What group identifies potential customers for a company’s products based on shared characteristics?

The correct choice highlights the concept of a target market, which refers to a specific group of potential customers identified by a company who share certain characteristics that make them more likely to purchase its products or services. Identifying a target market involves analyzing demographics, psychographics, behaviors, and preferences, allowing companies to tailor their marketing strategies to suit this group's needs effectively.

By focusing on a target market, businesses can optimize their resource allocation, improve product development, and enhance communication strategies. This concentrated approach enables companies to create offerings that resonate more profoundly with the identified consumers, thereby increasing the likelihood of sales and customer loyalty.

In contrast, market segments, while related, represent broader categories within the target market, encompassing various potential customers that might share a particular characteristic without narrowing it down to a specific group. A consumer group typically refers to a collective of individuals who might buy products, but it lacks the specifics of targeted marketing. Lastly, a customer base describes the overall collection of current customers or clients of a company, emphasizing existing relationships rather than identifying potential new ones based on shared traits.