Wednesday, March 28, 2012

How has the competitive landscape changed as a result of leading entrepreneurs in the industry?


In general entering into the Household and Personal Products industry is tough. Reason being, as most of the products are soap, detergent, toothpaste, and cosmetics; consumers have long been purchasing these products so there is little incentive to actively seek out different products from purchase to purchase. Additionally, the barriers to entry within the industry are rated medium but increasing. This keeps competition from entrepreneurs low because of the difficulty in entering the market. One of the largest barriers is the high costs entering the Household and Personal Products Industry. Though it is easy to launch small businesses within the industry because of the minor technological skills and financial resources required and because the ingredients used to produce the products are common, the costs of manufacturing, marketing and distribution are high. This results in large corporations dominating the industry. Specifically, cosmetic and beauty products manufacturing requires a factory and production equipment, which can add up to a substantial cost. Acquiring the financial means to start production and continue at a profit is increasingly difficult. Clorox Company states that newly introduced products face intense established competition and, as such, requires substantial advertising and promotional resources. This is very true with the most well-known brand names belonging to this industry which serves as a large deterrent for new entries.  
Recently, however, there is hope for more entrepreneurs to enter into the industry. This is due to the new “green” trend. The search for more environmentally friendly products with natural ingredients is increasing in demand. A great example of a successful entrepreneurial entry into the industry is Rockin' Green, a maker of eco-friendly laundry detergent and cleaning products. The company’s founder, Kimberly Webb, was named “Best Entrepreneur” and the company named the “Fastest-Growing Company of the Year.” Though there are some instances of entrepreneurial success the numbers are small. The development of new innovative products, the maintenance and improvement of existing products or the extension of an existing product range are the major demands within this industry thus it is very hard to accomplish for new entrepreneurs who lack capital to mass produce, market, and distribute. Therefore the competitive landscape has not changed much due to leading entrepreneurs.

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