Final answer:
With minimal focus on customers, a business can expect below-average profits and higher costs for marketing and sales. High customer loyalty and positive long-run sales strategies are unlikely without a customer-focused approach. Concentrating on core competencies instead is a more successful strategy. Option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
When there is minimal focus on customers, several negative outcomes are likely for the business. Primarily, such an approach can lead to (b) below-average profits due to decreased customer satisfaction and reduced repeat business. Companies may experience higher marketing and sales costs as they struggle to attract new customers to replace those lost due to poor customer focus. You would not expect high customer loyalty, long-run strategies to improve sales, or reduction in customer turnover, as these are dependent on a robust customer-focused approach. Moreover, an industry where economies of scale are limited might suffer more under these circumstances, and without a well-respected brand name carefully built over many years, it is even more challenging to compete against firms with better or cheaper products. A concentration on core competencies is a more successful strategy, as it allows the business to excel in specific areas and build a strong, loyal customer base.