Clean Edge Razor Case Study

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?

Examining the consumer behavior for nondisposable razors, we can observe that consumers are focusing on the premium segment. Also, they are becoming more sophisticated and expecting new technologies to smooth the shaving process. Focusing on that, Paramount should invest in the premium products category. Even though that would create cannibalism for the “pro-products” which is already loosing market.

To regain some of its market share in its “growth driven” and “stable profit generators” sectors, Sony can reposition its competition in the minds of consumers. For instance, Sony can use comparative advertising to demonstrate that its brands are superior to its competitors. In this situation, Sony can attempt to alter the portrayed image of its competitor, Nintendo, and position its PlayStation game console as the better-quality product (Positioning(marketing), n.d).

This leads into the next issue their organization faces, which is their lack of informing the consumers of their product benefits. The Fantastik cleaners are the only ones on the market that are 100% safe for the environment. With such a competitive advantage over their competitors, they have to be able to bridge this communication gap they currently have with consumers, because many of them are unaware of Fantastik’s triple bottom line goals. In order to help build brand awareness, they have to advertise more to their target segments. But one of the issues is Fantastik’s advertising budget has decreased from $1,375,000 in 2005 to $825,000 in 2006. Fantastik also has the problem of lacking diversity in their product line. Although they have five different cleaners, all of them are fairly similar and many consumers would not be able to tell their differences other than the price.

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.

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.

Problem statement: With the launch of the new innovative Quartz shower by Aqualisa, the Company expected to have a boost in its sales. Yet the sale of the product was not picking up. The Company was facing a big challenge with communicating its product to the consumer/target. The Company wants to ensure that the innovative technology, which is leaps and bounds ahead of competition, will generate more sales to capture market share before the competition can imitate the technology. Accordingly, the CEO of the Company will have to re-devise a new positioning, distribution and pricing plan, if necessary.

Years of research and development, along with millions of shareholder dollars, have been invested in the latest technological breakthrough from Sonic. The next step for any new product on the concept-to-consumer road is the development of a marketing analysis. The following pages will provide evidence of countless hours of research the marketing team has compiled in an effort to provide the best answers to questions that will prove vital in the marketing and sales of the Sonic 1000.

The Procter & Gamble business strategy is to focus on creating new brands and categories so the company can focus on being the best in branding, innovation and scale. This is what sets this company apart from many of its competitors. The Proctor and Gamble are the global leader in all of their core businesses within the company which consists of laundry, baby care, hair care and feminine protection. This report is designed to understand the company’s business model and strategies, and analysis how the P&G has formulated its business-level strategies to pursue its business model.

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

1. Achieve an increase in the market share to 50% or above in the next 7 years

Present sales of the Paramount in razor industry come to $170 million and Paramount Pro contributes to this significantly. By introducing Clean Edge in the mainstream sector a 60% fall in the sales of Pro is predicted and the revenue generated by it will come down to $68 million. But it is expected that clean edge will generate a revenue of $147.8 million* and in turn Paramount can achieve a net sales of $215.8 million. Marketing cost is approximated to $42 million and Paramount will be able to generate a profit of $173.8 million. If they had positioned it in the niche segment they would lose only 35% sales of Pro. But at the same time, due to the constraints in the market clean edge can raise sales of only $52.8 million and the net sales will total to $163.3 million. Here the marketing cost is approximated to $15 million and the revenue generated will amount to $148.3 million. Thus the figures clearly indicate that concentrating the mainstream would be more beneficial. Also Paramount will be able to achieve a profit margin of $3.09 per unit even after providing distributors a margin of $3.36 per unit.

Could you identify any product systems in this product mix? Is the toothpaste considered a shopping, specialty or convenience product? At what conditions, could this product considered a business product? With respect to Scope, do you consider it a "star" or "cash cow"? Why? With respect to the product life cycle of scope, what is the current status of the product? What is your marketing advice at this particular product life cycle stage?