P&G Case Study
P&G Case Study
achieve soft, moisturized, and clean-feeling skin. Moreover, P&G should focus
on the health trend. Health maintenance and concerns about health care
provisions together are one of the biggest trends today that will continue in the
next decade as the world population ages. Many people from around the
globe prioritize their health and would pay for products that are of high quality
and is effective. The most important market for SK-II to enter is the European
market.
European Market
It is known that the European market consist of a large segment of
urbane beauty conscious consumers who are already committed to a
multistep regimen using various types of specialized skin care
products. P&G should create a new version of SK-II product to suit to
the local needs. If P&G are able to create a product that have a 3-in-1
function it will appeal to the consumers more as it helps them to save
time.
SK-IIs top competitors who are in the same luxury item league
is Lancme, Estee Lauder and Clinique. These major brands have a
stronghold in the skin care market and it will be tough for SK-II to
compete with. It is not impossible for SK-II to develop a new formula
that can be suitable for the needs of the European consumers. The
R&D process will take time, effort and money but P&G have the
resources to engage in the costly R&D.
Furthermore, P&G has done research on SK-II in the United
Kingdom but the research has proven to be a failure due to the lack of
knowledge that consumers have on full skin care regimen. SK-II should
penetrate the European market even if the risk is high.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Men industry
Launching of makeup
series
Growing affleuce
Collaborations with
established brands
Imitation
Strong competition
Niche market
Narrow range of product
Weaker bargaining - under
department stores
Absense of retail flagship
stores
A. Strengths
SK-II is a high quality luxury skin care product which is very successful in the
Asian market. They have a strong brand image which gives it a competitive
edge over its competitors. Having a good image gives SK-II leverage over
other products and consumers from around Asia knows the product as a
premium skin care product. Moreover, due to its effectiveness and efficiency,
SK-II products have loyal users.
Being a product that is in the P&G product line, SK-II has the
advantage of strong marketing support due to the strength of trust consumers
have over other P&G products. P&G is a company that has been in the
business for many years thus they are trusted and recognizable by people
from around the globe.
B. Weaknesses
Being in a niche market is a major weakness of SK-II. As the product is
concentrated only on a segmented market, it will be focused only for the highincome group of consumers. It would be an advantage for SK-II if the product
is created for all the high, middle and low income group to enable it to have a
larger market segment.
The product range offered by SK-II is only limited to skin care products.
Rivals of SK-II are providing consumers with a wider range of products that
serves as a comparative advantage for its rivals. Unlike some of its
competitors, SK-II are sold in department stores and specialty stores like
Sephora and Guardian. This weakens the product as it has less brand
exposure compared to its rivals. SK-II should have its own flagship stores so
that its customers are able to get their hands on the product and be served by
SK-II specialists. Moreover, the weakness of being sold in department stores
is that customers have the power to compare the price of SK-II and other
similar products.
C. Opportunities
Nowadays men are becoming more conscious of their skin care and many
companies are producing skin care products specially for men. SK-II should
take the opportunity to venture into this new business. The variety of men skin
care products are not as extensive as of the womens skin care products.
Moreover, SK-II has recently launched a new product line in the
makeup line. Venturing into a new market may help SK-II improve its
recognition as a brand that has a wider variety of product and may help
further increase its market share. Lastly, SK-II has made collaborations with
established brands such as Senze Salus, a spa company. This move made by
SK-II will further strengthen their brand and create good relationships with
future customers.
D. Threats
The two threats that SK-II has to face is the threat of imitation which is
something that all company are facing. If the consumers are not educated in
differentiating imitated SK-II products, the brand will have to face
consequences. SK-II should create a holographic design on its product or a
authenticity code to help customers check whether the product is original or
counterfeit. The sale of counterfeit goods will leave SK-II with a bad name and
it will not be good for the company.
The skin care product market is not a new market thus there are many
existing competitors selling the same products. This gives the consumers a
high buying power. It will be essential to provide the customers with a loyalty
program the enables them to stay loyal with the brand.