Glossary

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Glossary of Terms

Like most areas of interest a number of terms and acronyms are used when working with trade support programs. To make things even more complicated, the same term can mean different things to people in different channels of distribution. Never-the-less, here's a good starting point on many of the terms you will come across in this area.

Can't find a term here? Contact TPMA Headquarters and we'll get you the answer if we can.

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Account Opener

A direct premium offered to the buyer to secure his business(e.g. a premium offered by a bank to a depositer to open a new account).

Accrual

An allowance accumulated by manufacturers or suppliers of co-op and other trade allowances for their retail and /or wholesale customers, generally calculated as a percent of the invoice price of products sold to the retailer or distributor. Can be based on current years purchases, or prior years.

Ad Slick

Reproducible artwork which is used as a master in the offset printing process.

Advanced Premium

One given to a new customer in expectation that they will earn it by later purchases; a technique originated by home-service route firms.

Advertising Allowance

A payment or service by a manufacturer of goods to a merchant for advertising a product of the manufacturer.

Advertising Specialties

A form of direct advertising. Products that bear the name, address and/or slogan of a business firm are given away free by the advertiser to present or prospective customers. Sometimes called remembrance advertising.

Affiliated Retailer

A retailer who is affiliated with a voluntary chain. Also refers to a retailer who participates with others in a cooperative wholesale purchasing operation.

Affiliated Wholesaler

A wholesaler who sponsors a voluntary chain of affiliated retailers. Also, a wholesaler who is a member of a voluntary chain of wholesalers.

Agency of Record

An agency that purchases media time or space for another agency or a group of agencies who happen to serve the same client.

Allocation

A pre-assigned quantity of merchandise to be made available or sold to an individually designated area or customer.

Allotment

Pre-determined distribution of product for which the demand often exceeds the supply. Also, the total amount available of a particular special pack in a particular area or to a particular customer.

Allowance

A temporary price reduction or discount offered to the retailer by the manufacturer. Sometimes given in the form of free goods, like one case free with twelve.

Automatic Distribution

Distribution of goods by a wholesaler or by the headquarters of a chain to individual retail stores without a specific order; usually done on a guaranteed-sale basis.

Bait Advertising

Advertising that offers an unusually low price for an item to draw a customer into a store where the low priced item is usually not available. Then the customer is convinced to buy a more expensive similar product. Also known as bait and switch advertising. Not an ethical practice regardless of what it is called.

Ballot Test

A sample mailing of special mail-in offer leaflets to randomly selected U.S. households to learn about consumer responsiveness to the offer and its probable cost if used broadly.

Banded Pack

Two or more packages are banded together and sold at a reduced price. The packages can be the same or related products

Barter

The furnishing of products by and advertiser as full or partial payment for broadcasting time or free mentions on television or radio. Time so purchased is called barter time, and its purchase is usually arranged by a broker.

Benchmarking

The process by which companies, following pre-established guidelines for disclosure, share best business practices with other companies. Generally focusing on one aspect of business (credit procedures, distribution procedures, etc.) it has been popular in the trade allowance industry as well.

Best Food Day

The day on which a newspaper runs editorial material on food, making that day's edition the most advantageous for retail grocers' advertising and hence, for the advertising of food manufacturers; usually Wednesday evening or Thursday editions, depending on the market.

Billback Allowance

A merchandising allowance in which the discount is not given to the retailer until he provides proof he has complied with the merchandising requirements of the seller.

Bill of Lading

A bill of lading is a written account of goods shipped, signed by an agent of the transportation company, acknowledging receipt of the goods and promising to deliver them in good condition at the place directed.

Bleed

Excess areas of printing plates extending beyond edges of final trimmed sheet, thus eliminating a white margin along the edge.

Blind Offer

An offer placed inconspicuously in the body copy of a print advertisement; often used to measure reader attention to the advertisement.

Blister Pack

A package consisting of a card faced with a plastic casing enclosing the product.

Bonus Goods

Salable merchandise given by a manufacturer to a retailer as a reward for a large purchase.

Borrowed Interest Promotion

A promotion that uses the recognition and/or impact of a well-known event or personality to capture the attention and interest of the target audience.

Bottle Hanger

A promotional or advertising collar designed to hang around the neck of a bottle.

Bounce Back

A second promotion offer made to consumers in order to encourage additional purchases; e.g. a coupon for a second purchase placed within a product package, or a second offer of a different premium enclosed when the first premium is mailed.

Box-Top Offer

An offer of a premium based on the return of the box top from a package or other appropriate proof-of-purchase.

Brand Development Index

A measure of the concentration of a brand's consumption; typically, the units or dollars of a product consumed per thousand population in a year's time.

Brand Image

The pattern of feelings, associations, and ideas held by the public at-large regarding a specific brand.

Break Even Calculation

A technique to determine the absolute or percent sales increase needed to pay for the cost of a promotion:

Total cost known Divided by margin per case Equals total volume needed
Unit costs known Divided by margin per case Less base volume Equals incremental volume needed

Broadside

A giant folder, often sent as a self-mailer, used especially (but not exclusively) in direct-mail advertising to the trade.

Broker

An agent in the purchase or sale of goods; as the agent of a seller, especially of packaged goods, serves to supplement or supplant the seller's sales force in return for a commission.

Business Gift

A gift to a customer, stockholder, employee or other business friend as an expression of appreciation. There is an upper $ limit for purposes of a business tax deduction.

Business Reply Mail

Advertising mail that includes an envelope or card that enables the recipient to reply without paying postage.

Buy-Back Allowance

An allowance that is based on the amount of product purchased on a preceding deal.

Cannibalize

To draw sales away from another product of the same manufacturer in a manner diminishing the maker's profit; said of new competitive products, flanker items or line extensions.

Canvass

A round of visits to retail and wholesale customers in a territory for some specific purpose.

Carrier Route Pre-Sort

Sorting mail into nine-digit zip code sequence so that it is ready to be distributed to individual U.S. Postal Service carriers. Saves additional postage over five-digit code sequencing.

Carry Over

Orders written and recorded as orders but not yet recorded as shipments.

Case Allowance

An allowance by a manufacturer to a retailer. The allowance is proportional to the number of cases purchased, either continuously or in increments.

Case-Count Method

A form of acceptance of a wholesale delivery by a retailer on the evidence of the number of cases listed in an invoice rather than after a physical count of cases delivered.

Case Rate

A figure used commonly to indicate the marketing expenditure behind a brand by showing support per case sold. A brand's case rate is determined by dividing its total annual marketing budget (advertising, promotion, etc.) by its total case volume.

Cash Refund Offer

An offer by a manufacturer for a refund of money to a customer who mails in a label or a designated proof of purchase.

Category Killer

A specialty retailer who dominates a category of merchandise such as computers or do-it-yourself outlets.

Central Location Study

Research conducted among a selected group of consumers to determine relative consumer preference and/or acceptability of a premium or product concept. If consumers are recruited to a specific place, it is called a consumer panel study. If the researchers go to a shopping center, it's called a shopping mall intercept.

Channel

The pipeline that gets product from the manufacturer to the end consumer. This can include distributors/wholesalers and retailers (as well as aggregators and VARs in the computer industry). Also refers to a specific type of retail distribution. Mass merchandise, food, drug, specialty, and warehouse distribution are examples of channels of distribution.

Clearing House

An organization that counts and rebates coupons sent from retailers, and, in turn, sends them to the manufacturer's redemption center for payment or, rebates coupon value and handling charges to retailer from manufacturers impress funds.

Collection Promotion

These promotions require multiple purchases to participate. Many also have some minor reward for a single purchase.

Combination Sales

A tie-in of a premium with purchase of an item at a combination price, sometimes self-liquidating; often an on-pack.

Consignment Selling

A system of retail selling under which a supplier is paid only as his goods are sold, the retailer having the right to return undamaged goods unsold after a certain date.

Contest

A promotion device in which a prize is awarded to an entrant judged to have qualified by virtue of superior skill; entrants may be required to furnish a consideration, (usually proof of product purchase), without violating lottery laws in many states. (Any element of chance involved with the prize award would make the promotion an illegal lottery.)

Continuity Program

A continuing promotion offer with inducements to make additional purchases of product.

Control Area

A geographic area in which a brand's shipment level and/or sales, under imposed conditions of normal advertising and promotion weigh, may be viewed in contrast to a test area where extra advertising or promotion weight, or a change in advertising or promotion weight, is expected to increase the brand's business.

Controlled Brand

A brand of merchandise distributed exclusively by one wholesaler, retailer, or group of stores in an area.

Co-op

See Co-operative Advertising.

Co-operative Advertising

Advertising run by a local advertiser in cooperation with a national advertiser. The latter usually supplies the copy, plates, or reproduction materials; the two share both the cost and the mention of their names.

Cooperative Association

A group of independent retailers who combine under a common name for purposes of purchasing merchandising.

Cooperative Coupons

A group of coupons that are delivered together in the same vehicle for increased efficiency or impact.

Cooperative Merchandising Agreement

A contract between a manufacturer and a retailer or wholesaler in which the manufacturer agrees to pay for specified merchandising services, such as featuring display, price reduction, etc.

Co-ops

Print ads or direct mail efforts shared by more than one different brand or advertiser.

Cost-In-The-Mail

Refers to cost of getting an item to the customer, including the costs of the item, handling postage, and mailing carton charges.

Cost Per Return

A measure of the effectiveness of a communications medium in promoting a sales offer, contest, coupon promotion, etc. that invites a direct response from the public; computed by dividing the advertising/promotion cost involved by the number of returns.

Count and Recount Allowance

An allowance to a retailer or wholesaler paid for each unit of a manufacturer's specified merchandise sold to customers in a stated period of time. Involves inventory at beginning of period (count) plus purchases and final inventory (recount) to determine retailer's sales to customers during deal period.

Coupon

A certificate with a stated value (in money or merchandise) which the customer presents to a retailer to entitle the customer to a savings on a specific item at the time of purchase.

Cross-Ruff

A coupon or assortment of coupons good for one or more products printed on or inserted in a different product package.

Dead Net Pricing

Is that price to the trade which is based on maximum quantity discount when the off invoice, merchandising allowance and .or price pack value has been applied to the trade cost. It is typically expressed per single unit of product.

Deal

A temporary promotional offer to sell goods under terms which vary from the customary terms in a manner which favors the buyer.

Dealer Incentive

A reward given to a retailer in return for special quantities of purchase or special services to be supplied by the dealer.

Dealer Listing

A listing of local dealers added to an advertisement used over a large geographical area. Such a listing can be varied by state, metropolis, or region when an advertisement is run nationally, depending on the publication's capability to produce such local editions.

Dealer Loader

Merchandise and/or travel gifts offered to the trade for purchasing or ordering out of an accounts' warehouse a quantity of product and giving it special in-store merchandising support, usually a display.

Deduction

Generally an unauthorized reduction taken to the invoiced amount a manufacturer or supplier bills a customer. Often taken by customers who feel they have qualified for advertising or promotional allowances that have not been paid by the manufacturer or supplier. When taken, these unauthorized deductions create a tremendous administrative burden to resolve and cost both the supplier and the retailer unnecessary expenses in time and money.

Delivery Time

FTC rule, which requires that mail-in offers for which the consumer has submitted payment must be shipped within the time promised or 30 days if a time is not stated. If shipment cannot be made within the required time, the supplier must notify the consumer of the delay and offer the opportunity to cancel the order.

Direct Mail Advertising

Advertising delivered directly to prospects through the mail.

Direct Marketing

The consummation of a sale of a product by mail or telephone, without the involvement of intermediaries or personal face-to-face selling. Similar to mail-order advertising.

Direct Store Deliver

A delivery of merchandise from a manufacturer directly to a retailer rather than via a warehouse or wholesaler. Also drop shipment, store door delivery.

Display

A physically contiguous arrangement of goods for advertising, possibly with decorative material, intended to call attention to and prompt the sale of a product or service. Also used as a verb when referring to the act of erecting a stack of products in a selling area.

Display Advertising

Advertising in print that usually uses illustrations as well as type.

Display Allowance

A merchandising allowance granted to retailers in return for displaying merchandise, usually in special areas of the store in addition to regular shelf position.

Display Bin

An open bin, usually of heavy paper or cardboard, for the display of merchandise piled inside; usually in special areas of the store in addition to regular shelf position.

Display Card

A printed or hand lettered sign attached to a store display.

Display Loader

A premium that is built into a display, and received free by the dealer when the display is taken down. Usually related to a consumer self-liquidating premium offer of the same item.

Distribution

The extent to which dealers carry a retail item; usually measured by either the percentage of all dealers who carry the item, or by the percentage of the total volume of business done by those who carry the item. The means by which a manufactured product reaches the customer including storage, transportation, sales, etc. and the way these elements are organized.

Distribution Allowance

A discount made by a manufacturer to a wholesaler or store chain to cover the cost of distributing a product, especially for the first time. Care must be exercised to prevent price discrimination, a violation of the Robinson-Patman Act.

Door-to-door Sampling

Delivery of a sample to the door of a potential consumer to insure trial with a minimal amount of effort on the consumer's part.

Door Opener

A relatively inexpensive premium item given by a door-to-door salesperson to persuade a prospect to listen to a sales presentation.

Drive Period

A limited time period scheduled by a manufacturer or wholesaler sales organization for presenting deal and promotional terms to retail sales prospects, and consumers. Also promotion drive period, promotion period, canvass period.

Drop Shipment

Merchandise that is shipped directly from a manufacturer to a retailer, but is invoiced to a wholesaler, who in turn bills the retailer.

ECR

Efficient Consumer Response. A term used in the food industry for maximizing efficiency in moving products from the manufacturer through the distributor and retailer to the ultimate consumer at the lowest cost.

EDLP

"Every Day Low Prices." A term used, primarily in the food industry, that suggests the manufacturer is offering no advertising or promotional allowances on the products so identified.

Effective Distribution

All commodity distribution after deducting out of stocks from total distribution. Also, net effective distribution.

End Aisle Display

A special retail store display in which the promoted product is prominently positioned at the end aisle gondola location.

Expiration Date

The last day on which a consumer can use a coupon or place an order for an offer.

Face Value

Actual cash discount value (for consumer) of a coupon when redeemed at a retail outlet.

Factory Pack

A special pack produced at the factory which requires some change from normal production procedure and occasionally can require different shelf space in the retail store.

Fair Trade

A principle according to which retailers agree to sell an item at no less than the price agreed upon between the manufacturer and other retailers in the areal. Until suspended, such practices were often enforced by a state law (fair-trade law).

Feature

A retail item being given special sales attention, especially cooperative advertising of a price reduction.
An important characteristic of a product or service.
To give a retail item special sales promotion.

Federal Trade Commission

The government agency responsible for enforcement of the laws that apply to co-op and other promotional allowances. See The Robinson-Patman Act and the Guides for Advertising Allowances and Other Merchandising Payments and Services.

Field Activated Promotion

A promotion initiated by a sales representative and a retailer store or store manager.

Flag

A "flag" on the front (and often on the sides) of a package refers to the graphic treatment (shape) and corresponding copy that calls attention to a promotional incentive.

Flanker

A new product that is marketed under an existing brand name, but is intended for use in a different (but usually related) product category from the parent brand's original product line. Also a flanker item.

Floor Stand

A standing bin for the display of retail merchandise.

F.O.B.

These initials stand for "free on board." The expression comes from the fact that goods sold "F.O.B. a certain location" will be loaded aboard a freight car or truck at that point at the expense of the seller. From that point, the buyer must pay all freight and deliver charges.

Focus Group

This is a qualitative form of consumer research which involves inviting 10-12 people to a "group" discussion about certain brand or usage habits. These sessions are moderated by a professional researcher and frequently viewed by client or agency members from behind a 2-way mirror so that their presence does not inhibit discussion. Focus Groups are most valuable in helping to design questions for quantitative research, or to familiarize copy writers with consumer terminology, or look for major negatives in copy or promotions ideas; but not for management decision making.

Forced Distribution

Automatic distribution of a product by retailers as a consequence of anticipated or actual customer demand created by advertising or consumer promotion. In test markets, automatic placement of products in panels of cooperating stores.

Form/Certificate

Printed description of a mail-in offer that includes space for the respondent's name and address. Required by most manufacturers for compliance to the offer terms.

Free Goods

Merchandise that is conferred without charge or obligation. Formerly this was a synonym for bonus goods, but this use is discouraged as misleading by the Federal Trade Commission.

Free Mail-In (FMI)

A premium consumers may obtain in the mail without charge by sending in proof(s)-of-purchase.

Free Offer

An offer that does not cost any amount of money.

Free Standing Insert (FSI)

A preprinted advertisement in single or multiple page form that is inserted loose into newspapers, particularly Sunday editions and supplements.

Frequency Discount

A reduction in advertising rates based on the number of insertions or commercials in a given time period.

Frontload

To schedule the use of the bulk of a budget for the first part of a planned promotion period; serves to assure that all of a budget is used for its originally designated ends.

FSI

See Free Standing Insert.

Fulfillment

The processing of consumer requests for mail-in (or phone-in) offers such as refunds, premiums, coupons or samples.

Full Disclosure

Manufacturers of specified products must disclose certain kinds of specific information about them; for example, processed food makers list the nutritional value of their products on labels and in advertisements.

Game

A promotional vehicle that includes a number predetermined, pre-seeded winning tickets in the overall, fixed universe of pieces. Participants may learn immediately if they have won a particular prize category. Sometimes called Instant Winner Sweepstakes.

Generics

A category of unbranded products usually sold in a plain one color printed container by a retail account at substantial savings to the consumer compared to national brand items.

Gift Enterprise

Legal term referring to an illegal lottery.

Giveaway

Merchandise or services given away for promotional proposes
A television or radio show where merchandise is given away to contestant or to members of the audience

Gross Rating Point

A unit of measurement of audience size for television, radio, or outdoor advertising, equal to 1% of the total potential audience universe; used to measure the exposure of one or more programs or commercials, without regard to multiple exposure of the same advertising to individuals. Also, the product of media reach times exposure frequency. Abbreviated G.R.P.

Group Promotions

A promotion involving several brands from the same or different companies, usually integrated by a theme or mutually shared promotional overlay like a sweepstakes or refund.

Guides for Advertising Allowances and other Merchandising Payments and Services

Interpretations by theFederal Trade Commission (FTC) of the provisions of The Robinson Patman Act, the laws that governs co-op and other promotional allowance payments.

Gummed Proofs

Paper "cuts" or pictures supplied to sales representatives for making simple advertising layouts for newspapers or handbills.

Handbill

A circular that is intended for distributions by hand either to persons encountered on the street o to homes, offices, etc. Also throwaway, flyer.

Handling Allowances

An allowance from a manufacturer to a distributor or retailer for handling merchandise requiring special attention or display. (Must be offered to all competing retailers).

Handling/Postage Charge

A charge covering the cost of preparing and mailing a premium or refund.

Island Display

A retail store display that is accessible on all sides. Also, island.

Image Related

Promotions which work to enhance a brand's name, use, or perceived quality.

Impulse Purchase

Purchase of consumer goods that had not been planned in advance.

Instant Redeemable Coupon

A coupon placed on the outside surface of the package. The coupon can be removed easily without destroying the package and used as a price reduction on the current purchase.

Instant Winner Promotions

A prize promotion in which the participant knows immediately if he/she has won a prize.

In-Ad Coupon

A coupon placed in a store or chain's own retail advertisement, redeemable on the specified product only at the particular store or chain. Also in-ad.

Incentive

Cash, merchandise or travel offered to consumers, salesmen or dealers as a tangible reward for a purchase or sales performance.

In-House

A term used to describe a company that implements one or more services within the company as opposed to contracting with outside suppliers.

In-Pack Coupon

A redeemable coupon enclosed in a product's package for potential later use by the product's buyer; may be redeemed on a subsequent purchase of the same product, or on a different product (cross coupon).

In-Pack Premium

A premium item enclosed inside a product's package; usually offered with a full measure of product at no extra charge.

Insert

A special page printed b the advertiser and forwarded to a publisher who binds it in the publication. Also, an advertising tabloid placed inside a newspaper. (see free standing insert).

Institutional Advertising

Advertising whose purpose is to create good will for a company rather than to advertise goods or services.

Investment Spending

Increased expenditures for advertising or promotion for a product or service, typically funded by temporary reductions in the profit contributions in the expectation of future increases in sales and profits. Cf. business-building test, incremental spending, payout.

Invoice

A bill sent to a customer for merchandise shipped to him. It lists quantities, brands, prices, and date of shipment.

Joint Promotion

A mutually beneficial merchandising event with one or more outside companies promoting under a unifying theme or concept.

Keeper

A premium offered in direct-mail marketing for accepting a free trail of the sale merchandise which is kept by the consumer even if the sale merchandise is returned.

Key Account

A major customer, from the viewpoint of a manufacturer or distributor
A major client of an advertising agency

Key Code

To code an advertisement or coupon so that responses can be identified by carrier medium or distribution location. This usually involves putting a code number or letter in a coupon or in the advertiser's address so that the particular advertisement or medium producing an inquiry can be identified. Also sometimes just called a key.

Line Extension

A new product form, flavor or formulation marketed under an existing brand name, intended for us in the same category as the "parent" brand's original product, or product line, while being designed to draw new users to the brand's franchise from products competitive to the original product; e.g. "dry" and "oily" new shampoo products using the brand name of an existing shampoo are line extensions. Cf. flanker, brand extension.

Logo

The artistic rendition of a brand name on a package. Also used in promotion materials.

Loss Leader

A retail item advertised at an attractively low price, often below cost, in order to attract customers to a store for the purchase of other, more profitable items.

Lottery

A plan categorically illegal in commercial sales promotion, which awards a prize on the basis of chance and requires consideration to enter. Becomes a legal sweepstakes or game when consideration is removed, or a contest when the chance is eliminated. Only governmental units like States may operate legal lotteries in the U.S.

Mail-in Offer

A promotion requiring the respondent to mail proofs-of-purchase, tear-off sheets, receipts, etc. to receive the item/money being offered.

Makegood

An advertisement run without charge by a medium as an adjustment for error usually because of omission or poor reproduction.

Manufacturing Representative

A sales representative of a manufacturer who may be either a salaried employee or a broker acting as an agent for several manufacturer's agent.

Market Area

A geographical section of the United States that becomes a cohesive area for marketing. It tends to have the same distribution patterns, the same supply sources, and frequently, political boundaries.

Market Development Funds (MDF)

Advertising and/or promotional funds provided by manufacturers/suppliers to their customers that are offered to meet specific marketing objectives. Often requiring less complete proof of performance documentation than traditional co-op allowance programs, these funds are generally negotiated by a company's sales force with their customers to meet competitive offers, respond to customer's "vendor programs," or to target funds to a specific geographical area or product emphasis. The laws regarding trade allowances, The Robinson Patman Act, apply to MDF programs, so a review by a company's legal counsel is suggested before this type of program is implemented.

Market Development Index

The number of units or dollar value of all brands of a product or service category that have been sold per thousand population within an area in a stated period. usually a year. Also category development. Loosely, a product's, service's, or category's degree or rate of usage in markets and market segments to which it is available.

Market Potential

Sales volume for a product or service that is available to or desired by a supplier; influenced by category development, and often expressed in terms of share of market.

Market Share

The percentage of a category's sales, in terms of dollars or units, that is accounted for by a brand, line, or company.

Marketing

The act of taking a product and moving it from its place of manufacture to the ultimate user at a profitable price. Includes development, design, packaging, advertising, promotion, pricing, selling, and delivery.

Marketing Concept

A management philosophy which holds that the best means to satisfy corporate objectives is to focus all corporate objectives is to focus all corporate efforts to find ways to permit customers to satisfy their desires.

Marketing Mix

The levels and interplay of the constituent elements of a product's or service's marketing efforts, including product attributes, pricing, promotion, advertising, merchandising, distribution, and marketing spending, especially as decisions relating to these elements affect sales results.

Marketing Plan

A strategy for marketing a product or service
A comprehensive document containing background, rationale and supportive detail regarding a marketer's objectives and strategies

Markup

The increase, in either dollars and cents or a percentage, between cost and the selling price.

Match and Win Sweepstakes

A form of sweepstakes in which the consumer must take their symbol/number entry which appears in print media to the product or store display to determine if they have won a prize and what it is.

Matte

A printing term for not gloss; without strong highlights; a matte finish. Also mat.

MDF

See Market Development Funds.

Medium

Any vehicle used to convey an advertising message, such as television, magazines, newspapers or direct mail. Also, the methods and tools used by an artist, such as a pen and ink, crayon or photography.

Merchandising

Marketing activities, including sales and promotion, designed to make product available, attractive and conspicuous in a retail store
Solicitation of salesman and retailer support for a marketing effort

Merchandising Committee

A group of executives appointed by a store chain, wholesaler, or the like to decide on the acceptance of new products, manufacturer's promotions, etc. Also buying committee.

Mint Condition

Coupons that appear gang-cut or carefully stacked. Coupons that are not soiled or dirty or even bent, wrinkled, or torn, and unlikely to have been properly redeemed.

Misredemption

Redemption of coupons presented either by persons who have not made the purchases the coupons are intended to promote, or by retailers who have not redeemed the coupons in the normal course of business with properly qualified customers.

Motivation Research

Research which attempts to relate behavior to underlying desires, emotions, and intentions, in contrast to research which enumerates behavior or describes a situation; it relies heavily on the use of techniques adapted from psychology and other sciences.

Multi-Buyer

A person who has purchased more than once from a firm, on different occasions. May be called a repeat buyer.

Merge-Purge

A computer process whereby lists may be "merged" together to facilitate zip code sequencing and testing segments, and "purged" of duplicate names, pander names, and undesirable names or names which are to be saved for later mailing.

Near Pack

A premium item offered free or for a discounted price with the retail purchase of another product, and positioned near to (but not touching) this product at the point of sale. Also near pack premium. A promotion making use of the near pack premium. Also near pack event. A container or receptacle used to hold and display near pack premiums.

New Item Slotting Allowance

An allowance offered by manufacturers to motivate the trade to stock a new item. this allowance is based on absolute total dollars, not a per case rate.

New Product

A product which has been in distribution, available to its ultimate consumer, for less than six months. Also, a product bearing a new brand name, or a newly introduced flanker item or line extension; occasionally used loosely to refer to an improved product an exiting brand, or new size.

Nielsen Drug (Food) Index

Reports on the market movement and inventory of products, by type and brand, through panels of drug stores and food stores.

Nixie

A piece of mail that is undeliverable.

Objective

A statement of the desired outcome of a promotion containing:
Marketing Goal
Quantifiable level of achievement
Time and place in which the activity will take place

Off Invoice

A deduction from an invoice from a manufacturer or wholesaler to a retailer normally made in exchange for the retailer's promotional efforts. Also off invoice allowance or deal.

Off label

A special reduced savings offer marked over the regular label of an item. Cf. price pack. Also, an inferior grade of a brand, that is discount priced and specially labeled.

Offset

The modern application of lithography process printing from a thin metal plate where the reaction of water and greasy ink play important role. In the process, the plates are sensitized to receive ink o the area desired and not in the remaining area which is covered with a thin film of water. The main difference in offset from direct lithography is that the printing plate is never in contact with the paper but "offsets" its linked image on a rubber blanket roller which in turn transfers the impression to the paper.

On-Pack

A premium, advertising matter, coupon, etc. attached to or part of the exterior of a product package.

One-Cent Sale

A promotion offer where the consumer purchases one package at the normal price and the second package for one cent.

Organizer

A sheet of paper, usually carried in a binder, which presents pertinent reasons for a dealer to purchase or promote an item. In the presentation, the sales representative "organizes" his talk around the points covered on the sheet and uses the written words to reinforce the spoken.

Out of Stock

Refers to a condition where something that is normally sold is presently not available, especially for retail sale, because of inadequate supply, or insufficient distribution support.

Outsert

Printed material attached to the outside rather than inserted into a package. Also, package outsert.

Overlay

In a printing sense, any sheet, image, printed matter, etc. superimposed on an existing design or piece of art work. Also, can refer to a promotional theme structure lending unity to the elements of a promotion effort.

Overrun

A number of additional copies of a printed piece in excess of those required for general circulation, distribution or quantity ordered. Also, excessive production of items, creating a manufacturer's overstock.

Package Insert

Advertising material packed with a shipment of a product, usually to advertise a different product.

Packaged Goods

Products wrapped or packaged by the manufacturer, normally of uniform sizes. Items are used broadly and frequently consumed; typically sold through food, drug, and mass merchandiser retail stores.

Payout

A profit return on an investment of marketing expenditures, usually above the ongoing spending rate. Also payback.

Performance Allowance

A rebate of a portion of the purchase price of goods provided to those retailers who agree to perform cooperative merchandising services such as advertising or display; paid after the retailer provides proof of performance.

Pica

A unit of measurement for type or other printed material; six picas equal one inch.

Pilot Test

A preliminary test run on a limited basis to determine if broader testing is warranted.

Plan-o-gram

A valuable merchandising tool used by manufacturer's salespeople to present a product category shelf space allocation recommendation to the trade for their stores. Designed to insure that a manufacturer's product is getting a fair share of store space.

Point-of-Purchase

The place at which a customer encounters a retail item that he or she may buy. Also point-of-sale, P-O-P, P-O-S.

POP

See Proof of Performance.

P.O.P.A.I

Point of Purchase Advertising Institute. An association of printers and manufacturers formed to disseminate information on point-of-sale display materials promoting both its use and efficiency.

Pole Piece

A display backcard in a retail store, mounted on a pole for greater visibility. Also, spectacular.

Pop-up

A special die-cut folder so made that when opened part of it rises from the center fold of the publication.

Pop-up Coupon

A tear-off perforated coupon that is stitched into the binding of a periodical as a separate, small space unit.

Position

In marketing strategy, the consumer perception of a product's or service's benefit or benefits, in comparison to its competition, which its manufacturer attempts to create and encourage via advertising, packaging and/or promotion. Also, the placement of an advertisement in a publication in terms of page number, side, etc., or of a commercial in a program. Also positioning.

Premium

Merchandise offered free or at a reduced price as an inducement to buy a different item or items.
An extra charge, as for a preferred advertising position or for special treatment of advertisements. Also premium price. (adjective)
Noting or pertaining to a product's pricing level as compared to most competitive products.

Premium Container

A container for a retail product which is reusable after the original contents are gone, hence functions as a premium. Sometimes called a container pack.

Premium Pack

A package of a product offering an item, usually in either in-pack or on-pack form.

Premium Rep

A specialize manufacturer's representative serving premium users; a commission sales person representing several different manufacturers or premium supply sources.

Pre-pack Display

Floorstands, pre-assembled display, PAD's - Displays merchandise (product and/or premiums) placed inside at the plant and shipped as one unit rather than shipping display pieced, premiums, and product separately. this procedure makes it relatively easy for the retail outlet to display the product.

Preprice

To mark a retail item with its retail price before it is delivered to a retail store.

Preprint

A printing of periodical advertising on separate sheets before actual publication; done by an advertiser for special purposes, e.g. to serve as retail displays or in order to merchandise his advertising support to retailers.
A color newspaper advertisement (e.g. spectacolor printed on one side of rotogravure stock which is then supplied pre-trimmed to the newspaper, which does its own printing on the opposite side.

Price Pack

A specially produced retail package announcing a temporary reduction from the standard retail price, used as a promotional inducement to purchasers. Also price-off pack, cents off.

Private Label

A wholesaler's or retailer's label bearing its brand name.
Prize Reward given to winner in a contest, sweepstakes or chance promotion; also sometimes refers to salesmen's incentive award, and official state lottery awards.

Promotion

A marketing tool that is a temporary effort to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service by offering values in excess of those customarily afforded by such purchases; includes temporary discounts, allowances, premium offers, coupons, contests, sweepstakes, etc. Also sales promotion.
Loosely, any effort to encourage the purchase of a product or service.

Promotion Allowance

A rebate or discount offered by a manufacturer or his agent to a wholesaler or retailer who agrees to promote the product purchased under allowance. Also merchandising allowance.

Promotion Marketing

An element in the marketing mix designed to stimulate consumer actions and/or dealer effectiveness through various incentives.

Promotion Strategy

A statement of how a marketer plans to meet defined, measurable objectives or goals.

Proof Seals

This term usually refers to a specially printed or affixed shape that serves as a proof of purchase for a specific rather than an ongoing offer.

Proof-of-purchase

Evidence that a consumer has purchased a product or service, as a receipt, label package or portion thereof, etc.; usually specified by manufacturers as appropriate evidence of product purchase in compliance with the terms of a mail-in offer. Often abbreviated as POP's.

Purchase-with-purchase

An offer that allows the consumer to purchase an additional product at an attractive, reduced price. The reduced price is not available if the basic purchase is not made.

Push Money

A special reward given by manufacturers or service sources to agents' or dealers' employees, for encouraging the sale of their own goods rather than a competitor's; usually paid on each sale, regardless of whether it is pushed or not. Abbreviated P.M., Spiff.

Quantity Discount

A discount from list price for buying greater quantities of merchandise.

Redeem

To fulfill the requirements of a consumer promotional offer, as a coupon or trading stamps, in a prescribed manner resulting in receipt of goods at reduced price or free. Redemption.

Redemption

The cashing in of coupons when merchandise is purchased, or trading stamps in order to obtain discounts or premiums.
The percentage of coupons or trading stamps issued that are eventually cased in. Also redemption rate.

Redemption Center

A place where premium merchandise is made available in exchange for trading stamps.

Redemption Rate

The actual or expected percentage of coupons/proof-of-purchase/etc. that have been used by consumers.

Redemption Reserve

Funds put aside by a stamp firm or the user of a coupon plan to pay the cost of merchandise for future redemptions which may come in several years after stamps or coupons are originally issued. Check IRS regulations.

Redemptions Per Case (RPC)

A number used to indicate how many coupons are redeemed to move a case of product. The figure is calculated by taking the product's volume split of shipments by size over the most recent 12 months, converting cases to physical units and assuming that redemptions fall proportionately across the size directed, this will have a bearing upon the RPC figure.

Referral Premium

An item that is offered to a satisfied customer who refers the seller to a friend who may purchase a product. Also "use-the-user plan."

Refund

A promotion device that offers purchasers a return of some or all of an amount of money or coupons when they send proofs of purchase to the manufacturer.
To issue such a return.

Return on Investment (ROI)

A term used to describe how a company measures the gains from expenditures. For co-op advertising and other trade allowance programs, measuring ROI has becoming an area of growing concern. The large budgets devoted to these programs has caused most companies today to develop some form of measurement to determine the results obtained for the dollars spent.

Reusable Container Pack

A container for a retail product which is reusable after the original contents are gone, hence functions as a premium. Sometimes called a container pack.

Robinson Patman Act

The laws that govern co-op and other promotional allowance programs. Enforced by The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) this Act has been interpreted in the Guides for Advertising Allowances and other Merchandising Payments and Services, sometimes known as the "Meyer Guides."

ROI

See Return on Investment.

Rotogravure (Roto)

A form of printing where the image is chemically etched upon a copper cylinder. Most Sunday magazine supplements are printed by the roto-gravure process on various grades of coated paper. Also refers to special color circulars run by retail accounts to highlight special product savings.

Run-of-Press

The status of an advertisement positioned at the publisher's discretion. Also, run-of-book, run-of-paper. Abbreviated R.O.P.

Salable Sample

A product sample or smaller-than-normal trail size which is sold at a normal price at retail.

Sales Contest

A competition open to a company's sales personnel or to prospects, structured to reward superior performance or unusually large purchases. See Sales Incentive.

Sales Incentive

A reward in excess of salary or commission provided to a salesperson in return for achieving or exceeding a stated sales goal. See Sales Contest.

Sales Promotion

See promotion marketing.

Sampling

Delivery of a product to the consumer with the intent of encouraging trail of the product. The size of the sample will vary depending on consumer behavior and costs.

Satellite Switching

A group of brands that consumers consider to be equal and acceptable for use. Scratch-and-sniff Trademark. A micro-encapsulation process, used to convey a specific scent to readers of print media; such scents are released by scratching a properly treated area of paper or scratching a tape affixed to the printed piece which breaks the microscopic sized plastic "scent bubbles" thus releasing the aroma.

Seasonality Index

A measurement that expresses the variation in sales of goods or services, for a brand or category, from an even distribution throughout the year as influenced by seasonal factors; e.g. suntan lotions have an extremely high summer seasonality index.

Self-Liquidator

A premium having a cost fully covered by the purchase price for which it is offered. Also, a display unit provided by a manufacturer in return for payment by a retailer covering its cost. Self-liquidating.

Share

The percentage of total retail purchases, in terms of dollars or units, for a given category of product that is enjoyed by any one brand in that category. Also share of market, share of retail sales.
In a rating survey the percentage of the television or radio audience in a coverage area that is tuned to the program being rated.

Share Point

One percent of the total market or audience.

Shelf

A retail store's physical facility for displaying products above the floor in areas open to customers; usually, a long, narrow series of six or seven horizontal tiers.
In current availability, as off-the-shelf.

Shelf Card

A display card designed to be set up on a shelf in a retail store.

Shelf Extender

A tray-like extension that projects outward from a retail store shelf, used for special displays or as a means of increasing the regular shelf display. Also extender.

Shelf Pack

A container for retail item of sufficiently small size to permit the full amount to be placed on a shelf with ordinary clearance height.

Shelf Space

The amount of point-of-purchase space occupied by a type of merchandise in a retail store; measured in terms of square feet, linear feet, or number of facings.

Shelf Talker

A printed advertising message designed to hang over the edge of a retail store shelf.

Short-Shipped

An order which has been shipped incomplete, usually caused by shortage of stock or warehouse error. Results in out-of-stock at retail level.

Significant Difference

The size of the difference is sufficiently large such that there is less than one chance in 20 that it could have occurred by chance alone when there is not a true difference.

SKU

See Stock Keeping Unit.

Slick

A proof printed on glossy (coated) paper, clean in appearance and suitable for reproduction. Also enamel proof.

Slippage

Those people who purchase a product with the intent of claiming a promotion reward for such a purchase (e.g. send for a refund, or premium, or redeem a coupon), who fail to fulfill this intent.
The ratio between such purchases, and purchases by those people who claim such a reward; usually stated as a percentage of total purchases. Also slippage rate.

Slot

Describes a physical space in a trade warehouse used to store product or price variation.

Sorry Copy

A printed message, usually on the cardboard baking of certificate pads, that indicates the address for obtaining the offer certificate by mail, or provides details for responding to the offer. This provides the consumer with a way to participate in a mail-in offer when all of the certificates have been removed by previous shoppers.

Space Allocation

The amount of shelf space allotted to a product or group of related products in a retail store.

Special Canvass

An intensive round of sales visits to a chain or group of retail stores intended to obtain support for a new brand or promotion.

Special Purchase Allowance

An allowance granted by a manufacturer or wholesaler to a retailer, made in addition to a basic merchandising allowance for the purchase of goods within a stated period. Abbreviated S.P.A. (Must be offered to all competing retailers.)

Spending Split

The percentage or dollar amounts allocated by a marketer's plans to each of the three key marketing spending elements, that is, advertising, consumer promotion, and trade promotion.

Spiff

Spillout

Product shipments that go to retail outlets outside a given marketing/sales area. May also refer to TV messages that go outside of a test area.

Split Run

(in periodical printing) A press run that carries two or more different forms of an advertiser's message in different copies or issues, to test the effectiveness of one advertisement against another or to appeal to regional or other specific markets.

Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area

A federally-designated urban area consisting of counties that meet certain standards for population, urban character, and economic and social integration with the county or counties serving as the urban center. Abbreviated S.M.S.A.

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)

Most used in the grocery channels, but being used more in other channels as well, this refers to a "line item" or a specific version of a product carried by a retailer or distributor. The item is most often assigned a Universal Price Code (UPC) to distinguish it. SKU's can refer to anything from a specific size of a bottle of aspirin to a specific type and size of photographic film.

Storecast

A radio-like presentation of music, advertisements, etc., through a sound system in a retail store.

Store Check

An examination of the merchandise carried by a retail store by persons not on the store's staff, and usually not a salesperson; done as a means of sales or marketing management intelligence gathering.

Store Door Delivery

Delivery of product or materials directly to a store by a manufacturer or his employee.

Sunday Supplement

Any of various non-news sections included with a Sunday newspaper, such as comics, or television schedules, FSI's and especially general interest magazine sections.

Supermarket

A large, departmentalized self-service food store, often with a large variety of non-food items; a warehouse supplying the store regularly and a large parking lot for patrons are generally regarded as characteristics of a true supermarket. Some industry sources reserve the term "supermarket" for stores whose annual All Commodity Dollar Volume is $1MM or more.

Sweepstakes

A chance promotion involving the giveaway of products and services of value to a randomly selected group of those who have submitted qualified entries. To prevent infringement of lottery laws, such promotions do not require qualifying entrants to provide a monetary consideration, such as a purchase. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received.

Swing Buyers

Purchasers who will change brands to take advantage of a promotions offer.

TPMA

The Promotional Allowance Association. The only trade association in the U. S. devoted to educating those involved with the creation and implementation of co-op advertising and other trade allowance programs. Formed in 1989, TPMA has grown to include over 100 major corporations, retailers, distributors, service and media firms. The Association conducts an annual industry conference in the Spring, and training seminars at other times in the year.

Target Market

A group of the population which is believed to hold the greatest sales potential for the product. The advertiser often tries to isolate media which reach the target market and designs messages which communicate with its members.

Tear-Pads

Tear-pads or "take-one" pads consist of several sheets in a pad, designed to communicate the details of a consumer offer at the point of purchase (usually affixed to a shelf or used in conjunction with a large piece of display material).

Tearsheet

An unbound page from a periodical showing an article, advertisement, etc. as printed; used as a proof or as an extra copy.

Test Market

A limited geographical area in which a test of an alternate marketing plan variable or new product is conducted. Cf. sales area test.

Test Market Translation

A conversion of a national marketing plan to test market dimensions. Or conversely, a projection of test market results to a larger geographic area. Also translation.

30 Day Rule

Tie-In Promotion

A single promotion event intended to encourage the sale of more than one product or brand.

Tip-In

A pre-printed advertising page or card inserted into a periodical whose regular page size is larger.

Tip-On

A coupon, sample, or reply card glued by one edge to a page of advertising.

Trading Stamp

Any of various stamps offered as premiums with merchandise purchases, the number given being in proportion to the total sales amount; such stamps, in specific numbers, are redeemable for specific types of merchandise.

Traffic Builder

A relatively low-cost premium offered free as an inducement to a consumer to visit a store for a demonstration.

Travel Incentive

A trip, group or individual, offered to salesmen or dealers for meeting specific sales quotas. Often tied in with sales meeting at resort areas.

Trail

A purchase or use of a product or service by a consumer interested in personally evaluating its value, as a step preceding a subsequent purchase or regular use.

Trial Size

A product package of small size and low price, intended or serving to attract product trail.

Twin Pack

A promotion event whereby two product units are sold as one, at a discounted price; usually implemented by packaging which physically unites the two units and flags the savings offered.

Two-for-one

A promotion that offers consumers two units of product for the price of one.

Universal Product Code (UPC)

A special code number and striped visual code on the package which is used by optical scanners at checkout counters to automatically record the brand and its price.

Volume Merchandising Allowance

An allowance offered to a retailer for the purchase of large volumes of goods; offered as an encouragement to the retailer to merchandise the goods aggressively. Abbreviated V.M.A. See quantity discount.

Voluntary Chain

A group of independent stores that combine under a common trade name for purchasing and merchandising purposes, often under the sponsorship of wholesaler. Also voluntary association, voluntary group, voluntary.

Voluntary Store

An independent retailer who is a member of a voluntary chain.

Warehouse Inventory Reduction Allowance

A specific payment offered to the trade for case of product moved from the warehouse to retail during a specified period of time. This allowance is measured on a Count-Recount basis.

Warehouse Store

A retail store, usually of large size, offering discount prices by means of eliminating or reducing such services as carryouts, deliveries, price marking of items, shelf stocking, etc.

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Updated as of 09/01/2006