PRICE WARS: How to get IN and OUT ALIVE and THRIVE????

[inle]

I had started a mini project last year and I realised that i am in a PRICE WAR business environment..
The customers' main decision to purchase are largely dependent on the pricings..
After much considerations, this project had to be dropped..

I had also noticed that the gas (for cooking food at home and f&b establishments) industry in my country is also in price wars..

I wonder how we can clear this at all?
Any advice?

[inle]

Price Wars take place where consumers percieved the offerings in the marketplace as commondities..
Which means that every products, services in the specific market environmeno are the same in all aspects of concerns of the customers..

That's when it is good to create the UNIQUENESS in our offerings..
I could not go into details in each item and it will be good to onsider some of these items to stand out and differentiate:
1. Branding (Psychological MindShare & Creation of Market Percieved Value)..
2. Market Positioning..
3. Products/Services..
4. Price (the alterations in pricing MUST not contribute to the Price War but to attach the customers' percieved value to it)..
5. Places of Distributions & Channels.
6. Promotion (Note that Promotion is NOT discounts or special offers.. Those are under the Price category because they alter the pricing aspects..
Promotion is the transmission and communication of our offerings to the market)..
7. People (e.g. Suppliers, Employees, Customers, Customers' Customers, Compeitors & Alliances)..

I am writing from memory, so if I left anything out or anyone who have any ideas and comments, please feel free to add to this list of items ya..

PS:
I am aware we got many good marketeers, experts & businessmen out there..
Please do share with us on your expertises and experiences ya..

Thank You..

[inle]

This is shared by one of the veteran businessman, William whom I know of and who is into IT and computer trade for coming 15 years:

"Change your concept of sales. All products has price war when there is a comparison. Like my trade in computer sales, customer will tend to compare price. Add value to your product, or make it into service so that it is totally different strategy from other competitor. For example, people tend to sell water dispenser and also bottle of waters for companies. Later they change to free machine rental but contractual agreement for 1 yr supply etc.

Cannot beat them, confuse them. Cannot be cheaper, add in value to make it into a premier product that comes with premier service.

You either win by price strategy or product differentiation.

Sounds easy on theory that I write, but in practical it really need some thoughts...."