Loss Leader Strategy

What does it Mean? A business strategy in which a business offers a product or service at a price that is not profitable for the sake of offering another product/service at a greater profit or to attract new customers. This is a common practice when a business first enters a market; a loss leader introduces new customers to a service or product in the hope of building a customer base and securing future recurring revenue. 
Investopedia Says... The loss leader strategy is more than just a nifty business trick - it is a successful strategy if executed properly.  

A classic example is that of razor blades. Companies like Gillette essentially give their razor units away for free, knowing that customers will have to buy their replacement blades, which is where the company makes all of its profit. 

Another example is Microsoft's Xbox video game system, which was sold at a loss of more than $100 per unit to create more potential to profit from the sale of higher-margin video games. 

Terms Related Links

BCG Growth-Share Matrix
Porter's 5 Forces
Strategic Alliance
Stuffing The Channel

Terms Related Links
The Bottom Line On Margins - Take a deeper look at a company's profitability with the help of profit-margin ratios.

The Stages Of Industry Growth - Look at the big picture when choosing a company - what you see may really be a stage in its industry's growth.

How rapidly can expanding sales reduce a firm's earnings?




add investopedia foot
www.investopedia.com