LINE & BRAND EXTENSIONS

LINE EXTENSIONSThe product line is now far more representative of customers varying quantity needs. It suggests the presence of usage segmentation. Customers differs in terms of their usage quantities. The brand has to fill the whole spectrum with products as per the needs of various segments.

Example Bisleri is the pioneering brand in the mineral water category.Originally, Bisleri used to come in a one litre bottle.But recently, Bisleri has exhibited a spate of innovations.The brand launched bottles of different sizes and quantities. The Bisleri portfolio now includes one litre, 1.2 litre, 1.5 litre and 5 litre bottles.

Line Extension strategiesProduct SizesBisleri 1.1 ltrBisleri5 ltrBisleri1.5 ltrBisleri1.2 ltrBisleri.5 ltr

ColourEtc.,

PantenePinkPanteneBlackPanteneWhiteFlavoursIngredientRasna OrangeRasna MangoRasa Rose , etcColgategelColgateHerbalColgateSalt etc.,

FormVim LiquidVimPowderVimBar

According to Gautam Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, Raymond India: "Raymond aims to acquire a dominant position in the apparel sector in the country. We believe that venturing into exclusive stores for our apparel brands will make our brands stronger and give the right impetus to our growth plans. We have enhanced our offerings under all our apparel brands to provide a complete wardrobe solution."

"Men today want different solutions for different occasions - formalwear, relaxed work wear, evening wear, club wear, traditional wear, travel wear as well as sportswear. Our brands Park Avenue, Parx and Manzoni, have different categories to cater to this need. Thus, all our brands offer a solution to changing men's fashion needs at different price points," says Shreyas Joshi, President, Raymond Apparel.

Why Line Extensions?In most of the product categories including fast moving consumer goods, consumer durables and services, line extension has been the name of the game.It is an expansionist move.The firms seem to seek growth more vigorously.

Nine prominent reasonsCustomer SegmentationCustomer need for varietyPricing BreadthCapacity UtilizationQuick gainsCompetitive ReasonsTrade DemandsCounter CompetitionImage Benefits

Line Extension RisksThere are several dangers associated with line extensions.Line Confusion - Marketers sometimes add products to their line without sound logic and reasoning, without any clear role and goal. This may confuse the customers and the retailers and will affect the brands owner company in the long run.

Line Extension RisksEncourage Variety seeking Brand loyalty is every marketers dream. By line extension, customers practice and become the habitant of variety seeking. Hence it influence brand switching behaviours. The loyalty is thus weakened.

Line Extension RisksSuccess Myopia An idea may be a grand enough to be converted into a full-fledged independent brand. But the lure of extension seems to be so strong that the ideas are brought into the market as line extensions. This implies loss of a winning asset in the long-term.

Line Extension RisksStrained relations - When the lines expand, marketers tend to pressurize their trade partners such as wholesalers and retailers to carry the complete line in accordance with their wishes. The pressure appears to be applied more intensely at the retail level. The marketers seek adequate shelf space, promotion and information. But at the retailers end, it brings confusion and chaos. The result is the strained relations between the marketer and the retailer.

Line Extension TrapWhy do firms jump on to line extension bandwagon?When customers prefer a brand, they would be just as willing to buy a different product carrying the same name.What appears to be logical to the managers performing these adventures tends to be illogical in the perception of customers.This is the reason why line extensions do not create mega successes.

Line Extension Trap.Line extensions do not work because they tend to go against the fundamental aspect of positioning.The core brand holds a strong position inside the prospects mind.Line extensions tend to educate customers that product and brand are two different things.It is a fallacy that a brand is just a name that can be put on any product.This is a great mistake. It undermines and destroys the brand in a prospects mind.

BRAND EXTENSIONSUsing an existing brand name to promote a product in a different category, is Brand Extension.The key difference between line and brand extension is the product category.In line extension the pdt. Category remains constant whereas in brand extensions product category is a variable.

EXAMPLEPonds - Cold cream, Toilet soap Shampoo, Tooth paste, Moisturising lotion, Talc & Face wash.LG Television, Refridgerators, Computer monitors, Microwaves, Air Conditioners, Washing Machines & Mobile phones.Park Avenue Shirts, Shaving cream, Jeans, Belts, Perfumes, Soap & Razar.

Why Brand Extension?Cost of New launchesPromotional EfficiencyConsumer BenefitsFeedback effectsReturns

Types of ExtensionsProduct form extension A product launched in a different form usually means line extension, but if a different product form constitutes an entirely different product category.Example:Amul milk Amul Condensed milkReal Juices Real Juice Concentrate

Types of ExtensionsCompanion Product The idea here is to capitalise 0n product complementarity. The consumer may view both the products jointly.Example :

Colgate Dental CreamColgate Tooth BrushGillette RazorsGillette Shave formsGillette After Shave

Customer FranchiseA marketer may extend a product range in order to meet the needs of a specific customer group.J & JBaby TalcJ & JBaby Oil

J & JBaby Cream

J & JBaby Shampoo

J & JBaby Diapers

Company ExpertiseBrand Extensions often come in the forms of different product category introductions using a common name but emanating from a common expertise pool. This strategy is particularly seen in Japanese companies.

Honda CarsHonda Lawnmovers

Honda scooters

Brand DistinctionMany brands achieve distinction in the form of a unique attribute, benefit or feature which gets uniquely associated with the brand.For instance, Parachute may have expertise of coconut nourishment in customers minds over time. This would give Marico Industries, the brand owner, the opportunity to launch a variety of products exploiting this distinction. ParachuteHairOilShampooCreamCooking OilBaby SoapBaby Oil

Brand Image or PrestigeA brand extension may involve a foray into unrelated product categories based on a brands exclusive image or prestige value.

Steel, Automobile, Heavy Vehicles, Watches, S/W devpt. Training etc.,

Distinctive Taste, Ingredient or ComponentA brand may develop equity based on any and / or combination of taste, ingredient or component. Then the marketers can make entries into unrelated product categories capitalising on these properties.

NescafeCoffeeNescafeChocolateNescafeBiscuitsNescafeMilk SupplementNescafeCold Coffee

Brand Extentability

Extensions involve transfer of associations from the parent brand to the extension.The brand extendability depends on its character.The brands can be classified into 5 types through extendability.

Five forms of brandsThe Product Brand - it is a situation where there is very little difference between the brand and the product.The brand is used as an identity of the product.

Example : vicks,

Form 2 Formula BrandFormula means a set procedureA brand which comes in the formula category simply implies that a standard procedure has been used to make the product.Example : cooking oil, pickles etc.,

Form 3 Know how brandKnow how is an expertise that a firm develops in a specialized area of activity.

Example : nokia is known for user friendly.Amul has developed its brand as an expertise in milk processing.

Form 4 Interest brandA brand may be defined by its centre of interest. It may reflect its core spirit.Example Gillette maintains its focus on mens grooming in all its brands.Logo is the best a man can get which creates the interest among the target audience.Whirlpool home makerNike winning to be on the cutting edge.

Form 5 - PhilosophyThe brand at this level acquires more intangible character and orientation.The philosophy transforms its products in a realm altogether different from its physical reality.

Example : Parker pen, De beers diamond

Product Brand

Pillsburry AttaFormula Brands

Mothers RecipesPickles lime, mango, mixedKnow how

brand

Bajaj

Irons, Fans, coolers, mixers etc.,InterestBrand

Disney

Toys, Theatre, Theme park, movies, etcPhilosophyBrand

Cartier

Watches, jewellery, Bags, pensForms of brand extendability

Extensions.Extensions are not simple as they appear to a layman.Consumers reject extensions when they do not make sense.Brand extension is not a physical act of merging two products.It is a tough process involving marrying two cognitive or perceptual concepts in order to create a consistent entity.Therefore, it must begin with exploring the brand in a prospects mind.

Exploring the brand involves seeking answers to the following questions.What is a brands awareness level?What are its recall and recognition levels?What are different attributes associated with a brand?What benefit associations are connected with a brand?What are a brands personality associations?What are the symbols associated with the brand?What are a brands user associations?What is the perceived essence of the brand?What is a brands philosophy?

Strength of Associations - PondsPONDS

Talc

FeminineFloralBody careCreamBody TalcTalc for Special occasionsNail enamelsLip coloursetcRoom Freshner, soaps,Fragrance, shampoo, etcBody lotion,Body oil, creamsBeauty cream,Conditioning cream,cleansing cream, etc

Making an Extension successfulAaker & Keller proposed certain assumptions about consumer behaviour which are fundamentally responsible for the success of a brand extension.

The parent brand enjoys positive beliefs and favourable attitude in customers memory.It is these pre-existing beliefs and attitudes which help in the formation of positive beliefs and favourable attitude toward the brand extension.The negative associations are not transferred to the brand extensions, also these are not created by the brand extension.

Questions for AssignmentHighlight atleast five brands of various product category and find out the extension opportunities of those brands.

Find out which brand can be extended far from its present product, and which can move just above the extension boundary.