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The Problem with Retail Promotions: Diminishing Returns of Discounting in a Promo-Saturated Market

By Fabrizio Fantini • 9 May 2024

Imagine strolling into your favorite store, only to find yourself in a sea of “SALE!” signs and “50% OFF!” banners. It’s a common scenario. Retailers rely heavily on promotions, which can account for between 10% and 45% of their total revenues, according to research from Boston Consulting Group. In today’s dynamic retail landscape, promotions are undeniably a potent tool for driving sales and customer engagement. However, their pervasive use has given rise to a paradoxical situation—while promotions aim to attract customers, their overabundance often leads to diminishing returns.  

In this first of our blog series on “The Problem with Retail Promotions”, we delve into the multifaceted challenges posed by retail promotions and explore some actionable strategies to navigate this complex terrain effectively. 

The Short-Term Focus Trap: Balancing Immediate Gains with Long-Term Sustainability

The Saturation Issue: Navigating Through the Noise 

Consumers are often inundated with choices in a market saturated with promotions, leading to what can be termed “promotion cannibalization.” Rather than compelling customers to make purchases, the abundance of discounts can overwhelm them, resulting in decision paralysis. Likewise, generic promotions fail to resonate with consumers who increasingly crave personalized experiences. As research suggests, nearly 60% of consumers prefer tailored promotions that cater to their individual preferences and shopping behaviors. So, the saturation issue underscores the need for retailers to adopt a more discerning approach to promotions—one that prioritizes relevance and careful discounting over sheer quantity. 

The Short-Term Focus Trap: Balancing Immediate Gains with Long-Term Sustainability 

While promotions offer a tempting shortcut to bolstering sales in the short term, their random use can have detrimental effects on a retailer’s bottom line. The allure of immediate revenue often blinds retailers to the long-term consequences of margin erosion and brand dilution. Frequent discounts may drive sales volumes, but at what cost?  

Margin erosion diminishes profitability, undermining the sustainability of the business in the long run. Overreliance on promotions can tarnish a brand’s reputation, positioning it as a purveyor of cheap goods rather than a provider of value and quality. To avoid falling into the short-term focus trap, retailers must adopt a more strategic outlook that balances immediate gains with the preservation of brand integrity and long-term profitability. 

The Unprofitable Cycle: Escaping the Discount Spiral

The Unprofitable Cycle: Escaping the Discount Spiral 

It’s not just margins that suffer. A significant portion of retail promotions fail to deliver even the desired volume uplift. In a bid to outdo competitors and meet ambitious sales targets, retailers often find themselves trapped in an unprofitable cycle of escalating discounts that fail to deliver any real benefit. This vicious cycle not only exacerbates margin erosion but also yields diminishing returns over time. The pressure to offer deeper discounts to lure customers further compounds the problem, creating a downward spiral that is difficult to escape. To break free from this cycle, retailers must resist the temptation to engage in indiscriminate discounting and instead focus on strategies that drive sustainable growth and profitability. 

Solutions for Smarter Retail Promotions 

In light of these challenges, retailers can adopt a range of strategies to navigate the intricacies of the promotional landscape more effectively. 

  1. Customer-Centric Approach: Putting the Consumer First
    Retailers must adopt a customer-centric promotions approach to resonate with today’s discerning consumers. This entails understanding consumer preferences, behaviors and purchasing patterns to tailor promotions accordingly. Rather than inundating customers with generic discounts, retailers should leverage data analytics to deliver personalized offers that are relevant and compelling. By investing in promotions that align with individual preferences, retailers can enhance customer satisfaction and drive loyalty in the long term. 
  2. Rigorous ROI Calculations: Evaluating Promotional Effectiveness
    To gauge the true impact of promotions, retailers must employ rigorous return on investment (ROI) calculations that extend beyond immediate sales metrics. By measuring the long-term effects of promotions on customer loyalty and brand equity, retailers can make more informed decisions about where to allocate promotional resources. Additionally, identifying and eliminating unprofitable promotions allows retailers to optimize their promotional mix and maximize ROI. 
  3. Unified Organization: Fostering Collaboration Across Departments
    Effective promotion management requires seamless integration and communication across all departments within an organization. By breaking down silos and fostering collaboration between marketing, sales and finance teams, retailers can ensure consistency and coherence in promotional strategies. Access to reliable data and insights enables cross-functional teams to make informed decisions that drive business outcomes and enhance overall promotional effectiveness. 

The Saturation Issue: Navigating Through the Noise

Embracing a Paradigm Shift in Retail Promotions 

The proliferation of retail promotions presents both challenges and opportunities for retailers. By shifting from a quantity-driven approach to a more nuanced and strategic perspective, retailers can unlock the full potential of promotions to drive sales, enhance customer engagement, and build brand loyalty. It’s not about offering more promotions—it’s about offering the right ones. By embracing customer-centricity, rigor in ROI calculations and organizational cohesion, retailers can thrive in a competitive market while delivering meaningful value to their customers. 

Want to understand how customer-centric promotions can maximize your ROI?

Talk to us about how Promo.io makes it easy to do just that.

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