How does the MAP assist retail facilities?

The correct choice highlights how the Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) assists retail facilities by targeting merchandise at affordable price points. MAP strategies are designed to ensure that products are advertised at a baseline price, preventing excessive discounting by retailers. This approach not only protects the brand's perceived value but also allows retailers to maintain competitive yet affordable pricing for consumers.

By establishing a minimum price, MAP can help create a more stable pricing environment, which aids retailers in appealing to price-sensitive customers while still preserving profit margins. This can lead to increased sales volume as consumers are more likely to purchase products that they perceive as being fairly priced, thereby improving the retailer's overall performance.

In contrast, the other options do not fully encapsulate the purpose and benefits of a MAP policy. Focusing solely on maximum profit margins can lead to pricing strategies that alienate consumers or create unsustainable business practices. Exclusively managing vendor relationships does not directly address consumer pricing strategies and market competitiveness. Limiting inventory levels could impact product availability, which is not the primary aim of instituting MAP guidelines. Thus, targeting merchandise at affordable price points is the key benefit that MAP policies provide to retail facilities.