Branding, Packaging and Labeling: Trademarks
Branding, Packaging and Labeling: Trademarks
Branding, Packaging and Labeling: Trademarks
Brands: A brand is any name, term, symbol, sign, design, or unifying combination of these. A
brand name is the verbal part of the brand. For example, Lux, Usha and Rediff.com are brands.
When these words are spoken or written, they are brand names. Many branded goods and services
rely heavily on some symbol for indentification. Asian Paints, makes considerable use of a boy
named Gattu and Microsoft Windows is represented by a window that materializes out of an
expanding pattern of rectangles floating to its left.
Brand marks: A brand name or company name written in a distinctive way.for example, Coca-Cola
written in white script letters on a red background.is called a logo, short for logotype.
Trademarks: A brand or brand name can be almost anything a marketer wants to be, but it does
not have any legal status. A trademark, on the other hand, is a legally protected brand name or
brand mark. The owners of trademarks have exclusive rights to their use. Thus, the word trademark
is a legally defined term. Either a brand name is a registered trademark or it is not.
Importance of Branding
Product identification is eased. A customer can order a product by name instead of
description.
Customers are assured that a good or service has a certain level of quality and that they will
obtained comparable quality if the same brand is reordered.
The firm responsible for the product is known. Unbranded items cannot be as directly
identified.
Price comparisons are reduced when customers perceive distinct brands. This is most likely if
special attributes are linked to different brands.
A firm can advertise (position) its products and associate each brand and its characteristics in
the buyer’s mind. This aids the consumer in forming a brand image, which is the perception a
person has of a particular brand.
Branding helps segment markets by creating tailored images. By using two or more brands,
multiple market segments can be attracted.
For socially-visible goods and services, a product’s prestige is enhanced via a strong brand
name.
People feel less risk when buying a brand with which they are familiar and for which they
have a favourable attitude. This is why brand loyalty occurs.
Cooperation from resellers is greater for well-known brands. A strong brand also may let its
producer exert more control in the distribution channel.
A brand may help sell an entire line of products, such as Britannia Biscuits.
A brand may help enter a new product category, like Samsung Mobile.
Brand-strategy Decision
A company has five choices when it comes to brand strategy. The company can introduce line
extensions (existing brand name extended to new sizes or flavours in the existing product category),
brand extensions (brand names extended to new-product categories), multibrands (new brand names
introduced in the same product category), new brands (new brand name for a new category product),
and cobrands (brands bearing two or more well-known brand names).
Line Extensions. Line extensions consist of introducing additional items in the same product
category under the same brand name, such as new flavour, forms, colours, added ingredients, and
package sizes. The vast majority of new-product introductions consists of line extensions. Many
companies are now introducing branded variants, which are specific brand lines supplied to specific
retailers or distribution channels. They result from the pressure retailers put on manufacturers to
enable the retailers to provide distinctive offerings. A camera company may supply its low-end
cameras to mass merchandisers while limiting its higher-priced items to specialty camera shops.
Surf: In detergents, HLL launched Surf Ultra, Surf Excel, Surf Excelmatic and International
Surf Excel as line extensions of Surf.
Colgate: Tthe line extensions of Colgate, All of them exist under the strength of the mother
brand Colgate and simultaneously contribute to the spreading of the Colgate tentacles to new
market segments. What Colgate alone could not do. fighting competition, increasing
corporate revenue and profits.is now being accomplished by the new Colgate additions,
especially Colgate Gel, Herbal and Cibaca Top.
Brand Repositioning
However well a brand is currently positioned, the company may have to reposition it later when
facing new competitors or changing customer preferences. Consider the following repositioning story
7-up. 7-up was one of several soft drinks bought primarily by older people who wanted a
bland, lemon-flavoured drink. Research indicated that although a majority of soft drink
consumers preferred a cola, they did not prefer it all the time, and many other consumers
were non-cola drinkers. 7-Up went for leadership in the noncola market by calling itself the
Uncola. The campaign featured the Uncola as a youthful and refreshing drink, the one to
reach for instead of a cola. 7-Up established itself as the alternative to colas, not just another
soft drink.
Logo
Selecting the Logo
Along with the brand name, companies also use a logo for visual identification. Logo enhances
recognition by the provision of a symbol of identity. A logo is a pictorial symbol intended to
communicate with the consumers. It is an accompaniment to the brand name and the two together
identify a company.s product. Flags, mascots, pictures, graphic designs or plain alphabets are all used
as logos.
PACKAGING
Packaging
Packaging is the part of product planning where a firm researches, designs, and produces package(s).
A package is a container used to protect, promote, transport, and/or identify a product. It may consist
of a product.s physical container, an outer label, and/ or inserts. The physical container may be a
cardboard, metal, plastic, or wooden box; a cellophane, waxpaper, or cloth wrapper; a glass,
aluminium, or plastic jar or can; a paper bag; styrofoam; some other material; or a combination of
these. Packaging has become a potent marketing tool. Well-designed packages can create
convenience and promotional value. Various factors have contributed to
Most product life-cycle curves are portrayed as bell-shaped This curve is typically divided into four
stages : introduction, growth, maturity and decline.
Introduction: A period of slow sales growth as the product is introduced in the market. Profits are
nonexistent in this stage because of the heavy expenses incurred with product introduction.
Growth: A period of rapid market acceptance and substantial profit improvement.
Maturity: A period of a slowdown in sales growth because the product has achieved acceptance by
most potential buyers. Profits stabilize or decline because of increased competition.