MARKETING
AND STRATEGY
Table of
contents
Introduction.......................................................................................... 2
A. A contextual overview of the organisation................................... 2
Overview of Superdry....................................................................... 2
Current strategic approaches of the organisation.............................. 2
The rationale for conducting the analysis and choice
of models...... 3
B. Critical literature review............................................................... 3
Organisational strategy..................................................................... 3
Digital strategy.................................................................................. 4
Discussion of the models that are used............................................. 4
C. Analysis and Findings................................................................... 5
PESTLE............................................................................................ 5
Porter’s five forces............................................................................ 6
VRIO................................................................................................. 7
SWOT Analysis................................................................................ 7
Conclusion............................................................................................ 8
References............................................................................................ 9
Appendix............................................................................................ 12
Introduction
This study focuses on analysing the approaches of a
selected organisation called Superdry regarding its business activities.
Alongside this, the study also focuses on evaluating the macro environment,
industry analysis, strategic resources and market analysis. This study focuses
on analysing the strategic approaches by using theoretical frameworks and
models. This study may help to understand the use of macro environment
analysis, organisational strategy and digital strategies of Superdry. This in
turn may help to analyse the
position of the organisation along with identifying the future scopes and
opportunities. Moreover, it is required to improve the quality of the
strategies that can be used to secure the position in the global market base
along with ensuring sustainability.
A. A contextual overview
of the organisation
Overview of Superdry
This study focuses on analysing the organisational and
digital strategies of Superdry which is a well-known organisation in London, UK
for providing the best quality fabrics, unique detailing, hand-drawn graphics
and diverse styling. Superdry
is working with apparel, accessories and footwear. All of the products of
Superdry are vegan. The major pillars of the
strategic actions of Superdry are its inspiration through products and styles, engagement
through social media and leading through sustainability (Superdry,
2023). To better run the activities as per the strategic planning, Superdry
focuses on improving its sustainable product sales mix along with increasing
its future full-price sales mix. Superdry is focusing on implementing several
crucial objectives in its strategic planning for organisational development.
The values and behaviours of Superdry focus on ensuring a positive environmental legacy on the world.
Current strategic approaches of the organisation
Strategies of the organisation
Superdry has focused on using three strategic pillars such
as inspiring
through the product style, engaging through social media and leading
through sustainability (Superdry, 2024a).
These three strategies help the organisation to make
effective decisions along with enhancing customer appeal. According to Diaz
Ruiz, (2022), market research to have an understanding of consumer needs may
have a role in improving the process of decision-making. In addition, offering
the products, considering the requirements of the consumers may attract the
consumers. Further, the celebrity exposure of this
brand helps the organisation to improve its marketing (Tsesmeli, 2022).
The
mission of the organisation
The
mission of Superdry is to build a creative and product-led brand while
inspiring and engaging contemporary style-obsessed consumers (Superdry, 2024b).
Vision
of the organisation
The
future vision is beautiful, minimal and expressive as they stands for
integrity, confidence and sophistication (Superdry, 2024b).
The process of market research majorly focuses on the
consumers as the brands try to better connect with the consumers to be informed
about the consumer's purchasing behaviours. In the case of Superdry, the organisational
strategy is to rally the businesses and government behind the common vision of
a circular economy through which the ultimate sustainability can be obtained
significantly (Superdry, 2021).
The rationale for conducting the analysis and choice of
models
To proceed with the study, several crucial models are
going to be used including the PESTLE analysis. Porter's five forces, VRIO,
Resource-based view and the SWOT analysis. PESTLE analysis may help to
understand the wider business environment along with encouraging external
strategic thinking. Having an analysis of the market may help to shape the
market base. According to Ben-Slimane and Fessi, (2023), market-shaping
strategies refer to the efforts that have been made by marketers to attract
customers. Having an analysis of the market may help to shape the market base.
This may help to analyse the macro-environmental factors within the external
business environment. VRIO refers to the identification of the valuable
resources of the organisation. On the other hand, SWOT analysis helps to
identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the
organisation. Alongside this, RBV helps to determine the strategic resources of
the firm to have competitive advantages.
B. Critical literature
review
Organisational strategy
According to Robertson et al. (2023), the Circular Economy can be identified as an
acclaimed concept that helps to influence a business towards sustainability.
Apart from sustainability, the main strategy that can
be followed mainly is dependent on the elimination of the inventory in the
business organisation. Moreover, an organisation should believe in leading through sustainability, engaging through social
and inspiring through style and product. The international strategy in
an organisation remains focused on providing
customers with exceptional and consistent shopping experiences. It is the
ultimate strategy of an organisation that should focus on the branded market through which the needs and demands
of the customers can be met effectively.
Digital strategy
According to Submitter et al. (2022), it is the various technological advancements and
utilisation during the digital era that have changed rapidly. Hence, it can be
observed that the digital strategy includes focusing on international customers
and appealing to them significantly by offering them consistent and exceptional
shopping. Moreover, it can also be seen that the digital approach in
an organisation should be unique and should be
better than other organisations. The digital
strategy helps to target the younger demographics of the organisation as it is
mainly Gen Z who are mostly using technologies and digital platforms.
Discussion of the models that are used
PESTLE
According to Jacobs and Hörisch, (2022), the longevity of
the product plays a significant role in environmental consumption. PESTLE is a
significant framework through which the macro-environmental perceptions and
aspects can be examined which includes the political, economic, social,
technological, environmental and legal aspects. In regards to an
organisation, it can be stated that the organisations
have crucial market opportunities and
challenges.
Porter’s five forces
Porter’s five forces help to analyse the competitive
scenario of the retail market through which the competitive position of the
products and the organisation are analysed effectively. In regards to this
model, it can be seen that an organisation has many competitors in the market.
VRIO
The VRIO is effective for analysing the internal
abilities and resources of an organisation through which the competitive
advantages of the organisation can be observed. In the case of an
organisation, digital marketing plays an effective
part in developing the competitive advantage.
RBV
According to the RBV, it can be observed that resources
are highly important for organisations. Organisations are needed to utilise and
prioritise their resources to handle the current challenges (Jin and Shin,
2020). Hence, in the case of an organisation, it can be seen that the organisational resources help to
develop capabilities in the market.
SWOT Analysis
SWOT analysis helps to analyse the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats of an organisation. In regards to
an organisation, it can be seen that organisational
innovation plays a crucial role in increasing sales.
C. Analysis and Findings
PESTLE
Political
Factor:
According to Burnes et al. (2022), the business restrictions
that were inculcated during the pandemic were lifted by the government of the
UK. This can develop opportunities for Superdry to export its products and
expand.
Economic
Factor: Prices in the UK increased by
approximately 3.4% in the year 2024 (BBC, 2024). This can be challenging for
Superdry as it can increase the interest rates and also the operational costs.
Porter’s five forces
The
threat of new entrants (High): As
per Burnes et al. (2022), the UK has
lifted its restrictions. This allows for the enhancement of the market
condition for the new entrants. This creates an develops a challenge for
Superdry as in that way, the market competition increases significantly.
Power
of the buyers (High): The buyers are mainly
inclined towards increased sustainability (Deloitte, 2023). The buyers also
indulge in ensuring high quality. According to Yallop et al. (2022), it is necessary to focus on conducting market
research as it plays a vital role in understanding the purchasing behaviour of
consumers. This in turn may help to improve the organisational and digital
strategies.
VRIO
From the above VRIO analysis, it can be analysed that the
organisation can gain a temporary competitive advantage in marketing and
quality of the product. On the contrary, for sustainability, the organisation
can gain an unused competitive advantage. According to the Resource View, it
can be analysed that the resources of the organisation are highly effective for
maintaining and ensuring its success. In regards to Superdry, it can be
analysed that the significant digital marketing and increased product quality
allow to enrich the competitive advantage of the organisation. Apart
from this, it can also be seen that the organisation is online along with
multichannel marketing techniques through which all the traditional tools and
digital tools like SEO are used to capture the attention of the customers.
SWOT Analysis
For
strengths of the organisation, The organisation has a strong brand identity. It has a high global presence.
For the weakness of the organisation, The market sensitivity is high in the
organisation. It
also has supply chain challenges. For Opportunities, The organisation
has a high e-commerce strategy. The organisation has high product quality. For
threats, The organisation is facing high competition. Changing preferences of the customers is hampering
its growth and strategy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be mentioned that an organisation
should focus on conducting effective market research while developing products
and services. In this regard, Superdry is focusing on implementing its three
crucial strategies such as marinating sustainability, developing product
designs and engaging the consumers. This process can be improved by running the
analysis of the macro environment along with meeting the consumer's needs.
Conducting the market analysis may help the organisation to improve its
strategies followed by improving the quality of the products and services.
References
BBC, 2024. What is the UK inflation rate and how does it
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Ben-Slimane, K. and Fessi, L., 2023. Market shaping
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Journal of Market Research, 65(5),
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Burnes, O., Thomas, D. and BurnMurdock, J., 2022.
Businesses hail the lifting of most coronavirus restrictions in England.
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Deloitte, 2023. The Sustainable Consumer 2023. Available
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compete: Innovations in the fashion retail industry from the disruptive
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(2024b), OUR BRAND GET READY FOR
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[Accessed 10 April 2024]
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Appendix
Social |
According to Deloitte, (2023), customers at present are highly
inclined towards the increasing practices of sustainability among fashion
brands. This can help increase the sustainability of Superdry. |
Technological |
The UK is the prime developer of computer technologies
(Thormundsson, 2023). This opens opportunities for Superdry through which
innovation can be maintained. |
Legal |
According to the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, all
manufactured products should be reasonably safe (gov.uk, 2021). This can
help guide Superdry to develop safe products. |
Environmental |
The Environmental Act 2021 allows to ensure better environmental
protection and improvements (legislation.gov.uk, 2021). This can be helpful
for Superdry in being sustainable and environmentally aware. |
Table: PESTLE analysis of the UK
(Source:
Created by Self)
Five forces |
Intensity |
Justification |
Threat of substitutes |
Low |
Substituting the offerings and values of the organisation is
difficult. |
Power of suppliers |
Low |
The availability of the suppliers is high which makes the power of
suppliers low |
Competitive rivalry |
High |
The competition is high as the competitors of Super Dry are Etsy,
Perfect Moment and Alexander McQueen |
Table: Porter’s 5
forces
(Source:
Created by Self)
Competencies |
Valuable |
Rare |
Inimitable |
Organisation |
Impact on the
competitive advantage |
Product Quality |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Temporary competitive advantage |
Marketing |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Temporary competitive advantage |
Sustainability |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Unused competitive advantage |
Table: VRIO Analysis
of Superdry
(Source:
Created by Self)
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