Success And The Downfall Of Brands

Apple has prospered internally and it is necessary to consider both strengths and weaknesses. Apple has lots of strengths, the major of them being it’s impressive brand reputation, Apple managed to position the brand as “premium products” for “elite” people. Customers are loyal and tend to stay in Apple’s ecosystem. Apple’s self-reinforcing ecosystem, it has a diverse ecosystem which integrates various hardware and software products into one large interactive space. Status of top innovator, Apple is perceived as the leading innovator and its products are highly anticipated. Apple’s very strong financial performance, high profit margins and very high liquidity. It’s network of retail stores, high-quality customer service helps to create advanced user experience. A powerful marketing strategy, Apple’s team masterly uses various marketing techniques to create a hype for their products and to strengthen the brand.

I learned that Apple is a juggernaut when it comes to their technological products and marketing goals. Apple focuses on the needs of customer’s light years ahead of their competition and even before most consumers have realized they want Apple’s products. Through their innovative marketing involving social media, word of mouth, Apple Stores they have convinced consumers about the high value of their product even lending to the formation of a “Mac cult” for its diehard fans. The way ahead for Apple is not to lose sight of its brand loyalty and continue to service the customers and entice them with the brand’s prestige. Even with the death of Steve Jobs, I believe Apple forge ahead to differentiate itself from the markets they are in.

Twitter is a social networking site that gives people the ability to pose at 140 characters on what is going on in their day-to-day life. Each post is called a tweet. Social networking sites such as Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and LinkedIn shares information about businesses, promotions, and products and services. Bowles, states “that blogging and tweeting empowers you to become your own web author and share your ideas and actions with the world”. Social networking has changed the way we communicate amongst friends, family, and coworkers. Major corporations are setting a

Not everyone can afford Apple's many top-of-the-line products and as a company Apple recognized this and made different models of each specific item to fit almost every kind of budget. The company has done very well in projecting the popularity of their products in various markets and has yielded great success which has built a very solid foundation for future supply and demand of their products.

can also claim over 100M customers. Everyone else is so far behind, where Apple enjoys 65%-

A distinctive brand-identity is relevant, differentiated and well-esteemed which influences consumers’ perception. Brand’s respect stems from establishing a positive connection, resulting in a strong brand equity. This allows brands to attain consumers’ loyalty, commercial success, product awareness, power and value universally (Kotler and Armstrong, 2014). Upkeeping an image consistent over the years is built upon a set of associative networks which foster strong relations and satisfaction (Whalley,2010).

Value is the biggest reason for IKEA’s growth and popularity. The overall concept acknowledges that IKEA provides functional well designed furniture at low prices that makes it affordable for as many people possible. This helps create a better life for many people (Ferrell & Hartline, 2014). IKEA implements designing products that are stylish, functional, and essentially low in cost, however, customers must assemble themselves. The furniture is shipped in flat packs to save money in manufacturing and distribution and then passes it on to customers in lower prices at retail.

IKEA is known as one of the world’s largest furniture retailer that focuses highly on cost control, operational process and product development. IKEA differentiates itself from most furniture retailers by offering a wide range of well designed array of home furniture at very attractive prices that remain affordable to a large group of diverse customers. There are some unique features of IKEA as compared to most furniture retail stores (IKEA, 2012)

To begin with, IKEA is an established global brand which has managed to attract main consumer groups, while with its vision "to create a better everyday life for many people", it promises and offers the same quality and variety around the world. Moving on, it is reputed for its strong concept and its "democratic design", since it offers a big variety of

Ikea is a renowned global furniture retail shop that was established by Kampard Ingvar in 1943(Bartlett, 2006). The business began as a grocery and stationery of mail order and later turned into furniture as its main business. Currently, it has over 292 branches in 34 countries globally. Ikea has been operating on the motto “better life for everyone”. Ikea focuses basically on good quality of household furniture and low prices of goods. Ikea strives to build a good social benefits structure and good customer care.

I do not agree with the theorem that the successful brands are build on the successful products. It has been deliberate that the successful brands are built on the beliefs and not on the products. The most of the individuals don’t contemplate about underpinning the brand they develop but they necessitate offering a good product and earn a good income through selling it in the marketplace.

In general, it can be said that IKEA’s product range is quite broad and versatile in many different ways. Shopping at IKEA, you may find anything you need for your home under one roof, be it furniture or cutlery, lamps or curtains, pans or toys or even entire rooms, in short anything that helps you to functionally make your home a better place for living. In fact, the range of different styles is probably not too wide, missing over-decorated and premium styles, however the “broad mass”‘s tastes might be satisfied by IKEA’s choice. Another big plus is the typical “IKEA-style”. The products offered there are different and often you are able to distinguish between IKEA-products and other products only by looking at them, which is certainly not a bad thing. What makes IKEA products so special is that even though they are relatively cheap, they do not have this “cheap”

There is no doubt that strong brands attract more customers and by time these customers become more and more loyal to these brands. This loyalty to brands increases the customers’ willingness to pay a higher price 20% - 25% more than competing brands 3. But to reach up to this point, companies should be always innovative, making their products and services better and offering new added values to their customers.

First, a good brand means that productions have nice quality, high benefit and good reputation. Tracey follows supported that a brand offers the foundation to increase the sales volume and customers’ need. The brand effect can put the commercial opportunity in motion; at the same time, it can also improve the strength of merchants. For some small merchants who don’t have strong business, a good brand effect could bring more customers to come their

Swedish company IKEA is a mass market producer of cheap and stylish home furnishings that appear to transcend national boundaries. The company was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprada small town handyman from southern Sweden, who devised the company name by combining his initials with the first initials of his farm (Elmtaryd) and the parish (Agunnaryd) where he was raised. Today IKEA’s business mission is clear. In the words of the company founder, “We shall offer a wide range of furnishing items of good design and function, at prices so low that the majority of people can afford to buy them.”