The marketing mix is a business tool used by marketers to determine a product's offering. It is comprised of the four P's: product, price, place (distribution), and promotion. The term "marketing mix" was coined by Neil Borden in 1953 and refers to the variety of ingredients that must be blended together to form an effective marketing program. The four P's refer to decisions around the product, price, distribution channels, and promotional activities for a product and help companies meet customer needs in their target market.