Marketing Management Dr. Aravind Banakar –

Marketing Management Case Study (20 Marks) When HLL introduced Lifebuoy in the Indian market in 1895 (110 years ago) it was positioned as the soap that would destroy germs and keep the body healthy. The brand found the going tough especially in rural markets where most people were accustomed to without any soap. HLL then decided to project lifebuoy as soap for hand wash. The approach seemed is pay off. By 1900 Lifebuoy had established itself as soap for hand wash. At this stage, the brand’s inherent properties were expanded and lifebuoy was repositioned as bath soap.

Health remained the benefit proposition. “Where there is lifebuoy, there is health”, become a popular jingle in rural India. The brand was also projected on the plank of economy. Much later, in 1964, the brand was relaunched with a change in shape and wrapper design. Lifebuoy started associated with sports. The health and body fitness dimension got reinforced HLL had many requirements to meet. It had to tap same of the emergency market needs. It had to play down the image of lifebuoy as villagers soap and it had to embrace to earnings from lifebuoy brand in the long term. HLL decided to meet these needs through line extensions such as: Lifebuoy personal, Lifebuoy plus, Lifebuoy gold, liquid lifebuoy and lifebuoy active.

Answer the following question. Q1. How did HLL Position lifebuoy in the beginning? Q2. What was the geographical focus and why? Q3. Explain why the brand was going tough in the market? Q4. What are your views about HLL’s building line extensions?

Global Study Solutions Dr. Aravind Banakar –