The threat of complacency
One of the greatest drawbacks of selective distribution is the danger that selec- tivity fosters lackluster representation. Attaining enough coverage to create the opti mal degree of intrabrand competition, however, can clash with other objectives. The rest of this chapter will cover how to balance the risk of complacency that inevitably accompanies selective distribution by creating other methods of motivating channel members to give their best efforts when coverage has been limited. Sidebar 4.3 details how a boat builder, Bénéteau, skillfully avoided this risk after acquiring a rival. Jeanneau.