What is the key difference between push and pull marketing strategies?

The key distinction between push and pull marketing strategies lies in how they engage with the market and create demand for products. Push strategies focus on promoting products directly through distribution channels, often involving retailers and wholesalers. This means that manufacturers push their products onto consumers by incentivizing retailers to stock and sell their goods, which can include tactics like trade promotions, discounts, and advertising targeted at the retailer level.

In contrast, pull strategies work by creating consumer demand for a product, encouraging customers to seek out the product from retailers. This can involve engaging consumers directly through advertising, public relations, and social media, stirring interest and motivation for consumers to request or buy the product. As a result, retailers are more likely to increase their inventory to meet this growing consumer demand.

This understanding highlights why the selected answer accurately articulates the core difference: push strategies actively promote products through retail channels to encourage sales, while pull strategies focus on drawing consumers in to generate demand for those products firsthand.