Alfin Fragrance Case Summary

These suppliers have slightly more bargaining power because of the differentiation between their work. However the need for these suppliers can be eliminated if furniture manufacturers produce every piece of their products themselves. A furniture manufacturer will only outsource production of parts if it proves to be cost effective for their company. Since the price of materials is consistent market and the outsourcing of production is unnecessary, suppliers have low bargaining power in the furniture manufacturing industry.

This report is based on the ‘L’Oreal: Expansion in China’ case study. L’Oreal is a successful French cosmetic company that involved into many different international markets. This report will discuss how L’Oreal gets into the Chinese cosmetic Market and the strategic to develop their brand in the Chinese market. L’Oreal acquires two famous Chinese cosmetic brands which are Yue-Sai and Mininurse. It is in order to entrance the market quickly and sales the most suitable products. The aim of this report is to define the challenge L’Oreal has been faced. Then it describes how L’Oreal managing their strategic in Chinese market. In addition, it gives an accommodation which could help L’Oreal overcoming these challenges.

A strategic group map is a valuable tool for comparing market positions for companies or putting them into specific groups while helping align specific differentiating characteristics. The map can help show where the company is in regard to the success of its differentiating characteristics based on both its own goals/results as well as those of its competition. There are levels on the map that range from weak to strong based on established market expectations as well as the expectations and established standards of the company.

Bargaining Power of Suppliers: The bargaining power of suppliers in the industry is low. There are numerous suppliers in this industry, and the large department stores have the ability to negotiate for the lowest prices. In addition, the switching costs are low, as the products are not highly differentiated. There are a large volume of purchases in the industry, allowing the department stores to exert even more power over the suppliers.

Bargaining power of buyers is medium-high because of the low switching costs and wider spectrum of similar products selling at competitive prices due to the influence of developing countries

Many great fashion designers have entered the market of fragrance (Chanel, Lanvin, Givenchy, Yves Saint‐Laurent, Balenciaga …). After that, the speakers of the cosmetic market launched their own perfumes (Yves Saint Laurent, Estee Lauder) and finally, the family brands made their entry on the market (L’Oreal, Procter & Gamble, Unilever…). These

• Consumer Behavior: In different countries consumers will respond differently to advertising, product positioning and the kind of distribution. Also the willingness to spend a certain amount of the income for cosmetics differs among countries. Another important factor is the consumer’s willingness to switch the brand.

Context: Increasing purchasing power in NE and role of powder as fragrance / softening agents

Customer’s bargaining power: The bargaining power of customers is medium. There a huge number of customers, not well organized to defend their interests. Additionally, the

Porter national diamond analysis Supporting Industries Superior in-store infrastructure Counseling counters Cosmetic R&D centre MDO, Max factor Strategy, Structure and Rivalry High number of domestic competitors with high innovation. Tough competition Presence of prestigious foreign brand Intense, established, well respected , high experience and famous competitors Limited competitors in high-cosmetic market which can lead to low innovation and learning improvement as well as an opportunity to easily reach a huge market for P&G

There are two different buyers in the industry; businesses and consumers. The bargaining power of business buyers is high. Business buyers are the biggest purchasers of Corning’s products. They purchase Corning’s glass and ceramics as by-products for subsequent manufacturing of other goods. Business buyers are sensitive to the price of Corning’s products, as slight differences in material prices would impact the cost of production. Conversely, the bargaining power of the consumer buyers is low. Consumer buyers do not have as much bargaining leverage when compared to business buyers.

International Flavors and Fragrances have a long history before IFF’s name was established in 1958. In 1889 Joseph Polak and Leopold Schwarz from Zutphen, a Dutch town found their first factory. Their success leaded them to open a second factory in approximate 7 years. They continued to flourish throughout the upcoming years and for the first 60 years of the 19th century their fame was unbelievable. It was a period of flavor and fragrances discoveries that served as the mark of what IFF is today. Ameringen-Haebler formed a new partnership in 1929 and for the next 30 years they continued to operate with an emphasis in fragrances. In 1958 Polak and Schwarz together with Ameringen and Dr.HaebIer gave birth to International Flavors & Fragances Inc. The company becomes international at an incredible pace. Throughout the years, IFF has kept their word of producing

L'Oreal is a cosmetic company, which makes some of the world's biggest beauty products. L'Oreal's success story begins in 1907. It has been the market leader in the cosmetics and toiletries market since 2001 (Euromonitor 2005). Their products are sold in about one hundred and thirty countries worldwide. L'Oreal is divided into four categories - consumer products, professional products, luxury products, active cosmetics. They mainly focus on skin care, make-up, hair care and fragrance. L'Oreal includes some important brands such as Lancôme Paris, Garnier, Mabelline, Softsheen Carson, Matrix, and Biotherm. L'Oreal invests heavily into its research and development which gives them competitive advantage over its competitors.

Rivalry is intense among the competition in the cosmetic and skin care industry. There are numerous existing cosmetic companies competing in the market. The giant corporations acquire numerous brand name products and compete for the same number of customers. The competition consists of companies such as, Procter & Gamble, L’Oreal, Unilever, Avon Products, Inc., Estee Lauder, in addition to competing with large retailers, who order mass

The vision was developed with the strategic intent to understand the rival’s current strategy, products offering, their market positioning, their objectives, their resources and capabilities, and assumptions industry.