EILEEN FISHER: Repositioning the Brand - Case - Faculty & Research (2024)

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Abstract Keywords Citation FAQs

Abstract

Well-established fashion brand Eileen Fisher has traditionally appealed to older women. However, to drive growth, Eileen Fisher's management team wants to target a younger demographic and has revamped its Fall product line to offer more fashionable styles to appeal to younger women. But, repositioning the brand has proven to be harder than expected. This case explores the challenges of appealing to new target markets, without alienating existing customers. The case follows Eileen Fisher's initial forays into social media as they chase a younger demographic, and demonstrates the opportunities and pitfalls that await big brands when they enter the world of Web 2.0.

Keywords

Citation

Keinan, Anat, Jill Avery, Fiona Wilson, and Michael Norton. "EILEEN FISHER: Repositioning the Brand." Harvard Business School Case 512-085, April 2012. (Revised May 2012.)

EILEEN FISHER: Repositioning the Brand - Case - Faculty & Research (2024)

FAQs

What is brand repositioning explain with an example? ›

When a company changes the status of a brand in the marketplace but maintains its identity at the same time, it is called “brand repositioning”. As part of this process, changes are typically made to the marketing strategy such as product, price, place, or promotion.

What are the brand associations for Eileen Fisher? ›

The core brand association of Eileen Fisher has been “Beautifully simple clothing designed to move with real life.” Moreover, the brand association for EF has been that it is targeting the 59 years old women on average. The brand is generally associated with the older people.

Who is Eileen Fisher's target market? ›

Well-established fashion brand Eileen Fisher has traditionally appealed to older women. However, to drive growth, Eileen Fisher's management team wants to target a younger demographic and has revamped its Fall product line to offer more fashionable styles to appeal to younger women.

What age group does Eileen Fisher target? ›

women . The primary target market for Eileen Fisher, includes middle-aged women, specifically ages 35-55.

What are examples of repositioning strategies? ›

6 Examples of Brand Repositioning That Renewed Company Growth
  • A downward trend in sales.
  • A shrinking core audience.
  • Industry shakeups (new technology, new business models, new competitors)
  • A disconnect between marketing messaging and the topics brought up by real customers.

What are the 3 types of brand associations? ›

While there are many different things that can be associated with a brand, brand associations typically fall into three categories: attributes, benefits and attitudes. Brand associations are important because they affect purchasing decisions.

Which are the 3 factors brand associations depend on? ›

Dimensions of brand associations depend on three factors:
  • Strength.
  • Favorability.
  • Uniqueness.

What do you understand by brand positioning? ›

Brand positioning refers to the unique value that a brand presents to its customer. It is a marketing strategy brands create to establish their brand identity while conveying their value proposition, which is the reason why a customer would prefer their brand over others.

Is EILEEN FISHER worth it? ›

Alesia S. I own quite a few pieces of clothing from Eileen Fisher and they all are great quality and made either from natural or recycled materials. Very classic designs and won't go out of style the next season. They are pricey though but if you really like something, waiting for sale worth it.

What is EILEEN FISHER mission statement? ›

Eileen Fisher Mission Statement

Our purpose is to inspire simplicity, creativity and delight through connection and great design.

Does EILEEN FISHER buy back clothes? ›

Eileen Fisher 'Renew is a take'back and reuse program that preserves the value of own brand clothes at every stage, in any condition. Costumers bring back their old EILEEN FISHER clothes and recieve a $5 Rewards Card for each item retruned.

Are EILEEN FISHER clothes made in China? ›

We make our clothing in 17 factories and cottage industries located in five different countries: China, the U.S.A., India, Portugal and Peru.

Do EILEEN FISHER clothes last? ›

At EILEEN FISHER, we design clothes to last. And when you're done with them, we take them back to be worn, and loved, all over again. Because making clothes is a lifetime commitment.

Is EILEEN FISHER a luxury brand? ›

EILEEN FISHER

Another brand that has always been committed to creating eco-friendly luxury fashion is EILEEN FISHER.

What are the 7 positioning strategies? ›

The seven basic types of positioning strategies are:
  • Product characteristics or consumer benefits. In using this strategy for positioning, the focus is on quality. ...
  • Pricing. ...
  • Use or application. ...
  • Product process. ...
  • Product class. ...
  • Cultural symbols. ...
  • Competitors (relation to)
Feb 4, 2020

What makes repositioning successful? ›

Repositioning involves changing the market's perceptions of an offering so that it can compete more effectively in its present market or in other target segments. Generally it is good to consider repositioning when you see the need or opportunity to improve demand for the offering.

What are the three strategic postures? ›

A company can assume three strategic postures vis-à-vis uncertainty, and three types of actions can be used to implement that strategy. Strategic postures: shaping, adapting, and reserving the right to play.

Can you think of a brand repositioning example that actually failed and why? ›

After rebranding, Mastercard dropped its name from the logo altogether. Apart from it being an example of bad branding, the new Mastercard logo also confused consumers. Eventually, the company came up with a new logo but kept the 2015 design for corporate communications.

What is the biggest challenge with repositioning? ›

Significant cost of re-educating the market

Probably hardest challenge of a product repositioning is re-educating the marketplace. The target market, most likely has an established perception of the brand already.

How would you reposition the product to increase its use? ›

Five Steps to Positioning Your Product
  1. Step 1: Understand why Your Customers use Your Product. ...
  2. Step 2: Identify the Market You're in and the Persona You're Going After. ...
  3. Step 3: Determine the Market's Maturity. ...
  4. Step 4: Determine People's State of Mind. ...
  5. Step 5: Tying it Together. ...
  6. Conclusion.
Oct 11, 2019

What are the 4 key elements of a brand? ›

These are the four main brand components that you will need to address when developing your brand strategy. A strong brand requires a strong brand identity, brand image, brand culture, and brand personality.

What are the 6 key elements of a brand? ›

The Six Elements of a Brand
  • Brand voice.
  • Brand identity.
  • Brand promise.
  • Brand values.
  • Brand targeting.
  • Brand positioning.
Aug 7, 2020

What are the 3 main purposes of branding? ›

The 3 main goals of branding for a business are to influence people's associations and feelings about the brand, to create a distinct identity and to build loyalty over time.

What are the 3 most important things when developing a brand? ›

Your brand belief and values. Your target audiences. Your differentiation and unique value. Your positioning in the market.

What are the 5 brand elements? ›

Five Key Brand Elements:
  • Brand Position. ...
  • Brand Promise. ...
  • Brand Personality. ...
  • Brand Story. ...
  • Brand Associations.

What are the three pillars of a brand? ›

The 3 pillars of branding success: personality, behaviour and communication.

What are the 5 positioning strategies? ›

Here are five common bases for brand positioning strategies to help control how the market sees your business and help set your business up for success.
  • Convenience. ...
  • Competition. ...
  • Price. ...
  • Quality. ...
  • Differentiation.
May 18, 2021

Why is brand positioning so important? ›

Brand positioning creates clarity around who you serve. It also explains to your target audience why you are the best company for them and what sets your products or services apart. It helps you justify your pricing strategy. The positioning of the brand can be used to justify a pricing strategy.

What are the five components of a brand positioning statement? ›

Elements of 5 Key Elements in Positioning Statement:

Target market, buyers main problem, key benefit, competitors and features.

Is EILEEN FISHER fair trade? ›

“Work is integrated with a focus on family and quality of life.” This alternative supply chain, which EILEEN FISHER has been part of since 2006, is a fair trade model conceived by Jessica Rodriguez of Art Atlas, in Arequipa, Peru.

Is EILEEN FISHER a good place to work? ›

Eileen Fisher has an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5, based on over 263 reviews left anonymously by employees. 48% of employees would recommend working at Eileen Fisher to a friend and 41% have a positive outlook for the business.

Do EILEEN FISHER dresses run big? ›

Quick Notes About Fit & More

EILEEN FISHER sizing runs about a size larger than typical sizes so I'm wearing an XS in the Lofty Crew Neck. You could also take your usual size for a more relaxed fit, which might fall a bit longer in length too.

What are the four 4 main questions the mission statement asks? ›

Here are four essential questions your company's mission statement must answer:
  • What do we do?
  • How do we do it?
  • Whom do we do it for?
  • What value are we bringing?
Jan 10, 2013

What are the 9 mission statements? ›

Two years later, (David, 1989) [13] identified nine key components i.e. customers, products / services, markets, technology, concern for survival, philosophy, self-concept, concern for public image, and concern for employees.

What is the official mission statement? ›

A mission statement is a concise explanation of the organization's reason for existence. It describes the organization's purpose and its overall intention. The mission statement supports the vision and serves to communicate purpose and direction to employees, customers, vendors and other stakeholders.

Can you resell returned clothes? ›

Many retailers don't allow any opened product to be resold as new. Brick-and-mortar stores have sometimes skirted that policy; products that are returned directly to the place where they were sold can be deemed close enough to new and sold again.

Can you return clothes if worn? ›

Most stores will not accept returns on clothing that has been worn or damaged, so it is important to inspect your purchase before leaving the store. If you do not have a receipt, some stores may be able to process a return if the item is still in new condition with the tags attached.

What happens to clothes after they are returned? ›

The unfortunate truth is that many returns—clothing or otherwise—are not put back on the market and are incinerated or trashed instead. Most companies, including Amazon, avoid processing and reselling those returns simply because it costs more than destroying them, with their eyes focused only on the bottom line.

Do clothing manufacturers use formaldehyde? ›

Formaldehyde--one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world--is used in many products, including disinfectants, pressed-wood, and clothing and other textiles.

What does lead smell like on clothes? ›

Lead fumes and lead dust do not have an odor, so you may not know you are being exposed.

Is Tommy Hilfiger Made in China? ›

Tommy Hilfiger clothes are made in China and Vietnam but the brand works closely within the local communities of their productions factories to create the best product made in the best conditions.

What clothing fabric lasts the longest? ›

Linen as a fabric has a very long lifetime, as it's one of the most durable fabrics out there. With a recent resurrection, linen clothing is coming back as people seek ways to lessen their fashion footprint.

What are the longest lasting clothing brands? ›

10 Most Durable Clothing Brands That Last The Longest
  • Reformation.
  • PACT.
  • prAna.
  • Amour Vert.
  • Mara Hoffman.
  • Patagonia.
  • Mud Jeans.
  • Stella McCartney.

What age group does EILEEN FISHER target? ›

women . The primary target market for Eileen Fisher, includes middle-aged women, specifically ages 35-55.

What is the number 1 luxury brand? ›

The annual report on the most valuable and strongest luxury & premium brands Ranking
20222021Name
11Porsche
23Louis Vuitton
32GUCCI
44Chanel
21 more rows

What is the most profitable luxury brand? ›

LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) was the most valuable luxury brand in the world, with a brand value of about 124.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. The LVMH Group's total revenue for the 2021 fiscal year was about 64.2 billion euros.
...
CharacteristicBrand value in million U.S. dollars
--
9 more rows
Dec 5, 2022

What is repositioning explain? ›

The term, "repositioning," refers to the process of changing a target market's understanding or perception of a product or service. A product's positioning involves what customers think about its features and how they compare it to competing products.

Why is brand repositioning important? ›

As your business and its offerings and audience change, so should your branding. Brand repositioning ensures that your brand messaging aligns with your current offering, differentiators, and place in the market.

What are the benefits of repositioning of product? ›

One of the leading advantages of repositioning is the ability to improve sales totals. Repositioning can enable companies to enter new markets and address new audiences. By assessing the public's perception of a business, and its products, a repositioning strategy can improve sales over the long term.

What is the difference between rebranding and repositioning? ›

In summary, rebranding is an identity change. Repositioning is a change in the brand's promise and overall personality.

How important is repositioning in an organization? ›

Repositioning is a great opportunity for companies to take advantage of a changing situation instead of becoming a victim. Like successful positioning, repositioning is based on knowing your target customers intimately, understanding their needs and finding unique ways to improve their lives.

Why is it very difficult to reposition a brand? ›

But, brand repositioning is more difficult than initially positioning a brand because you must first help the customer “unlearn” the current brand positioning (easier said than done).

How often do you need to help with repositioning? ›

Changing a patient's position in bed every 2 hours helps keep blood flowing. This helps the skin stay healthy and prevents bedsores. Turning a patient is a good time to check the skin for redness and sores.

What are the 3 C's of brand positioning? ›

The 3 Cs of Brand Development: Customer, Company, and Competitors. There is only a handful of useful texts on strategy. Any MBA student will be familiar with these: Competitive Advantage and Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter.

What are 5 branding strategies give some examples? ›

Here are five different types of branding strategies your company should consider.
  • Company Name Branding. Well-known brands leverage the popularity of their own company names to improve brand recognition. ...
  • Individual Branding. ...
  • Attitude Branding. ...
  • Brand Extension Branding. ...
  • Private-Label Branding.
Aug 6, 2018

What are the 5 common positioning strategies? ›

What are the 5 common positioning strategies?
  • Customer service positioning strategy.
  • Convenience-based positioning strategy.
  • Price-based positioning strategy.
  • Quality-based positioning strategy.
  • Differentiation strategy.
Aug 25, 2021

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