Which statement best describes push and pull marketing strategies?

The correct choice highlights a fundamental distinction in the mechanisms of push and pull marketing strategies. Push strategies center on tactics that encourage retailers to promote a product, such as through trade promotions, discounts, or incentives that effectively "push" the product through the distribution channels to the end consumer. This approach focuses on positioning the product in stores and ensuring availability.

On the other hand, pull strategies are designed to create consumer demand directly, which in turn encourages retailers to stock the product. This is often achieved through advertising, consumer promotions, and engagement strategies that draw consumers to seek out the product themselves. When customers ask for a product at retail outlets, retailers are motivated to stock those items, hence "pulling" the product through the supply chain.

The misalignment of the other options lies in their misconceptions about the focus and mechanics of push and pull strategies. For instance, linking push strategies solely to retail promotions overlooks their broader scope of including various tactics to advance products through distribution. The interplay between consumers and retailers is crucial, and each strategy employs distinct methods tailored to different sides of the market dynamic.