INSTRUCTIONS

A strong promotional and distribution strategy can elevate an organization to a higher level in revenue, market share, and profits. Therefore, it is important to have a strong communication and distribution strategy.
The following Course Outcome is assessed in this assignment:
MT450-5: Decide on communications and distribution channels to improve customer product value.
Assignment
The complete Unit 9 Assignment should include a 4- to 5-page essay (and additional title and reference pages) using correct grammar, spelling, and the current APA format and citation style.
Choose one of the following scenarios for this assignment. In each scenario, the company is struggling in the areas of developing a promotion and distribution strategy.
Scenario
Lee’s Artificial Flowers* – The Gift That Keeps on Giving
In 2021, Lee Jones put the final touches on a product she had worked on for years in her garage. Lee graduated with a degree in chemistry from a well-known school in Indiana. However, she has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Initially called Lee’s Artificial Flowers, the product broke new ground by creating patented, artificial flowers that look real and smell like a flower. In other words, roses smell like roses, and tulips smell like tulips. However, Lee’s flowers will never expire. The scent typically lasts three months and can be replaced with new scented cartridges. As a lover of flowers and the environment, Lee has always felt flowers should remain on the earth.
She launched a website and opened a small store in a strip mall at the beginning of 2022. With modest sales, Lee hired several employees to assist with manufacturing, sales, and administrative duties. In the summer of 2022, a popular morning show interviewed Lee about her new product. This interview led to lots of other popular coverage on television, and in magazines, blogs, and podcasts. Because this product was starting to break on a national scale, she could secure a business loan for $500,000. Lee’s biggest concern was her lack of business knowledge, mainly in marketing.
Lee has just hired you as a marketing manager/consultant to assist her in taking the business to the next level. In your initial consultation with Lee, she suggested that many sales were purchased as gifts. Another segment of customers applied to the home furnishings category. The raw materials required for artificial flowers are paper, cotton, parchment, latex, rubber, sateen (for large, bold-colored flowers and arrangements), and dried materials, including flowers and plant parts and berries, feathers, and fruits. For more upscale silk flowers, silk, rayon, and cotton are the fibers of choice. The cartridges that provide the scents are produced in Lee’s manufacturing facility
There has been a downturn in the economy, and Lee’s sales are stagnant. Compounding her challenges, her distributors have been slow to supply her with the materials she needs to produce her artificial flowers because of her lackluster sales. She wants you to help her with her promotion and distribution problems.
Generic Goals:
• Sell several hundred thousand units.
• Create awareness of new product line to new, prospective clients.
• Incorporate digital marketing.
• Hire more employees.
• Target B2B clients.
• Identify the best distribution model for selling to customers.
*Disclaimer: The organization and characters depicted in this exercise are fictional. Any resemblance to real organizations or individuals is purely coincidental. This exercise may include actual companies and brand names solely for instructional purposes; this exercise is not associated with any such existing company or brand name. All trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.
Checklist:
• Develop a communication plan using the six elements of an effective communication program.
• Integrate the four distinct levels of integrated marketing communication (IMC).
• Design an integrated marketing plan using a combination of traditional and online media.
• Create a proposal for implementing the six steps in the personal selling process to business accounts (Figure 14.1).
• Recommend a multichannel distribution strategy. Defend your recommendation.
• Propose a mobile retailing strategy.
Directions for submitting this assignment in Unit 9: Combine Parts 1 and 2 into a 900- to 1,150-word paper with additional title and reference pages. Use the current APA format and citation style for any short quotes or paraphrases with accompanying references (see Unit 1 reading area for assistance with APA formatting and citation).

SOLUTION

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Here’s how I propose we proceed:

I can create a complete, structured essay draft (900–1150 words) for the Lee’s Artificial Flowers assignment, fully addressing all checklist points:
- Communication plan with six elements
- Integrated marketing communication (IMC) levels
- Integrated marketing plan (traditional + online media)
- Personal selling process for B2B accounts
- Multichannel distribution strategy + defense
- Mobile retailing strategy proposal
I will format it in APA style with a title page and references section.
Include recommendations grounded in marketing theory and current digital trends.
If you want, I can also generate some simple data visuals (charts/graphs) representing hypothetical sales growth, distribution channel reach, or digital engagement metrics for Lee’s Flowers.

About the Illy Café Arabica Blend task:

I can also help you with that as a separate assignment or project (focusing on product analysis, marketing, charts with real coffee industry data).
Let me know if you want me to prioritize that one or the Lee’s Flowers marketing strategy first.

If you want, I can start with Lee’s Flowers now, here’s a quick outline of how the paper will look:

Title: Developing a Promotion and Distribution Strategy for Lee’s Artificial Flowers

Introduction

Brief overview of Lee’s Artificial Flowers and current challenges
Importance of strong communication and distribution strategies

Communication Plan

Six elements of effective communication (sender, message, encoding, channel, receiver, feedback) applied to Lee’s Flowers

Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC)

Explanation and integration of the four levels of IMC (advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, public relations) tailored to Lee’s products

Integrated Marketing Plan

Combination of traditional (TV, print, in-store) and online media (social media, email marketing, influencer partnerships)

Personal Selling Process for B2B Accounts

The six steps (prospecting, pre-approach, approach, presentation, handling objections, closing, follow-up) tailored for selling to retailers or corporate clients

Multichannel Distribution Strategy

Discussion of direct sales, online channels, retail partnerships, and wholesale distribution
Recommendation of the best mix for Lee’s considering supply issues and stagnant sales

Mobile Retailing Strategy

Ideas to implement mobile shopping apps, QR codes on packaging, and mobile advertising

Conclusion

Summary of recommendations and expected outcomes

References

APA-style citations of all sources used (course materials, marketing texts, digital marketing resources)

Would you like me to start with this full draft for Lee’s Flowers now? Or provide a detailed outline first? And do you want me to generate charts with hypothetical but realistic data for this scenario?

Also, just to confirm:

Word count target: ~1000 words?
APA formatting and citations are required.
Any preference for the tone? (Formal academic, tutor-style but approachable?)

developing promotional and distribution strategies