situation, and the key is how to evolve from there.
For example, customer preferences or competitive strategies may change as the market environment changes.
At such times, it is extremely important to consider which areas should be strengthened and where new value can be created.
And it can be said that the process itself evolves as the company grows.
The 3Cs are not just a theory, but a flexible and practical framework suited to actual corporate activities.
I think it is important to consider how to actually utilize this in your own workplace, and the process of finding new discoveries and opportunities for improvement each time.I agree.
The content I talked about today is a useful way of thinking not only for marketing, but also for company-wide strategy and organizational development.
We believe that companies of any size can achieve higher results by carefully assessing their internal and external environments and integrating them to formulate strategies.
Of course, the real market is constantly changing, so we need to be able to constantly collect data and adopt flexible ways of thinking.
Closing
After listening to today’s story, I myself have become more aware of the voices of our customers, the competitive situation around us, and how we are creating value in our daily lives.
I realized once again that, although it is a fundamental theme of marketing strategy, it is actually a very profound theme.
I would be happy if you could say so. The 3Cs are a universal concept that can be used by any company, and by actually using them, you will realize how interesting and effective they are.
We hope that today’s explanation will help you reconsider your company’s activities.
I also hope that you will continue to be sensitive to market trends and always consider strategies from a new perspective.
I really learned a lot.
Lastly, please give a message to the viewers.
Dear viewers, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to listen to us talk about 3C today.
By reading the true intentions of your customers, accurately grasping the trends of your competitors, and making the most of your company’s strengths, you will find hints for overcoming any difficult situation.
Please use it for your future marketing strategy.
We will continue to provide you with useful knowledge, so we hope to see you again in the future.
Thank you for joining us today. I’m looking forward to learning new things.
See you again in the next video. Goodbye!
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “3Cs model” which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 4.0.
Standing Portrait: Mana Kanaka