Research by: Sandeep Puri, Rakesh Singh, and Jatin Batra
Abstract
In October 2020, the managing director of Laurs & Bridz Pharmaceuticals Private Limited was considering changing the company’s sales strategy to reflect the challenges that India’s pharmaceutical industry was facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company was also considering launching a new antiviral drug. The COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted many routine sales practices, such as in-person meetings with customers, and had also affected drug distribution. Consequently, the sales team had managed to achieve only 87.4 per cent of its sales targets in the first three quarters, with a mere 9.3 per cent growth over the previous year against a targeted growth rate of 25.1 per cent. The managing director had to consider all factors affecting his company’s sales performance during the COVID-19 crisis. What strategies could he devise to motivate sales managers and representatives facing uneven growth across different zones? Should he revise sales targets this late in the year? What were the pros and cons of launching a new product during these times of market uncertainty?
Learning Objectives
This case is designed for use in an undergraduate course in a segment on sales management, and is also suitable for a sales management course which discusses sales performance and sales targets. This case will help students understand the importance of setting the right sales targets and considering all relevant factors, including industry growth, market segment growth, enhanced sales force, launch of new products, and various promotional activities. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to:
- understand the various factors affecting sales performance;
- discuss what internal and external factors to consider when setting sales targets;
- understand the process of revising sales targets;
- discuss how sales targets motivate the sales force; and
- discuss the role of marketing strategies in helping the company achieve its sales targets.
Disciplines: Marketing
To cite this case: Puri, S., Singh, R., & Batra, J. (2021). Laurs & Bridz: Sales targets and antiviral drug launch. Ivey ID: W25457. Ivey Publishing.
To access this case: https://www.iveypublishing.ca/s/product/laurs-bridz-sales-targets-and-antiviral-drug-launch/01t5c00000D4zXJAAZ
