Paramount Health and Beauty Company (Paramount) had entered the new non-disposal razor product, Clean Edge, in 1962 and discussed the new technology on the product through the managers’ experiences. It achieved $13 billion of sales and $7 billion in gross profits for 2009.The company decided to introduce the product into men’s market where there is strong presence in comparison to women’s market. The executives of Paramount discussed the changes on this product and the direct competitors in addition to the substitute products. They are concerned on marketing and advertising the product, but they argued on the positioning strategy where to launch it as a niche or mainstream position. The executives also discussed the branding considerations and marketing budget allocations.
Many changes occurred in the non-disposal razor category and some market segmentations competed with paramount position.
First of all, the Clean Edge became a leading brand since 1962. Non-disposal
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“Quantitive research involves the collection of quantifiable information on topics like market potential and market share. The most important consideration is to avoid bias” (Session ΙV, Author, Year, P). Randall had met William Kim, Paramount’s newly hired corporate marketing director, and Albert Rosenberg, Paramount Pro’s product Manager. They shared a common set of assumptions and came out with 60% of Clean Edge sales would come from Pro/Avail customers in a mainstream positioning and 35% in a niche positioning. It means that using mainstream strategy would appeal to a larger market whereas niche will be beneficial for a small group of people. Therefore, mainstream position will increase the market share and profits and will gain larger number of user segment. However, mainstream could lead to eliminate product offering on the Pro/Avail products from the
2) How is the nondisposable razor market segmented? What are the crucial elements of consumer behavior for nondisposable razors?
1. What changes are occurring in the non-disposable razor category? Assess Paramount’s competitive position. What are the strategic life-cycle challenges for Paramount’s current products as well as Clean Edge?
A group of executives from Paramount Health and Beauty Company (Paramount) sat in a research room intently observing a dozen men shaving on the other side of a two-way mirror. The subjects were testing out Paramount’s newest nondisposable razor, Clean Edge, and discussing the experience. The verdict was extremely encouraging. The majority of men felt it was the closest, cleanest, and smoothest shave they had encountered. All executives at Paramount agreed Clean Edge should be priced in the super-premium segment of the market. However, some executives believed Clean Edge should be launched as a mainstream entry
The case points out that Gillette’s competitors were quick to copy new products. The launch of Sensor will be a breakthrough in the market and will introduce a new product category the “cartridge laser cut razor with superior quality”. Therefore it is essential for Gillette to protect their new product by pursuing patent enforcement, as they already have. This way will Gillette retain its competitive advantage and will re-introduce and position itself as a technology leader.
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CP) launched a new toothbrush, Colgate Precision, to the market. But having developed for three years, CP was fiercely competing with other companies in the market. In order to have the power to fight in the highly competitive market with substantial product activity, Colgate-Palmolive Co. was in a problem of considering the how to position its new product--Precision, and to define the market strategy in terms of positioning, branding, and communication strategy. It provided some options with details to the reader, hence, for such purpose, this case would be a decision case, finding the optimum to segment the new product to the target and how it should be marketed.
Synopsis: Gillette has long been known for innovation in both product development and marketing strategy. In the highly competitive, but mature, razor and blade market, Gillette holds a commanding worldwide market share. The peak of its innovation occurred in 2006 with the introduction of the Fusion 5-bladed razor. Today, innovation in razors and blades is thwarted by a lack of new technology and increasing consumer reluctance to pay for the “latest and greatest” in shaving technology. Gillette must decide how to put the razor wars behind them and maintain or increase its share of the global razor market.
The positioning strategy should be driven by the market, rather than by the ambitions of the product champions. The source of the problem is failure to understand how consumers' value product attributes. In all, over-appreciating a breakthrough or new technology that
Paramount has become a market leader in global consumer products; but knows that innovation is vital to continue success. Paramount has used technology to create an innovative razor, but wants to make sure that it is positioned effectively.
For any business to successfully add value they either do so through lower costs or superior benefits to the consumer by offering product differentiation (Singh 2012). Samsung was a late starter into the smart phone industry, while, this has not prevented them from successfully positioning their product at the forefront against those offered by their competition such as Apple. Gary Armstrong (2011) defines a product’s position as “the complex set of perceptions, impressions and feelings that consumers
The main issue is: The product manager is having a difficult time to create a finalized marketing plan for Sony’s new VAIO laptops. The heart of the issue is the manager can doesn’t know which segment to target for the VAIO; due to, too much information. In December Sony encourage to all product managers to use a new corporate study that segmented consumers on a global level. The important question for the product manager, is does this global research help me better understand the consumers in China? And if yes, does it give more knowledge of the segmented groups in China that I can target for
For this reason, Gillette has always been trying to innovate in the market with new products. But they did not want their product to be bought just because they are a novelty but because it was perceived by the customer as a good quality product and have a staying power and product loyalty. This can be illustrated by the launch of the “Fusion” product by
Paramount Health and Beauty Company is in the process of launching a new technologically advanced nondisposable razor “Clean Edge”. With its improved design, Clean Edge provides superior performance by utilizing a vibrating technology to stimulate hair follicles and lift the hair from the skin, allowing for a more thorough shave. The company has decided to introduce it in the men’s market where it has a strong presence. The company is now focussing on positioning and naming of this new product. It also needs to decide on the promotional activities to be performed adhering to the budget constraints and also must decide on the distribution channels through which it can reach to the masses.
The Gillette Company has effectively entered the razor blade market in the main parts of Indonesia. Even though there is still a lot of potential for growth, it faces stiff competition, as well
In the highly competitive Japanese skin-care market, P&G¡¦s new SK-II product has proven its success as a premium and prestige offering. P&G has gained significant knowledge transfers from SK-II development and further, has successfully tapped the fickle Japanese market and has devloped a loyal user-base in Taiwan and Hong Kong. With its phenomenal success, it is only logical that P&G consider rolling-out the SK-II product-line to the international market. However, while there is significant worldwide growth potential within the $9 billion prestige skin-care industry, based on recent organizational changes, new corporate priorities, and thorough market assessment, P&G must base its decision on current resources and capabilities to
Gillette has been successful in convincing the world that more is better, in regards to the number of blades and other features of a razor. To be successful in the