The e-retailing form of m arket was something unheard to the Indian customer in `2007`. Flipkart which has created a niche for itself in terms of market share, goodwill and populartiy in the online market to threat because of its smooth operations. It started with an intital captial of `4rs` lakh it now aims for annual turnover of around `4500rs` crore.
Idnetify one three marketing functions performed by flipkart to reach this position.

Explanation

Three marketing functions performed by flipkart are :
`(i)` Gathering and analysing market information In order to identify the needs and wants of customers, the marketer gathers market information. He analyses the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats of the enterprice. Such analysis helps the marketer to take decisions regarding deversification, improvement in product, expanding markets, etc. For this purpose, computers and online sites are increasingly used.
`(ii)` Marketing planning After market research, the marketer has to develop an appropriate marketing plan to acheive the marketing objective of the organisation. It invovles taking decisions as to what activities will have to be undertaken to achieve a marketing objective.
`(iii)` Transportation It involves physical movement of goods from one place to another. While production of a good takes place at a place, its consumers are spread over a vast area. Thereforem, it is necessary to make availabe these goods to places where they are needed. Thus, transportation helps to create 'place-utility'. Various factors such as nature of product cost, location of target markets, etc are considered while taking decision regarding the mode of transportation to be used.
`(iv)` Storage and warehousing Usually, there is a time gap between production or procurement of goods and their sales. Therefore, it is necessary to make arrangement for storage supply of goods in the market. It also helps to avoid delays in delivery, meeting contingencies in demand and stabilising the prices of products in the market. Thus, it helps to create 'time-utility'. It is performed by intermediaries such as wholesalers, retailers, manufactures, etc for the maketer.