A well-thought-out marketing strategy starts with understanding how to promote a product and brand through a retail marketing mix. Before a company can begin introducing a new product into the retail market, a careful evaluation of its marketing mix is ​​essential to the success of the product. Introducing a new product begins with careful consideration to offer the right product, to the right selected target market, at the right price, combined with the right location. This promotion strategy provides the product or service with some key elements for marketing success. All elements in the retail marketing mix influence each other, and when you align a properly developed and executed strategy, you achieve success. Distribution Strategy Major retailers, such as Target, Walmart, and Home Depot, all understand the strength of their brand and store image and make informed choices by selecting key real estate, eye-catching in-store POP propaganda, and strategic store layouts to distribute goods to consumers and still obtain the maximum profit margin. “Product distribution, whether you are a large retailer or a small group of stores, will follow similar steps in the distribution process taking into account both profits with channel partners and end users of the service” (Beck, 2013). Without proper distribution channels, a company may have the best product on the market, but its product may never reach the consumer. Before distributing the product/service, a company must identify its target market, know who they are competitors and understand the market in which they intend to place their product or service. Large retailers have the financial depth to reach consumers through various media channels; direct mailers, television advertising... half of the paper... The cost spent on the advertising is usually quite high compared to the overall cost of the goods, but exceeds the cost of reaching the target market. A promotion strategy includes not only advertising but also selling, sales promotion and public relations, all in the name of reaching the consumer. “An effective promotional strategy will maintain current positions in the market while building new markets, but target the revenue generated by its reach” (Pierce College, 2013). Works CitedBeck, M. Bryan., (2013). Small business news. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/write-marketing-distribution-channel-strategy-65869.htmlThe hardware Connection., (2013). Smart retail pricing strategies. Retrieved from http://www.thehardwareconnection.com/housing-market-starting-to-improve/http://faculty.piercecollege.edu/rskidmore/Ghost/library/Chapters/CHPT13-04.pdf