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2.
Executive SummaryThe marketing plan includes the fundamental for the
introduction of a unique and ingenious product known as iBangle by Apple Inc.
The analysis of internal and external of the organisation, competitive
environment enables the team to propose dynamic and constructive strategies for
iBangle to fulfil the company’s objectives and strategic mission. The iBangle
will be introduced as another innovation of Apple and marketed as mp3 player in
portal music player (PMP) sector. This also will enable Apple Inc to penetrate
and dominate the PMP sector and emerge as leader in innovation of unique
products as well as successfully gain market share. The marketing strategies
are outlined to gain market segment size of 102,665,043(targeted) male and 103,129,321(targeted)
female of 15-64 years with forecasted sales growth average at 4.8% over next 3
years and profit of USD 8,229,000. The accomplishment and success of iBangle
will be measured with the capture of market share in PMP sector, as well as
penetrating geo-clustering targeted market in across the global.
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3.
‘iBangle’ will be future version of iPod product and will be positioned as the
bracelet iPod that available in the market.It will be equipped with 2GB
capacity and different sizes to accommodate customer’s wrist.TheiBangle
features and design as shown below :- The product will be able to provide
exceptional music listening experience and have multifunction as mp3 player as
well as hand accessory (bangle). The product also marketed as funky and matchless
alternative device for portal music device and packaged as unisex outlook that
be suitable to be worn by men and women. The product is made of aluminium.
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7.
StrengthBrand Position Apple Inc. is one of the most progressive and
established IT brand in the IT industry. The organisation had managed to create
strong brand value position among its customers. Apple products often
associated with concept of fun, energetic, sophisticated, and quality and it
generated loyal and enthusiastic customers that support Apple brands.The
supremacy loyalty of customers shows that Apple managed to gain customers as
well as sustain them. The sales of 22.1 million iPod show the customers
consumption of Apple products. The customers subscribes to services and
products that offered by Apple and willing to come back for more Apple products
lines. This can create opportunities for Apple to market iBangle more
proficiently Financial StrengthApple Inc have stable and strong financial
factor in the IT industry. The organisation managed to generate net income of
USD 4834.0 million in 2008 and USD 2,523,000 of Cash
flow(www.finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=AAPL&annual).This shows that the
organisation have capabilities to invest sufficient amount to design,
manufacture, and market iBangle in the targeted market.Innovation and
Improvement Opportunity Better quality control implementation The Apple Inc
also can increase its quality control sector to be able to provide more
enhanced and quality product to its customers. Introduction of new products
Apple had been massive designing, and manufacturing new products for its
customers compared to the competitors like Sony, Samsung. Therefore, Apple can
penetrate PMP field with new products like iBangle efficiently. Brand
awarenessThe Apple has developed strong brand awareness among customers and in
the international market. Therefore, Apple Inc can create market opportunity
for iBangle more efficiently because the customers are more perceptive and
easily accept Apple products compared to other brands due to brand awareness.
Moreover, the recognition of Apple brand in the international arena also can
generate international market opportunities for iBangle.
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8.
ThreatStrong CompetitionApple Inc also faced competition in today’s global
oligopoly market since the industry is been influenced by several major
competitors such as Sony, Samsung, HP and others. Financial CrisisThe
inconsistency of global financial stability and world stock market can induce
crisis and problems for Apple Inc during introducing new products to the
market. The financial crisis can force customers to retreat and not support any
new products due to personal financial problems. Political UnstableOne of major
crisis that the organisation will face during launching iBangle is political instability
in some countries in the world. This can cause by few factors such as internal
political power struggle, transition of ruling power and others.These dilemmas
can affect launching of iBangle in certain countries such as South Africa,
Thailand, Philippine, and others even though there is vast market
opportunity.COMPETITORS ENVIROMENTApple Inc.’s main competitors in IT industry
are Sony, Samsung, IBM and HP. However, top competitors that have capabilities
and financial strength to produce similar products with Apple are Sony and
Blackberry especially for products like MP3 and MP4. Sony had been veteran in
portal music devicecircle and later entered by Apple. Apple managed to capture
50% of marketing share since 2005 but Sony also progressively gain market share
of 20% in 2006 and 30% in 2007(www.venturacountystart.com/news/2007/nov/26) It
shows that Sony has capacity and resources to design, manufacture product that
have similarities with iBangle.such as internal political power struggle,
transition of ruling power and others.These dilemmas can affect launching of
iBangle in certain countries such as South Africa, Thailand, Philippine, and
others even though there is vast market opportunity.COMPETITORS ENVIROMENTApple
Inc.’s main competitors in IT industry are Sony, Samsung, IBM and HP. However,
top competitors that have capabilities and financial strength to produce
similar products with Apple are Sony and Blackberry especially for products
like MP3 and MP4. Sony had been veteran in portal music devicecircle and later
entered by Apple. Apple managed to capture 50% of marketing share since 2005
but Sony also progressively gain market share of 20% in 2006 and 30% in
2007(www.venturacountystart.com/news/2007/nov/26) It shows that Sony has
capacity and resources to design, manufacture product that have similarities
with iBangle.
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9.
tools of digital lifestyle, fun and cool device and sense of belonging within
peer group, brand that need to be owned, cultural lifestyle and others needs.
It also cater personal needs such as for customers that want to experience
music without tangled with wires when they performing the daily activities,
luxurious activities such as exercise, jogging, surfing and others
activities.Segment Trends The current trend shows transcend from wired and
bulky PMP to light, easy, compact in size, more capacity, less wired or
wireless and multifunction players like MP3 players. The trends also change
towards wireless player, brand conscious and digital lifestyle. Therefore,
market opportunity for iBangle is far vaster due to trend
transformations. Segment Growth Potential According to statistic report,
the segment growth can be projected increase of 18.3% over next 5 years (2015)
for 21 years and above subsets. Meanwhile, the segment for 14-17 years old,
anticipated growth is 0.93% and 19-24 years old is about 10.52%. Size of
Segment (Population) According to statistics report of CIA, the size of segment
15-64 years old consists of 102,665,043 male and 103,129,321
females.7.0POSITIONING STRATEGYApple has been enable to create and
revolutionised the portal music player sector by adapting to visceral design,
and manufacture creative, innovative, and cool products such as iPods.
Moreover, iPod managed to became measurement against any portal music players
since its penetration into the market.9 Therefore, iBangle player will be
adapting strategy by being the ultimate must have mp3 player in the perception
of customers. The organisation will be adapting strategy of product
differentiation in marketing iBangle inthe market. Moreover, Apple also will be
providing quality and excellent customer service for iBangle customers. Apple
will be developing unique selling proposition (USP) for iBangle by differencing
iBangle from other mp3 player through its designs, features, and benefits that
shown below Benefits positioning: listen to music without tangles of wires
and wear it as accessory • Features: include multi-track touchpad, wireless ear
headphones, customised according to wrist size, better music quality, and
download music via Bluetooth • Product Positioning: the shape of bangle enable
customer to wear at wrist, portray cool look, personalised mp3 player (other
people might not notice the player) and the first mp3 player in the world
designed as bangle. • User Positioning: iBangle as the most suitable and
coolest trend for digital lifestyle oriented customers Even though iBangle main
function is mp3 player, it also will be marketed as hand accessory. Apple has
strong brand personality (image differentiation) among its customers and
worldwide can enable them to market iBangle to the targeted market more
efficiently. The features, benefits, and unique design of iBangle can aid the
company to create impression of must have mp3 player in the cognitive mind of
customers. The success of iPod in 2000 as shown below is an example of people
acceptance of Apple products.
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10.
MARKETING STRATEGYProduct Strategy The core iBangle is mp3 player that worn at
wrist equipped with wireless ear headphones to listen to music. The actual
productThe design of mp3 player is unique and innovative by Apple and be worn
wrist. It also can function as hand accessory. As for banding, Apple logo is
embedded on the bangle and the colour foriBangle is silver to cater for unisex
customer as well as to establish as stylish bangle. The trade name is iBangle™,
an Apple product. The brand personality adapted for this product consist
ofstylish, cool, trendy, originality and think different. The iBangle also
equipped with 1 year warranty and customer service Based on life product
life cycle, iBangle is new product to the market and currently no imitation
products. Therefore, proactive and comprehensive marketing campaign can enable
iBangle to be recognised immediately and sales of the product will be
accelerating progressively. The unique design of iBangle will enhance its’
differentiation among existing portal music players and generate advantages to
the product. Moreover, Apple is known to produce award winning innovative
products as stated below.Apple had worn eight iF (International Forum) Product
Design Awards at CeBIT 2008 show in Hanover, Germany for out of nine products
that were submitted for consideration.The other factors that create
differentiation for iBangle is the Apple managed to create emotional benefits12
for its users. Therefore, iBangle also can provide emotional benefit to
customers in form of maintaining simplicity, stylish design, easy to use and
constructive customer service The iBangle also considered ‘green’ product since
the main component to manufacture iBangle is aluminium. Aluminium is one of the
most recyclable materials. This enable iBangle to gain status as ‘eco-friendly
product’ and infiltrate environmental concern oriented
customers.(www.ezinearticles.com)
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11.
The iBangle product has another distinguish advantage that is the brand
name of Apple. Apple had become one of the most powerful icons in the IT
industry due to its visceral design, unique products, quality and features.
Therefore, branding Apple logo on iBangle will increase its value and
perception among the customers. Price Strategy As for pricing strategy
for iBangle, there are several factors should be considered as such consumer
demand, product lifecycle and potential substitutes. The price of iBangle will
be at USD 390.00. This is because at initial introduction, only 10,000 units
will be produced and marketed in U.S.A. The profit margin is 30%. Apple Inc
should given important aspect toward customer demand. Since Apple had be able
to portray themselves as icon of PMP sector through introduction of iPod
generation, iBangle is can create massive demand among customers due to its
unique design and features. The skimming price strategy will be adapted to
market iBangle to the customers. The price will be set at USD 399.00 at
introduction stage and price will be reviewed at later stage of product
lifecycle. The organisation also has advantages such there is no substitute or
imitation product like iBangle that available currently on the market. However,
potential substitutes produced by competitors is possible, therefore Apple have
to establishas market leader for iBangle. This can create market demand for
iBangle since it has unique characteristics. One of the examples of successful
pricing strategy can be seen in sales of iPodPromotion StrategyObjectives• To
create strong awareness about iBangle throughout the target customers (14 to
29years old) as well as parents • To penetrate and increase market shares in
portal music player sector and override competitorsOne of the promotional
important outputs is to portray iBangle as ‘the futuristic mp3 player and the
coolest product for everyone’. The media selection for promoting iBangle
is varies for the selectedcustomers group. However, one of the most powerful
media is Internet media. The internet usage in United States is about 223
million in 2008 www.cia.gov/library/publication . It shows creative
advertisements via online can penetrate the target customer faster and more
efficient. Moreover, online store also can boost the sales of iBangle.
Moreover, Apple also will be using electronic media as advertisement arena to
launch iBangle to the world. Apple is knows for creating innovative, and unique
advertisements to promote their products such as in using slogan ‘Think
Different’, use famous ‘free thinkers’ like Pablo, John Lennon, Mahatma
Gandhi17and others to shows that Apple product is unique and different from
others. Therefore, unique advertisement such as constant advertisement about
iBangle at prime time TV shows, radio shows can create brand awareness among
the customers. Other than that, Apple also will be using idols and
international stars to promote iBangle. Apple is planning using teen idol
Hannah Montana as teen ambassador to promote iBangle to teenagers group.
Furthermore, in order to penetrate the current trend and culture, iBangle will
be attached to celebrities such as Beyonce, Missy Elliot, and Jason Marz.The
product will be worn by these stars in the video clips and photography session
for magazines and events. The personalities from sport arena such as
CristianoRonaldo, and S. McGee also will be recruited to promote iBangle. The
celebrities spotted with iBangle can create brand awareness among customer more
massively. Apple will be running advertisement on iBangle during important
events like Super bowl games, NBA, and World League. This is to target sport
oriented customers. Apple also will sponsor prime time TV shows like ‘Leverage’
and ‘C.S.I’ to promote iBangle for the young adults customers. The advertisement
of iBangle will be aired during the Showtime to capture young adults’ attention
on iBangle
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12.
Place StrategyOther than that, the company will be choosing distribution
channels such asa. online stores b. retail stores c. direct sales One of the
most established distribution channels is Apple retails stores. Therefore,
iBangle will be launched and marketed at all Apple retails stores across the
country for the success of iBangle. Apple managed to gain USD 1.45 billion from
208 stores in 2008 www.ejshmidt.com/blog ensure that retail store is one of the
most successful distribution channels.Moreover, online stores also
anotherimportant distribution channel that can aid the sales of iBangle and
will be able to penetrategeo-clustering segment more proficiently.
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13.
Thank You.
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