ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Demand shaping

Have you ever wanted a toy so badly that you begged your parents for it all the time? That's like being a customer who wants to buy something from a store.

Demand shaping is when companies use different methods to help control how much of a product their customers want, and when they want it. It's like the store trying to make you want the toy in a different way or at a different time.

One way companies shape demand is with sales or discounts. Let's say the store has too many toy cars in stock, but not enough toy trucks. They might offer a discount on the toy cars to make them more appealing and try to sell more of them.

Another way to shape demand is through marketing. Have you ever seen a commercial on TV that made you really want something? That's marketing. The company is trying to make you want their product by showing you how cool it is.

Companies might also use limited releases or exclusives to shape demand. You might have seen some stores only selling a certain toy for a limited time or only in certain places. This can make people want it even more because it feels special or rare.

Overall, demand shaping is when companies try to influence how much of a product their customers want, and when they want it. They use different methods like discounts, marketing, and limited releases to do this.
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