Product Branding (HL IB Business Management)

Revision Note

Aspects of Branding

  • Branding is the process of creating a unique and identifiable name, design, symbol, or other feature that differentiates a product/service or company from its competitors
  • Branding is a strategic tool that helps businesses create awareness, develop strong customer relationships, generate loyalty, and establish a perceived value that sets them apart from competitors
     

Diagram Showing Three Types of Business Branding 

1-3-2-types-of-branding-1

The three different types of branding available to businesses
 

  • Through consistent and effective branding efforts, companies can build a strong brand presence, cultivate customer loyalty, and achieve sustainable business growth
     

Manufacturer/Corporate branding

  • This refers to the use of a company name or logo to promote all the products or services offered by the company
  • This type of branding is used by companies like Nestlé, Nike, and Apple
     

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Corporate Branding


Advantages


Disadvantages

  • Creates a strong brand recognition and reputation for the company, which can increase customer loyalty and trust
  • Allows the company to leverage its existing reputation and customer base to introduce new products more easily
  • Helps to build economies of scale by promoting multiple products under one brand, which can reduce marketing costs and increase profitability

  • If a company's reputation is damaged by a product it can have a negative impact on all the products offered under that brand
  • If the company faces intense competition in one market 9e.g smartphones), it may affect the sales of all the products offered across other markets (e.g laptops and desktops)

 

Product branding

  • This refers to the use of a unique name, design, or symbol to promote a specific product
    • E.g. KitKat, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's Big Mac
       

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Product Branding


Advantages


Disadvantages

  • Creates a distinct identity for the product which can help to differentiate it from competitors and increase brand loyalty
  • Allows the company to market different products to different segments of the market e.g. Coco Cola and Coke Zero
  • Can help to build customer loyalty and trust by associating the product with a specific quality and benefits e.g Dyson Vacuum Cleaners

  • The cost of creating and promoting a new brand for each product can be expensive
  • Introducing new products under different brands is difficult as the business must build a new brand for each product from scratch
  • Different products within the brand may have different levels of quality which can affect customer satisfaction

 

Own brand product

  • Own brand or private label branding refers to the use of a retailer's name to promote a specific product or service and is often used by supermarkets
    • E.g. ASDA chocolate, Tesco's Finest range, and Sainsbury's Basics range
       

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Own Brand Products


Advantages


Disadvantages

  • It can help retailers to differentiate themselves from their competitors by offering unique products
  • It allows retailers to offer products at a lower cost than branded products which can help to increase sales and profitability
  • It can help to build customer loyalty by offering exclusive products that are not available elsewhere

  • Own brand products may have a lower perceived quality than branded products which can affect customer loyalty and trust

  • Brands can be built using any one, or a combination of the following methods:
    • By developing unique selling points (USPs)
    • Through advertising
    • Through sponsorship
    • Through the use of social media
       

Examples of the way Brands have been Built


Method


Explanation


Example

Unique selling points (USPs)

  • USPs are the features that make a product/service stand out from its competitors
  • Brands can build their reputation by emphasising these unique qualities in their marketing efforts

  • Apple is known for its innovative and sleek design and use of quality materials, which sets its products apart from its competitors
  • The company has built its brand around this USP and is recognised worldwide for its premium design

Advertising

  • Brands can create compelling ads that resonate with their target audience, raise brand awareness, and communicate their value proposition
    With the right advertising strategy, brands create a strong emotional connection with their audience and inspire brand loyalty

  • Coca-Cola has successfully built its brand through advertising
  • Iconic ads over the years have become synonymous with the brand
  • E.g. The "Share a Coke" campaign  encouraged people to buy Coca-Cola bottles with their friends' names on them and was a massive success

Sponsorship

  • Partnering with events, organisations, or individuals can help brands gain exposure and build their reputation by aligning themselves with positive associations or values

  • Nike has sponsored many high-profile athletes and sports events, such as the Olympics and the World Cup
  • The business has built a reputation for being a brand that champions excellence and inspires people to be their best

Social Media

  • With the right social media strategy, brands can build a loyal following and create a community around their brand

  • Glossier has a strong presence on platforms like Instagram and it engages with its audience and shares user-generated content
  • Glossier's social media strategy has helped the brand build a loyal following 


Emotional Branding

  • A strategy where companies build strong emotional connections with their customers by appealing to their values, beliefs, and emotions

  • Brands like Patagonia and TOMS have built their entire brand identities around their commitments to environmental and social causes, which resonates with customers who prioritise these values

The Importance of Branding

  • Strong branding can provide several benefits to a business, including:

1. Added Value

    • Strong branding can add value to a product by creating a perception of quality, reliability and reputation
       

2. Ability to Charge Premium Prices

    • Customers may be willing to pay more for a product that is associated with a well-established brand as they perceive products with strong branding to be of higher quality and therefore worth the extra cost

3. Reduced Price Elasticity of Demand

    • Customers are less sensitive to price changes of products with strong and appealing branding because customers who are loyal to a brand are more likely to continue purchasing the product even if the price increases

4. Branding Establishes Recognition & Identity

    • This helps to builds trust and credibility and creates an emotional connection with customers which helps to generate repeat purchases

5. Business Differentiation

    • Branding differentiates a business from its competitors and supports marketing and advertising efforts which can use key elements to build memorable promotional materials and campaigns

Exam Tip

Strong brands also strengthen a businesses balance sheet.

Brands are considered intangible assets on a company's balance sheet. A strong brand adds to the overall value of these intangible assets, which may be an important part of a company's net worth and make it more attractive to investors.

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Lisa Eades

Author: Lisa Eades

Lisa has taught A Level, GCSE, BTEC and IBDP Business for over 20 years and is a senior Examiner for Edexcel. Lisa has been a successful Head of Department in Kent and has offered private Business tuition to students across the UK. Lisa loves to create imaginative and accessible resources which engage learners and build their passion for the subject.