TLA

Global Top 10 in 2009 – The Results Are In

Written by Angshu on 2:59 PM


The Departure
We were running the series on Indian brands named ‘Brands of India’. But suddenly this departure! It is definitely justified if it raises some questions in your mind. But hey, don’t worry! ‘Brands of India’ will continue after a refreshing break!

The New Course
Now, coming to this out of course article - Sept. 17, 2009 was an important day for marketing people worldwide. Why you ask? The answer is: it was the day when world’s most popular branding report came out – yes, I’m talking about Interbrand’s Top Global Brands of 2009. So, could not resist posting an article on that. And, who does not like surprises, of course..the pleasant ones! Don’t you? So, here you go for the TOP-10…












No. 1: Coca-Cola
Up 3% to $68.73 billion
·         A 123 year young brand
·        No.1 producer of sparkling beverages in volume and dollar terms
·         More than 700 product launches in 2008
·         Truly GLOBAL brand – present in 200 countries
·         Giving “Open Happiness” in the tough times




No. 2: IBM
Up 2% to $60.21 billion
·         Big Blue – another truly global brand – present in 170 countries
·         Successfully shifting from hardware provider to a s/w and services brand




No. 3: Microsoft
Down 4% to $56.65 billion
·         First YoY decline in its public history
·         Maturing market – facing stiff competition
·        Internet Explorer lost 10% market share to Mozilla Firefox
·         Biggest launch last year – Bing (Google it if u don’t know!)




No. 4: GE
Down 10% to $47.78 billion
·         Lost leadership position in medical technology last year
·         Slip in technology leadership and financial services business as well
·         ‘Ecomagination’ – going green or red?




No. 5: Nokia
Down 3% to $34.87 billion
·         Growing in developing markets
·         Targeting younger audience with trendier design and low cost
·         Tie up with AT&T in US
·         iPhone and BlackBerry – can N97 combat them?




No. 6: McDonald's
Up 4% to $32.28 billion
·         “I’m Lovin’ It” = 6 mn more customers
·         Expansion to new markets with low price strategy
·         Big Challenge 4 Big Mac – higher food costs (higher beef and cheese costs in US)






No. 7: Google
Up 25 percent to $31.98 billion (It’s recession time!)
·         Continuous innovation – actually!
·         Google Crome – two times faster than competitors
·         September 2008 – launch of Android phone software
·         Allegation - very large, diversified, and very profitable company




No. 8: Toyota
Down 8% to $31.33 billion
·         2008 - First loss in 70 years
·         Net revenue down 21%, sales dip 15%
·         Fuel prices down = Prius (‘Hybrid Synergy Drive’) down
·         Going RED but by 2011 it expects to have 100 ‘green’ dealerships!




No. 9: Intel
Down 2% to $30.64 billion
·         Trying to capture fast-growing mobile computing market
·         Atom doing well with Notebooks (issues – cost and power consumption)
·         World’s No.1 chipmaker ties up with world’s No. 1 handset maker 
-        ‘Intel Inside’ + ‘Connecting People’ =?




No. 10: Disney
Down 3% to $28.45 billion
·         Recession -> Tighter ad budgets -> Disney Dooms
·         New formats - video games, new resorts, and interactive websites
·         Is the magic over? Wait 4 Toy Story 3…




Breeze and Lifebuoy

Written by Angshu on 12:52 PM


Breeze

Breeze is the value-for-money soap for the ‘Striving’ or the mass segment. As per HUL website it is for the ‘women of rural India’. Consequently the soap is offered in colorful and fragrant varieties: Rose, Sandal, Lime and Rajnigandha. The brand stands for ‘beauty at an affordable price'. To provide more value for money Breeze claimed to provide the benefits of both soap and shampoo and its tagline was ‘Ab Shampoo Ka Kamaal Saboon Se’. Now the value-for-money theme remains but the tagline has changed to ‘Scent Ka Kamaal Saboon Mein’.







Lifebuoy
This is another HUL soap brand for the ‘Striving’ or mass segment. This more than 100 years old brand is used by more than 500 million people across India. It is also world’s largest selling soap brand. Consequently HUL has the following vision for the brand: ‘Making a billion Indians feel safe and secure by meeting all their health and hygiene needs’.
 

Other than the main sub-brand Lifebuoy Total these are its other sub-brands: Lifebuoy deofresh – targeted at freshness, Lifebuoy nature – containing all the goodness of nature and Lifebuoy care – for sensitive skin. From the brands introduction to India long back in 1895 till date the positioning of the brand remains: ‘Healthy and Hygienic Soap’. Earlier the brand targeted mainly male segment but of late Lifebuoy is targeted to the whole family. This shift is clearly evident from the change in ads – earlier the ads featured men playing outdoor games like football and volleyball and consequently the famous jingle of Lifebuoy was ‘Tan darusti ki raksha karta hai Lifebuoy, Lifebuoy hai jaha tan darusti hai waha’. With the target changing to whole family the focus of the advertisements of the brand shifted from body odour to germ killing and hence the new taglines ‘100% suraksha’ and ‘Koi Daar Nahi’.

Over the years, though the brand communication has changed, still the main theme of the brand remains ‘Health’. This will be evident the two ads Lifebuoy – first one at the time when the brand began its Indian journey and the last one is after a century of the first one.
1900s:


1940s:


1970s:


2000s:

[To Be Continued...]


HUL Segmentation and Lux

Written by Angshu on 10:25 AM


HUL Segmentation

As per values and lifestyle segmentation, HUL divides the consumers into three segments: Striving, Aspiring and Affluent. The target segments of HUL’s key brands as per this segmentation method are shown in the figure below (Source: HUL Company Presentation).


LUX

This famous soap brand was launched in India in 1929. Lux is available in different colors and fragrances and recently body wash and two fruit extract soaps have also been launched under the same brand. Lux range provides benefits like firming, fairness and moisturizing and targeted to ‘Aspiring’ or mid-segment. The brand Lux as per HUL stands for ‘the promise of beauty and glamour’. Lux believes in beauty & femininity and that message resonates with ‘women of today’. Lux is also the ‘beauty soap of film stars’. Over the years almost all famous bollywood actresses of their time has been the face of Lux. The long list includes: Leela Chitnis, Kanan Devi, Nargis, Waheeda Rehman, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Sridevi, Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, Mahima, Kajol, Aiswarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra and still continues. Of late Shahrukh Khan is also shown in Lux ads – this seems to be an attempt to extend the beauty appeal of Lux to the men’s segment as well. Being the soap of film stars perfectly fits the bill with the brand’s theme of ‘Beauty and Glamour’. Lux being such a popular and well advertised brand, it will be interesting to see how the advertisement for this 80 year old brand has evolved over time. The following pictures try to capture snapshots of some famous Lux ads over the years. Hope you will enjoy these ads.

1930s: Leela Chitnis(One of the 1st Lux ADs in India)



1960s –Nargis & Waheeda Rehman 

1970s– Zeenat Aman


1980s: Rekha


 

1990s – Madhuri Dixit

Early 2000s – Aiswarya Rai

Late 2000s – Priyanka Chopra
[To Be Continued...]

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Here I'll share my knowledge, discovery and experience related to my hobby and work. Most articles on this site are related to blog design, short reviews, tips and make money online.

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