Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1 Introduction
1.1 Baskin Robbins
Baskin-Robbins is a global chain of ice cream parlours founded by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins in 1953 from the merging of their respective ice cream parlours in !lendale "alifornia. #ead$uartered in "anton %ass. Baskin-Robbins is part of the &unkin' Brands Inc. family of companies. It claims to be the (orld)s largest ice cream franchise (ith more than 5 *++ locations , *++ of (hich are located in the -nited .tates. Baskin-Robbins sells ice cream in 3/ countries including "anada 0apan %e1ico Bahrain the -nited 2ingdom the -nited 3rab 4mirates 4gypt .audi 3rabia 3ustralia the 5hilippines 6hailand 7ietnam Indonesia %alaysia "hina Bangladesh .outh 2orea India 5akistan 5anama 6ai(an and the -nited 3rab 4mirates. 6he Baskin Robbins story in India began in 1993 (hen the first store opened in %umbai. 6oday it is spread across the country (ith more than 3++ outlets in 81 cities. Baskin Robbins also caters to other premium channels like star hotels leading airlines malls multiple1es and top retail chains across India. Baskin Robbins is one of the diverse businesses of the !raviss 9oods 5vt. :td. It has an e1clusive franchise for the .33R" region. ;ur brand analysis is sub<ected to strategies of Baskin Robbins in India only. But the brand has a global presence (here it maintains a similar brand strategy yet (ith some small differences.
impulse segment the need is to have innovative modes of merchandising that can enhance the display value for ice-cream brands. "onsumers from the impulse market make a consumption choice on the basis of the instant attention that brands can grab by their innovative display. 9urther (ith clutter in the mass media such initiatives at the shop floor level can play the dual role of initiating brand a(areness as (ell as triggering consumption for the brand. Dith secondary competitors from the branded players segment undertaking mega retail e1ercises branded ice-cream players (ill start (itnessing consumer lapse if they are unable to consolidate their retail presence. 3lso in terms of leveraging the brand through ice-cream parlours and vending machines there is the need to communicate the propositions through neon posters and vinyl signage especially at specific consumer eating spots. It is believed that some of the players may use such communication e1ercises outside the parlours. But the need is to strategically evaluate consumer congregation points. 6he retail material should communicate the brand proposition through these materials at strategically evaluated points since it can capture the consumers' eye more than the usual e1teriors of retail shops and ice-cream outlets.4ven in these avenues there are a host of other products that are <ostling for consumer attention. #ence the need is to move a(ay from these cro(ded venues in parlours and retail shelves and specifically communicate the brand proposition in the spots (here there is less fragmentation yet a lot of consumer activity. 6hat)s (hy like 2(ality Dall)s 3mul too (ants to take its fro>en and ambient platter on the road through push carts and smaller outlets. It plans to supply free>ers to bakeries and chemists to momand-pop shops and even .6& booths. 4ven #:: has been trying hard to create e1citement around its brands. Its 2(ality Dall)s %a1 for children (as re launched (ith offerings like Rainbo( and 6(ister supported by a ne( look %a1 lion.
%arket leader 3mul has a huge emotional connection (ith Indian consumers as it (as the nerve centre of the Dhite Revolution in India. Its ice cream is available in no less than =+ +++ stores across the country F a number it plans to raise to 1++ +++ in the ne1t one year. Its gro(th target for the year is ,+ per cent. B6he market has gro(n at 15 per cent per annum in the last five years.C 7adilal the third largest player in the ice cream market (ith a share of 1, per cent and a strong player in (estern India B%aharashtra !oa and !u<aratC has dra(n up aggressive gro(th plans %other &airy Bmarket shareG eight per centC has fanned out from its stronghold of Eorth India to the eastern and (estern parts of the country in the last fe( years. Its strength is the / +++ pushcarts out on the streets of the country at all times. 3s a large category of consumers buy ice cream on impulse this fleet has helped %other &airy gro( 35 per cent this summer. %other &airy by the (ay has developed a strong portfolio of local flavours (hich could (ork (ell in the upcountry markets.
3 "ustomer 3nalysis:
Baskin Robbins is one of the premium ice cream brands in the (orld. Its differentiating strategy from other ice cream brands or their brand identity is providing customers (ith 31 different varieties of flavour and its premium $uality. But ho( the customers perceive the brand is different and (as evaluated by an intervie( process. 3round 6hirty customers (ere intervie(ed (ho had already e1perienced or come across the brand. 3lso t(o -. customers (ere included in these t(enty customers. De (ent for an intervie( process because (e found that many had only an aided recollection of the brand (hen asked about it. 6he $uestions asked during the intervie( are
aC #o( often do you have ice cream in a monthM bC #o( do you e1perience having ice cream in Baskin Robbins storeM cC In your opinion (hat attribute is differentiating Baskin Robbins from other ice cream brandsM dC &id you ever come across the brand name in some promotions or ads or any other communication mediumM eC Dhat (ill come to your mind immediately if you hear the name Baskin RobbinsM .ome of the inferences and key opinions e1tracted from this process areG %ost of the customers (ant ice cream parlour or store to be a better hang out place. 6hey (ould like to have ice creams (ith different flavours during chat (ith their colleagues or girl friends and spend some time in a high end sophisticated premium parlours. 6hey consider tasting a variety of ice creams as a great e1perience. 6he key insight derived from probing the customers is HI (ant to taste uni$ue treats in a premium ambienceJ Baskin Robbins' proposition fits into this customer insight. But after the analysis (e found that they provide premium offerings (ith different (orld class flavours but not the e1perience. "ustomers (ho go there for repeat purchase is due to the addiction to the flavour taste. But in providing e1perience of having ice cream in their parlour is really pathetic. %ost of the customers don't value the store as a premium store (hich Baskin Robbins claims. .ome of the attributes (hich customers think of Baskin Robbins are premium young feminine Ban influence from 5ink colours they pro<ectC soft tender and different flavours. "ustomers (ould like to take young colleagues or girlfriends (ho are very peppy to this ice cream store. 4ven though this brand lives for more than si1ty years they maintain youthfulness in the brand (hich is ama>ing. 6he essence (hich customers e1pect from the brand is that Hdifferent premium offerings dailyJ. "ustomers (ant to sho( or communicate to the (orld that they are different and premium. "ommunication happens (hen the customer meets the brand. It came out that there is not fre$uent communication in the form of 67 ads or print ads or any other promotions. It's mostly by (ord of mouth and the purchasing point @store (here the customers come across this brand. Before coming to the store customers make up their mind to try different taste daily and hang out in the store (hich is premium. 6hey communicate that they are different but store is lacking a premium ambience. 6his goes in a negative (ay of communication to the customer. %ost of the store is located in high class residential area. "ustomers think Baskin Robbins did not leverage in terms of store ambience as most of the stores are so cramped and do not have a place to sit and have the ice cream. 6his is a sort of negative communication (hich should be immediately addressed since other ice cream brands have started eyeing the modern retail format.
/ "ommunication .trategy
Baskin Robbins is a youthful dynamic brand and they are open to good ideas. If there)s a property or event or opportunity that has the potential to capture the fancy of today)s generation they are ready to advertise@sponsor. 6he outlets sport a funky and vibrant look to attract young people. In India apart from the sales of ice creams Baskin Robbins en<oys great patronage among high end institutional clients ranging from the best five-star hotels in the country to the premier airlines high end retailers corporate parks and campuses cruise companies the best restaurants and clubs and of late all the multiple1es (hich is fast becoming a separate business channel in this country. 3round 35? of their sales are from institutional sales. In the coming years the brand plans to aggressively penetrate into the smaller to(ns apart from consolidating its present market in the ma<or cities and metros.
6he summer of ,++= (itnessed an innovative tie-up of Baskin Robbins (ith .piderman 3 movie in India. Baskin Robbins promoted .piderman 3 by means of a creative promotion. 6his not only added visibility but also enhanced customer interactivity (ith the brand. 6he highlight of the promotion (as the co-branded 67" (hich (as aired on key kids' channels. 6he promotion e1tended to creating three ne( trendy flavours keeping in tune (ith the characters of the movie- Deb .linger .and .torm and !reen !obbler. 6he elements of the promotion included poster standee cup design bags t-shirts tags shelf talker and a .piderman 3 comic free (ith every single scoop of ice cream.
Baskin Robbins successfully captured the attention of the kids by entering into a tie-up (ith N5aanchvi 5ass' a popular reality sho( telecast in ,++* by .tar 5lus and hosted by .hahrukh 2han. 3 special 5aanchvi 5ass flavour (as created to make it appealing to the customers and add e1citement to the entire campaign. 3 gift (as assured to any customer (ho (alked into the store and purchased a 5anchvi 5aas flavour and 3 lucky dra( (inners got a chance to meet the biggest Bolly(ood star .hahrukh 2han. 6he promotion helped .tar 5lus take its message to niche audience across the country. 6he activity provided tremendous on ground visibility for .tar 5lus and Baskin Robbins in terms of (all visuals tent cards danglers posters t-shirts cups shelf talkers and a $ui> book. Besides it got good publicity and generated enthusiasm among the kids.
Baskin Robbins has become an attractive partner for 5roduction #ouses to promote movies better among its target audience-the youth. 6his is done by means of appealing visuals and colorful displays like banners posters standees etc. &rona a magical adventure movie based on the (arrior N&rona' tied up (ith Baskin Robbins to promote the movie among the teenagers. 7isual displays for the promotion of the movie using Baskin Robbins as a brand included posters standees bags shelf-talker drop bo1 and banner. "appuccino Eibs (as named the &rona flavour also kno(n as the flavour of magic to get the touch and feel of the movie. 6he &rona promotion gives kids across the country a chance to meet 3bhishek Bachchan through a lucky dra(.
%67 Roadies -a cult follo(ing among youth has no( associated (ith Baskin Robbins for promotion of the programme and for the integration of the brand (ith its content. 6he promotion makes a lot of
sense for both the brands because the target audience of Roadies is synonyms (ith the target audience for Baskin Robbins. 6he audition promotion (as done in selected cities in India (here the Roadies audition (as carried out-%umbai &elhi Bangalore 2olkatta 3hemdabad "handigarh. 06O-N0ump the Oueue' passes (ere given to those lucky dra( (inners (ho purchased Baskin Robbins ice cream (orth Rs. ,5+@-. 5romotion (as done through posters banners standees and the 06O passes. Interactive games during the auditions (ere incorporated (hich included (ild games centered on ice cream.
6he movie (as uni$ue in the sense that for the first time introduced the time machine concept in the Indian film industry and therefore there (as a big hype around the movie. Baskin Robbins built on this hype and therefore associated itself (ith :ove .tory ,+5+. 6he publicity for the movie (as done using posters standees banners and shelf talkers. 6he flavour (as called the ,+5+ 9lavour (ith a tagline-6he taste of the future is here. 6he promotion offered a chance to the lucky dra( (inners to meet the debutant actor #armen Ba(e<a and 5riyanka "hopra and a chance to (in a Boo Ba character from the movieC (ith every ,+5+ flavour.
(ould really feel bad (hen such an e1perience occurs. 6hough this might seem irrelevant on a side (e have to ackno(ledge a fact that the customer goes for a premium brand (ith some e1pectations. It is these small things like these (hich give the customer the brand's identity.
"ustomer %otivations: 6he customer motivations that could support the gro(th of the brand
8 "onclusion G
Baskin Robbins is doing (ell (ith e1cellent $uality offerings. 3ll that has to be changed is the communication strategy. Baskin Robbins has to create more touch-points for the prospective customers to interact (ith the brand. But caution has to be taken that the premium brand doesn't get depicted as a mass market brand. .elective advertisements in premium maga>ines lifestyle television channels malls airports etc (ould do (ell. 6he brand can position itself as a premium alternative to other mass market brands like 2(ality Dalls 7adilal 3mul etc. 3lso more visibility can be created by maintaining premium ice cream parlours (ith e1cellent ambience that (ould generate Dord-of-%outh the most po(erful form of positioning the brand.
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