EDEXCEL GCSE BUSINESS · PAPER 1
Exam Practice: Customer Needs
Customer needs · Spotting a business opportunity · Lesson 1 of 5 · 13 marks · 20 minutes
Name Date
Answer all questions. Use the context of the business in the question where one is given.
Question 1 STATE [1 mark]
State one customer need.
Question 2 DEFINE [1 mark]
Define the term 'customer needs'.
Question 3 OUTLINE [2 marks]
Outline one way a business could meet customers' need for convenience.
Question 4 EXPLAIN [3 marks]
Explain one reason why it is important for a business to identify customer needs.
Question 5 ANALYSE [6 marks]
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SOURCE Maya runs a small sandwich shop near a busy train station. Most of her customers are commuters buying breakfast and lunch on their way to work. A new supermarket has opened next door selling meal deals at a lower price than Maya's sandwiches. |
Analyse the importance to Maya of meeting her customers' need for convenience.
Answers
Check your answer only once you have written one.
Question 1 [1 mark]
Convenience.
▸ Any one of: price; quality; choice; convenience 1 mark
Question 2 [1 mark]
The things customers require from a product or service, such as the right price, quality, choice and convenience.
▸ What customers want or require from a product / service 1 mark
Question 3 [2 marks]
The business could offer online ordering with home delivery (1), so customers can buy the product without having to travel to a shop (1).
▸ A way identified, e.g. location / opening hours / online ordering / delivery 1 mark
▸ Developed: how this makes buying easier for customers 1 mark
Question 4 [3 marks]
To generate sales (1). If the business knows what customers need, it can provide a product at the right price, quality and convenience (1). This means customers are more likely to buy from it rather than from competitors, increasing revenue and helping the business survive (1).
▸ A reason identified, e.g. generate sales / survival / customer loyalty / beat competitors 1 mark
▸ First linked point of explanation 1 mark
▸ Second linked point of explanation 1 mark
Question 5 [6 marks]
Maya's customers are commuters who are often in a hurry, so convenience is one of their most important needs. If she opens early and serves quickly, commuters can buy breakfast without missing their train, which means they are more likely to choose her shop every day. This builds loyal customers and regular sales. Convenience is also how Maya can compete with the new supermarket. She cannot match its lower prices, but if she offers faster service, pre-ordering on an app or a loyalty card, commuters may pay a little more to save time. This means she can protect her sales and revenue even though she is more expensive.
▸ AO2 (Application, 3 marks): uses the context - commuters, the station, the supermarket's lower prices Level 1-3
▸ AO3a (Analysis, 3 marks): chains of reasoning showing why convenience matters to Maya's sales and survival Level 1-3