The common belief is that in the case of perfect competition (“commoditized goods”), buyers will always buy the lowest priced item, and this will dwindle down profits to practically nothing, and that’s why it’s called red ocean in the first place. While this is true in general, there is at least one notable exception to it. Consider the example of toothpaste, in the US, a toothpaste is ~1-2$ a piece. Are buyers really going to buy a white Colgate for 10¢ lower price over a red Colgate? Most would just stick to whatever they are used to. And that’s where lies the real strategy if the good’s price is an tiny fraction of the budget, it might never get optimized on.
