Business & Finance - Marketing Maryland Zoo Marketing Plan Assignment

STRENGTHS: Strengths are internal organizational factors that give it competitive advantages over competitors (Kerin & Hartley, 2019). Some of the strengths that Maryland Zoo enjoys include the following bulleted below:

WEAKNESSES: Weaknesses are things associated with an organization that is perceived as disadvantages compared to competitors (Kerin & Hartley, 2019). Things that make the organization vulnerable to competitors. Some of the weaknesses synonymous with Maryland Zoo include the following bulleted below:

· The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited the Zoo. Data indicates that less than 10% of the Zoos are AZA accredited.

· The Zoo offers affordable fees for its services

· The Zoo has a membership program with significant benefits.

· It is strategically located in one of the most populated Maryland cities.

· The Zoo is designed to accommodate people with different forms of disabilities.

· The Zoo has designed educational programs offered to members and visitors.

· It has implemented programs that are meant to protect and save wildlife.

· It competes with zoos, such as Smithsonian National Zoological Park in D.C., which has free entry.

· The Zoo offers expensive dining options.

· The animal varieties at the Zoo are less compared to other National Zoos. The Zoo does not offer rain checks and refunds, which affects ticket sales on a gloomy day.

OPPORTUNITIES: Opportunities offer organizations external possibilities and prospects for future development (Kerin & Hartley, 2019). Some of the opportunities that are identifiable with Maryland Zoo include the following bulleted below:

THREATS: Threats are external issues that limit the prospect of the organization. Given the emotive nature of threats, organizations cannot take them lightly (Kerin & Hartley, 2019). Some of the threats that are synonymous with Maryland Zoo include the following listed below:

· The Zoo offers its clients discounts during low seasons

· The Zoo should introduce more in-house exhibits during bad weather.

· The Zoo should introduce elephant rides to take advantage of its numerous elephants.

· The Zoo should introduce other products, such as the tree-top ropes course other zoos offer.

· The zoo experience pushovers from animal rights activists

· Many people are not willing to spend their discretionary money on visiting zoos

· The Zoo faces competition from other fun activities offered in D.C. and Maryland.

· Many potential consumers need to be more interested in the same products offered by the Zoo.

· Many people choose not to visit zoos because they can watch animals in documentaries on channels such as Neo-Geography.

· Ticket sales are affected by the increased precipitation in Baltimore.

Economic

Social

· The Zoo offers cost-effective zoo trips to parents who frequently bring their children to the Zoo.

· The Zoo offers convenient membership programs for frequent visitors.

· Many people do not feel worth going to the zoos because of the costs that are synonymous with such visits.

· The advent of social media and new media has reduced the number of people visiting zoos.

· People feel that the rights of the animals kept at the zoos are violated and have no interest in seeing them.

Competitiveness

Technological

· The Zoo faces competition from other zoos in the region and other sources of attractions.

· The zoo experience competition from other animal documentary television channels such as National Geographic, YouTube, and Animal Planets.

· There are other sources of attractions and entertainment in Baltimore that limit the Zoo's income.

· Technological advancements have made it possible for people to view animals through other sources.

· Virtual reality has reduced the number and the need for people to go to zoos to watch animals, limiting income for the Zoo.

Regulatory

· AZA-accredited zoos are constantly evolving, and standards are continuously being raised (FAQS. (N.D.).