In 2002, Electrolux was
facing a rapidly polarizing appliance market. At one end, low-cost Asian
companies such as Haier, LG and Samsung were applying downward price pressure.
At the other end, premium competitors such as Bosch, Sub-zero and Viking were
continued to grow at the expense of the middle-of-the-road brands. Electrolux
new CEO Hans Straberg who took over
the reins decided to rethink Electrolux customers’ wants and needs. Rather than
accepting the stratification between low and high, Straberg segmented the market
according to the lifestyle and purchasing patterns of about 20 different types
of consumers – unveiling 20 product positions. Electrolux then started
marketing its steam ovens to health-oriented consumers and its compact dishwashers
developed for smaller kitchen to broader consumer segment interested in washing
dishes more often.
To companies finding
themselves in middle-market trap, I offer this words of advice:
Start
with your cut stomers and understand what their latent needs are and what problem
they are experiencing. Then put the puzzle together to discover what they
really want to have – figure out what they really want though some might not
express it. Then figure what competition is doing, aspiring to achieve, and future.
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