+1 862 207 3288 ? Word Limit – 5000 words + 10%
? Report Format
? Referencing – Harvard Referencing Style
? In text references must be included.
? No. of References – 35 (Published work, books, scholarly articles – NO INTERNET REFERENCES)
? There are four questions mentioned at the end of the case study. Assign 1000 words to each question at least.
? Remaining 1000 words will include an introduction to the company that must be a paragraph not more than that, an Executive Summary and Conclusion.
? Besides summarizing everything that you have discussed in all the questions, the conclusion must also include:
1. Your personal observation like what you have gained from this piece of work.
2. Also comment that whether you have enjoyed the exercise or not.
3. If the exercise is a success or a failure and why.
4. Key theoretical Issues that you have covered in the report.
? A pack of 10 Microsoft’s PowerPoint slides:
1. One on Introduction (1 Slide)
2. Two on each question (8 Slides)
3. One on conclusion (1 Slide)
The slides should be just bullet points of what have been discussed in the answers to the questions.
Material on the slides should not vary from what is been discussed in the report.
? Put the slides in the appendix as a pack.
? All the questions must be answered from critical point of view.
? Whatever should be suggested in the answers must be justified like :
1. In question 1, why they are sticking to the youth market must be justified and if they are doing the right thing.If an opposite strategy is suggested, it must
also be justified.
2. Same pattern should be followed for the rest of the questions e.g. any suggestion must be justified.
Using the marketing mix in the fashion industry
Introduction
Ben Sherman is a globally recognised lifestyle brand. It has grown from its business beginnings in quality shirts in Brighton in 1963 and is now sold in 35 countries
around the world. It has expanded into the USA, Europe, and Australasia.
In 2004, Ben Sherman was acquired by the American-based company, Oxford Industries. This group is an international apparel design, sourcing and marketing company that
features a diverse portfolio of owned and licensed lifestyle brands.
Ben Sherman’s name has always been closely linked with the British music scene and with fashion. Its customers are young and at the forefront of style.
Throughout the years high profile customers include musicians, models, actors and bands, such as Blur, Oasis and the Kaiser Chiefs. The growth of the brand can be
traced through changes in musical taste and this is a key part of Ben Sherman’s marketing strategy.
As the company founder Ben Sherman said in 1963: ‘Looking good isn’t important, it’s everything.’ Ben Sherman has developed a balanced marketing mix through the 4 Ps –
product, price, place and promotion. By getting the mix right, the company ensures its products reach the market segments at which it is aiming the brand. This helps
the business remain competitive and extends its market share and influence.
The marketing mix is like a cake recipe. Most cakes need the basic ingredients of eggs, flour, sugar and milk. However, a child’s birthday cake will require a
different recipe to a wedding cake. The key is to combine the ingredients to get the right cake for the right occasion. The marketing mix works in exactly the same
way.
The key ingredients of product, price, promotion and place are all necessary for the appropriate marketing of the product. Ben Sherman chooses the right combination of
each element to satisfy different customers’ needs.
Product
Ben Sherman has to decide whether to:
• create a product and then market it to target customers (product-orientated) or
• find out what the market wants and then provide it (market-orientated)
To achieve both, the company produces a wide product range that appeals to all its target market segments. The range includes casual clothes, formal wear, denim,
foot-wear and lifestyle accessories, such as underwear, watches, bags, belts and fragrances.
A strong brand image ties the product range together. Each collection has an umbrella theme. In 2007, the product theme was ‘This Sporting Life’ and the marketing
theme was ‘British music and style’.
Product life cycle
Ben Sherman uses major fashion shows to launch its collections to the press. The fashion year has two cycles the spring/summer season and the autumn/winter one. The
fashion industry is highly competitive and fast-moving. Fashion products tend to have a short life cycle.
This means the time between the launch of a product and the point at which that product is ‘mature’ is very quick. Competition amongst fashion retailers forces
businesses to refresh their ranges a number of times in a year. This topping-up modifies the product as it reaches the maturity stage. The boost of a new product or
style then extends the life of the range.
Products need refreshing to avoid the dip in sales during the Saturation stage of the life cycle which could result in an early decline. The additions and changes help
sales rise again, earning extra sales revenue and profit, as well as maintaining the Ben Sherman brand in the market.
Price
Ben Sherman has to assess which markets its products are aimed at and set a price to match. There are a number of pricing strategies that a business can use for its
products including:
• Cost based pricing where the selling price is set to cover the cost of manufacture;
• Market orientated pricing.
Market orientated pricing covers several different approaches:
• market penetration, where a new product is priced low to attract a high volume of sales;
• market skimming where a new product has premium pricing to give high revenues whilst the product is unique in the market;
• premium pricing, where there is a uniqueness and exclusiveness about the product so that it can command a high price;
• economy pricing, which tends to be for no-frills, basic products, where the cost of manufacture and marketing are kept to a minimum.
The price of a product relates to its perceived value. Lower priced items will expect a higher volume of sales, whilst fewer sales of luxury products may achieve the
same revenue through higher pricing.
A ‘product map’ shows where products are positioned in the market. Each product type behaves in a different way. Customers are willing to pay more for ‘aspirational’
products, such as designer wear.
These products or brands show that those who own or wear them have a degree of success in their lives. These brands are not price sensitive, as people are willing to
pay premium prices for individuality or for the latest styles.
Low price brands often copy the market leaders and may be generic own brands, such as those produced by supermarket chains. The main purpose of price here is to
indicate value for- money and such brands do not expect customers to show loyalty.
Ben Sherman produces mostly medium-price range products. Its position in the market for clothing is shown on the product map diagram. The mix of product and price is
clearly evident here. These brands are identifiable by their quality and style.
Ben Sherman uses brand identity images like the plectrum logo and the Ben Sherman script label in subtle ways. Its products are good quality and individually styled
and therefore the price reflects this. There is a relationship between product quality and price (revenue per sale). The pricing also impacts on the level of sales.
Ben Sherman’s pricing best matches aspect B.
Place
This refers both to the places where Ben Sherman products may be bought and to the channels of distribution used to deliver the products to these places.
Place is not always a physical building such as a retail outlet or shop, but includes any means by which the product is made available to the customer. A business has
to balance getting enough of its products to its target customers against the problems or costs of distributing them.
For a premium or luxury brand, making the products too easily available might reduce the perceived value of the brand. This illustrates the need to select carefully
how the marketing mix is put together to match the product to the needs of the target market.
Ben Sherman limits where its products are sold and keeps a tight rein on how they are sold and its distribution channels. This creates a unique Ben Sherman experience
wherever customers buy its products.
Ben Sherman uses three traditional distribution channels. Each has distinct characteristics and different strengths and weaknesses:
• its own stores – where the brand is strongest, but requires investment in property, stock and sales people;
• independent fashion stores – whilst offering a unique or more specialised sales channel these outlets carry limited amounts of stock. Also, the costs of
processing, e.g. for delivery and administration, are relatively higher for smaller orders;
• department stores – will buy centrally but may want discounts if they order in bulk, reducing Ben Sherman’s profitability.
Ben Sherman works in close partnership with department stores, creating ‘shop-in-shops’ a concept where the customer feels that they are in a Ben Sherman store.
The store shares its marketing information about what types of customers are purchasing and which products are most in demand. This enables Ben Sherman and the
department store to provide the relevant stock to maximise revenue.
Ben Sherman also has its own stores around the world and opens new ones each year. It has a long-term commitment to expanding globally. Although the stores represent a
big investment, they are important to the company in controlling its own sales environment and increasing profit. The interiors of its flagship stores reflect British
style and identity through use of antique furniture, music memorabilia, photographs and the Union Jack flag.
For a limited time, each store worldwide displayed a specially designed Gibson guitar in a dedicated window space decorated with and inspired by the Ben Sherman
product, brand and music influences. Gibson is the world’s leading guitar specialist and created for Ben Sherman a set of 20 collectable limited edition guitars. Each
unique guitar was then sold at auction online to raise money for charity.Ben Sherman used the guitar auction online to link the physical worldwide stores to the
Internet. The company transmitted news of the auctions and bids via the Internet and gained online, national and regional press.
Ben Sherman also uses newer channels of distribution. It re-launched its website in February 2007 to provide a more interactive experience for customers to encourage
them to spend more time on the site and shop:
• The site provides an online ordering service.
• It offers news updates for customers on the latest Ben Sherman products.
• The website helps to create an online ‘community’ of people who like Ben Sherman products.
• It gives relevant context for Ben Sherman products by providing video and music links, for example, the top 10 records of the 1970s.
This helps to build the brand philosophy and values. The company sees its online services as particularly important in reaching customers now and in the future.
Promotion
The purpose of promotion is to obtain and retain customers. It covers:
• ‘above-the-line’, which is using independent media to reach a wide audience easily, but over which the company may have limited control, for example, magazine
advertising. This reaches a mass audience but can be hard to measure its impact.
• ‘below-the-line’, which uses media over which the business has control, for example, direct mailing. This type of promotion can be more cost-effective and give
more measurable response rates.
Ben Sherman uses both above-the-line and below-the-line promotion to help inform customers about its products. Through this information, it increases the customers’
desire to buy its products.Some people think of promotion as being just advertising but advertising is only one aspect. Promotion may also include:
• direct mail –e.g. catalogues, newsletters you may receive by post or email;
• exhibitions or events – Ben Sherman has a high profile at fashion events and music events, e.g. sponsoring a series of live gigs to support new British music
in collaboration with with Gibson guitars and music channel MTV;
• sales promotions – such as discounts, money-off coupons or competitions;
• public relations – through press conferences or by participating in charitable events, such as the Gibson Guitar auction for NordoffRobbins charity;
• sponsorship – Ben Sherman sponsored the ‘Best Breakthrough Artist’ category at the 2007 Q Awards;
• product placement – Ben Sherman gives clothes to famous people so they create publicity when they wear them. This is seen as an endorsement for the product.
Amy Winehouse and Ricki from the Kaiser Chiefs have been used to promote Ben Sherman products by wearing them at high profile events and featuring in the printed
press;
• branding – you can see the Ben Sherman brand in the layout and decoration of its stores, its links to music, its advertising campaigns, packaging and point-
of-sales displays.
Conclusion
Ben Sherman is a brand that appeals to the youth market. Its responsiveness to changing tastes in fashion and music throughout the last fifty years has provided it
with a unique heritage of quality, personality and style. This has made Ben Sherman into a great British icon, reflecting British culture as it does business across
the world. Whilst each element of the marketing mix is important in its own right, the right balance of the four elements is critical. A business must clearly
understand its target market – the customers at which it is aiming its product range – to ensure that it has the marketing mix balanced to appeal to this market. Ben
Sherman’s continuing global growth and high profile in music and fashion demonstrates that, as far as the marketing mix is concerned, it has got the balance right.
Questions
1. Young people are a central market segment of Ben Sherman’s target market. Do you feel that this restricts the market for their products or do you feel that
they are doing the correct thing?
2. Critically evaluate and discuss the issues within the company in relation to product orientation and market orientation. Are the two linked or do you feel that
they are incompatible in the Ben Sherman context?
3. Product life cycle extension strategies are suggested. Suggest and justify an appropriate extension strategy for Ben Sherman.
4. Suggest and justify marketing research approaches that do you feel would be most appropriate for Ben Sherman to pursue in relation to a newcommunications
campaign.
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