A Hybrid MCDM Model to Identify and Prioritize of Promotional Mix Tools in Plastic Industry

Marketing is a process by which people exchange goods and meet their needs and demands. Marketing mix or 4p (product price, place, promotion) is a powerful tool that helps to advance marketing goals. The purpose of promotion is the activities by which the company gives costumer good information about its products and encourages him/her to purchase. So, by prioritization of the components of promotion mix (Advertisement, Sale promotion, Public relations, Personal selling, Direct marketing) compatible with any business, increase in sale can be achieved. The purpose of this study is to help managers in plastic industry companies in order to identify and prioritize mix promotional tools to improve their sale. For this purpose, 22 effective promotional tools in plastic industry were identified with the help of library research and experts ideas. 105 head managers with at least 5 years of experience were examined. To collect the data, the researchers used a questionnaire with Cronbach Alpha with the range of 65-83 for all the items and the Validity of questionnaire was confirmed by the experts. After identifying appropriate mix promotional tools by experts, they were prioritized by MADM methods (SAW, TOPSIS, ELECTERE and LINMAP). As the results of mentioned methods were not the same, in order to reach a consensus, the researchers used mix methods called Copeland. The result of prioritizing by Copeland showed that TV advertisement, trade fairs (creating a special imagination in costumer’s mind by showing the product) and present sale of the product, have more priority relative to other tools. Based on the results, managers and marketers in plastic industry will be able to identify the best mix promotional methods by the use of multi attribute decision making methods and so they can enhance their sale.