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Background Note
| HBS Case Collection
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1987
(Revised from original version)
Specialties vs. Commodities: The Battle for Profit Margins
by
Benson P. Shapiro
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Abstract
Explains the differences between commodities and specialties and defines four different types of specialty products. The analysis is customer oriented. Special attention is given to the distinctions between functions (product- ) and relationship (vendor-oriented) specialties and to the degradation of those specialty markets to commodities.
Keywords: Goods and Commodities;