Retailers Can Significantly Increase Profits by Changing Their Pricing Strategy Reveals University of Miami Study

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New research out of the University of Miami School of Business Administration shows that retailers can substantially increase sales and profits if they increase the price of a sale item to its original cost in gradual steps rather than in one swift move. In fact, a 30-week field study showed a 200 percent increase in sales and a 55 percent increase in profits by using this strategy, coined "Steadily Decreasing Discounting" or "SDD" by the researchers.

SDD was tested against two commonly used pricing strategies, Everyday Low Pricing (EDLP) and Hi-Lo Pricing. EDLP, used by discount stores such as Wal-Mart, consistently features items at low prices and seldom on sale. Hi-Lo pricing occurs when stores offer significant discounts on selected items for a limited time period.

"SDD starts like Hi-Lo pricing in that you have a big sale, but the main difference comes after the initial sale when you progressively increase the price back to its regular level versus in one shot," says Michael Tsiros, an associate professor and chair of the Marketing Department at the University of Miami School of Business and the study's lead author. "By doing so, SDD avoids a key problem of the Hi-Lo strategy - the big dive in sales at the end of the promotion that results from people stocking up on the item during the promotion or because they perceive the price to be too high because it was recently much lower," added Tsiros, who conducted the research with David M. Hardesty of the University of Kentucky

The research found that SDD is more effective than EDLP and Hi-Lo pricing for two primary reasons. First, consumers not only consider past prices, they also forecast what prices will be in the future. So when buyers see a trend of increasing prices, they forecast higher future prices and are more apt to make a purchase today. Second, buyers have been shown to anticipate feeling regret after they miss a sale. So if they expect prices to increase, then they are more likely to make a purchase to avoid the feeling of regret in the future. If they fail to make that purchase during a sale and see a large price increase - from $50 to $100 for example - consumers might delay their purchase. With the incremental approach of SDD - from $50 to $60 to $70, and so on - the price increase is comparatively less significant, and the consumer is more likely to buy immediately, even after having missed the initial sale.

The research included both lab and field studies. One field study took place in an upscale kitchen appliance store that sold wine bottle stoppers for $24.95. The store alternated between SDD and Hi-Lo pricing every week for 30 weeks, with the average price held constant between the two approaches.

SDD pricing was 30 percent off the first day, 20 percent off the second day, and 10 percent off the third day. Hi-Lo pricing was implemented in two ways. The first was the "same depth" as the SDD approach: 30 percent off for two days. The second was the "same frequency" as SDD: three days at 20 percent off.

The result? When compared to selling the wine stoppers at the regular price, same-depth Hi-Lo pricing increased sales by 63 percent and same-frequency Hi-Lo increased sales by 75 percent. But SDD boosted sales by 200 percent. When it came to margins, same-depth Hi-Lo increased profits by 5 percent, while same-frequency Hi-Lo actually decreased profits by 12 percent. SDD drove a 55 percent profit increase.

"SDD could be particularly effective in the current economic downturn," says Tsiros. "Many retailers have been offering discounts of 60 percent or even 80 percent, and stores can't offer those prices forever. But if they bring prices back up in increments, consumers will have time to adjust. Likewise, SDD could have implications for the holiday shopping season because American consumers expect big sales after Thanksgiving - and often delay purchases after the sales end. But with SDD, buyers may decide to purchase now, while the price is still relatively low. That's a prospect that could please consumers and retailers alike."

About the University of Miami School of Business Administration

The University of Miami School of Business Administration is a comprehensive business school, offering undergraduate business, full-time MBA, Executive MBA, MS, PhD and non-degree executive education programs. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Miami, the School is located in a major hub of international trade and commerce and acclaimed for the global orientation and diversity of its faculty, students and curriculum. The School delivers its programs at its main campus in Coral Gables as well as at locations across Florida and abroad. More information about the University of Miami School of Business can be found at www.bus.miami.edu.

    Media Contact:
    Tracy Simon
    University of Miami School of Business Administration
    267-679-2774
    [email protected]

SOURCE University of Miami School of Business Administration