Packaging and Material Holding

Packaging and material handling

Both Mazda and Holden are a reputed name as far as Automakers are considered. Both the brands are known for their supply chain effectiveness worldwide. Packaging is an important element of Marketing Mix. For Automakers the term packaging has slightly different connotation than traditional packaging. Packaging for auto makers does not cover the traditional wrapping of goods. For companies operating in this sector packaging refers to the bundle of offerings that these companies can offer with the main product. For example, Holden is known to attract customers with the special packaging plan. The company provides some free freebies to customers when they buy a new car. Many experts have believed that this strategy of providing something extra at the time of purchase is a good strategy that can make the customers delight. Mazda also does several things to deliver a better integrated packaged solution as a whole. Being a Japanese culture firm, Mazda provides certain final discounts to the customers.

Both the firms understand that packaging is the last step in their supply chain operations. Both the firms target to transfer customers to a delight state. Mazda realize that customers are always careful about each of the penny that they spend. Hence to delight the customers it is essential that a bundled of product is offered to them (Shaharoun, 2011, pp 568). Mazda typically operates in a Japanese culture and for Mazda everything delivered to customers should be a value addition. Mazda understands that the entire marketing mix would loss the relevance if packaging is not done in an effective manner. For Mazda packaging is as important as any other element of marketing mix. This is the case with Holden. It has been reported that Holden give much emphasis on price and promotion as compared to packaging. Holden believes that packaging is just an extended element of marketing mix that should be given consideration but the other elements (price, promotion, and place) should be handled first.

Mazda has a standardized packaging strategy and it stick to its core strategy. Mazda believes that it can first come up with any packaging strategy in Japanese market and then it can replicate the same in other parts of the world. On another side Holden believes to have new and unique packaging strategy for each of the country that it enters. The company realizes that culture plays a big role in purchase decision. Therefore Holden has a strategy to come up with customized packaging for each culture. As discussed above the packaging for Holden means the complete integrated offering.

As far as material handling is considered, it won't be incorrect to say that Mazda is better place than Holden. The major reason could be Japanese culture. Mazda is a typical Japanese country which given due consideration to the efficiency in the entire supply chain. The main target of Mazda is to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of entire supply chain. Mazda has done both backward and forward integration with suppliers and other manufacturers that help the company to handle the materials in effective and efficient way. Holden believes in developing good relationship with suppliers. Holden believes in relationship marketing and it believes it can handle the procurement of material in a better way if it has good relationship