In which era of the marketing evolution did firms begin to focus on what consumers wanted and needed before designing, making, or selling a product?

A) production-oriented era
B) sales-oriented era
C) value-based marketing era
D) market-oriented era
E) creative production era

The market-oriented era (also known as the marketing concept era) is characterized by a focus on identifying and meeting the needs and wants of consumers. In this era, firms began to conduct market research and gather information about their target audience in order to create products and marketing campaigns that would be more appealing and effective. This approach represents a significant shift from previous eras, such as the production-oriented era (which focused on maximizing efficiency in manufacturing) and the sales-oriented era (which emphasized aggressive selling tactics). The value-based marketing era builds on the market-oriented era by adding a focus on creating long-term value for customers, as well as for other stakeholders such as employees, shareholders, and the broader community.