Mariam Bukia
Candidate number: 2733098
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Table of contents
Executive summary
1. Introduction ……………………………………………………4
2. Strengths and Weaknesses ……………………………………4
3. The market ……………………………………………………5-6
4. Potential Strategies………………………………………………7
5. Strategy Implementations ………………………………………8
6. Conclusion ………………………………………………………9
7. Appendices………………………………………………………10
8. References………………………………………………………11
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Executive Summary
The main purpose of this marketing recovery plan is to address the challenges Off-White
faced during changes in the marketplace and provide an extensive marketing strategy to
utilise new opportunities. To identify potential growth strategies the plan includes the
analysis of SWOT, PESTLE, Ansoff Matrix and Porter’s 5 forces.
Arguments will be used to provide potential marketing strategies and implementations for the
brand, putting emphasis on the recommendations for extended marketing mix.
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Introduction
Off-white is a high-end fashion brand founded in Milan by Virgil Abloh in 2012. The
company is renowned for its high-end streetwear aesthetic, which combines urban and
contemporary trends. The brand has rapidly made a name for itself in the fashion industry.
Off-white has coped with several challenges due to inflation that resulted in increased
competition and decline in sales. In this report we will investigate the issues the brand is
currently facing and will suggest potential marketing strategies to help Off-white regain its
market position.
Off-White Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Off-White has a distinctive brand identity and a loyal customer base that resonates with its
intended market of fashion-conscious people who value luxury, streetwear, and cutting-edge
designs. The brand actively uses social media (Instagram, Twitter) that enables customers
to keep up with collections. To appeal to a wider spectrum of customers, Off-White offers a
diverse range of goods, including clothes, footwear, accessories, and home goods. It has
developed collaborations with other premium brands, designers, and artists, which has aided
in broadening its influence and establishing its authority in the fashion business. Additionally,
the brand’s advantages also include using high-quality materials to create innovative designs
that are on-trend and selling in shops around the world to increase their popularity.
Weaknesses
Off-White's items are often very expensive, which can limit their appeal to some customers
looking for more reasonably priced fashion options. Consequently, only a specific market of
affluent people could afford to purchase their clothing. Moreover, Off-White products are
frequently sold in small numbers and are only offered by a small number of shops, which
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may restrict the brand's accessibility (Lee,2018). This can hinder its capacity to appeal to a
larger audience. Additionally, the brand’s capacity to collaborate has been a crucial
strength, but this dependence could hinder the brand's potential to stand out and forge
a distinct brand identity.
The market
Positioning and Target market
Off-White's positioning is geared at customers who are interested in fashion and are
searching for distinctive, edgy clothing items that stick out from the crowd. It is renowned for
using graphic motifs, strong typography, and industrial design cues (Smith,2019). The target
market for Off-White consists of young, fashion-conscious individuals who value originality,
creativity, and self-expression and are drawn to the brand by its distinctive aesthetic and
exclusive position in the luxury fashion industry.
Customers:
Off-White's customers are often younger buyers, with a focus on millennials and Generation
Z. They are often youthful, style-conscious individuals who appreciate uniqueness, creativity,
and self-expression. They are drawn to Off-White's distinctive aesthetic, which combines
streetwear-inspired designs with high-end materials and finishes and are frequently early
adopters of new fashion trends. According to a study by Business of Fashion, most Off-
White's customers are under 35 and between the ages of 18 and 24(2018). Additionally,
Competitors:
Off-White faces several well-known and emerging brands in the intensely competitive
premium fashion market where it does business. The main rivals are Gucci, Balenciaga,
Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Vetements. All of them offer high-end streetwear-inspired
designs and other products. Off-White must maintain its strong branding and marketing
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initiatives in addition to continue to develop and pay attention to shifting consumer tastes to
be competitive. See Perceptual map for the competitors’ analysis.
Off-white could use following strategic tools for strategic marketing planning. See
Appendices for SWOT, Porter’s 5 forces, and PESTLE analysis.
Ansoff Matrix
The Ansoff Matrix is a strategic planning tool that helps businesses identify four potential
growth strategies: market penetration, market development, product development, and
diversification. Off-White could apply the Ansoff Matrix to identify potential growth
opportunities and develop a strategic plan to achieve its growth objectives. Off-White might
use the Ansoff Matrix to identify potential growth opportunities and create a strategic plan to
meet its goals. The specific tactics that Off-White decides to employ will rely on the level of
competition in the fashion sector.
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Here's how Off-White could apply the Ansoff Matrix to develop its growth strategy:
Potential Strategies
To counteract the effects of inflation on higher-priced products, Off-White can think about
diversifying its product line up by adding more reasonably priced items or by entering new
markets. Moreover, Off-White may investigate ways to better manage manufacturing costs
by streamlining its supply chain, cutting waste, and securing lower pricing for labour and raw
materials (Kwek,2021). The brand might spend money on marketing and advertising to
increase brand recognition and draw in new clients, particularly those who might be less
impacted by inflation. Additionally, improving customer service, streamlining the buying
process, and providing distinctive services or experiences that set Off-White apart from rivals
are a few ways the brand could work to improve the overall consumer experience
(Yotka,2018).
Strategy Implementation
The brand can use few strategies to recover from the changes in the marketplace. Off white
could consider offering promotions and discounts. The brand can also incentivize purchases
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and offer free shipping. It could offer more affordable collections and capsule lines to attract
more price-sensitive customers. Off-white could consider adapting its products to local
markets to increase customer base
Here are potential strategies for growth for extended marketing mix for Off-white:
Product: Off-White might spend money on premium components and craftsmanship to
ensure that its goods reach the highest standards to promote this product strategy. Off-White
might also produce special collections or limited editions to generate interest in and
exclusivity surrounding its items.
Price: Off-White bases its pricing approach on the luxury positioning of the brand. Off-White
should emphasise the uniqueness and excellent quality of its items as well as the brand's
standing as a high-end fashion label to support this pricing strategy. Off-White might also
utilise focused discounts and promotions to draw in new clients and encourage purchases.
Place: Off-White's place strategy is driven by the creation of immersive brand experiences
and a strong retail presence. Off-White may invest in flagship stores and pop-up shops in
busy areas to promote this place strategy to raise brand awareness and consumer
engagement. In addition, Off-White may reach clients outside of its physical stores by using
digital channels like social media and e-commerce websites.
Promotion: Off-White uses partnerships to broaden its reach and engaging brand
experiences to promote its products. It may spend money on experiential marketing projects
like installations and events to support this strategy by building enduring brand experiences
that connect with consumers. Off-White may also employ partnerships with other companies
and artists to generate awareness and broaden its appeal to new audiences. The brand
could host events and pop-up stores in several countries which will increase buzz and brand
exposure.
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People: The brand positioning of Off-White is focused on distinctive and edgy designs that
combine streetwear with high fashion. Off-White might spend money on employing creative
individuals with a strong background in fashion who can bring new ideas and perspectives to
the design process to implement this strategy in the people part of the extended marketing
mix. To improve the overall client experience, Off-White might also train its staff to provide
great customer care.
Process: Off-White's process strategy may be centred on designing a seamless customer
experience that is consistent with its upscale positioning. Off-White might spend in premium
components and craftsmanship to ensure that its goods satisfy the highest standards to
apply this strategy in the process component of the expanded marketing mix. Off-White
could also speed up the order processing and fulfilment procedures to reduce errors and
delays.
Physical Evidence: Off-White's physical evidence approach can concentrate on giving
customers a memorable and immersive brand experience. Off-White may invest in flagship
stores and pop-up shops in high-traffic areas that present its items in visually arresting
(Jones,2020). Off-White might also utilise creative labelling and packaging to establish a
unified and distinct brand identity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Off-White could continue to be a successful and influential brand in
the fashion industry by implementing the provided marketing strategies. By staying
adaptable and responsive to changing market conditions, the brand can continue to
grow, innovate, and increase customer base. Overall, by improving brand
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awareness, customer experience and diversification, Off-White can achieve its
growth objectives.
Appendix 1
Appendix
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Appendix 3
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References:
Smith, J. (2019). Off-White’s brand identity: A case study. Journal of Fashion Marketing and
Management, 23(4), 567-582. doi: 10.1108/JFMM-04-2018-0054
Jones, R. (2020). The power of collaborations: How Off-White became a successful luxury
streetwear brand. Journal of Brand Management, 27(1), 20-33. doi: 10.1057/s41262-019-
00190-8
Lee, K. (2018). How Off-White uses social media to create buzz and engagement. Business of
Fashion. Retrieved from https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/how-off-
white-uses-social-media-to-create-buzz-and-engagement
On the other hand, the brand's weaknesses include high prices (Davis, 2020), a limited
product range (Johnson, 2019), and an over-reliance on viral marketing (Nguyen, 2021).
Johnson, L. (2019). Off-White's limited product range: An opportunity or a constraint?
Journal of Fashion Merchandising and Management, 23(2), 179-193. doi:
10.1080/15374468.2019.1577849
Business of Fashion. (2018, March 26). How Off-White became a billion-dollar streetwear
brand. https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/how-off-white-became-a-
billion-dollar-streetwear-brand
Darwell, T. (2020, May 20). What Makes Off-White So Popular? [Blog post]. Highsnobiety.
https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/what-makes-off-white-popular/
WGSN. (2019, December 10). The rise of unisex fashion.
https://www.wgsn.com/blogs/unisex-fashion-trend/
Wooster, N. (2018, October 9). OFF-WHITE: The Fashion Brand of the Future? Men's Health.
https://www.menshealth.com/style/a23727194/off-white-history/
Flynn, K. (2020, November 20). Off-White Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.
Market Realist. https://marketrealist.com/p/off-white-swot-analysis/
Guglielmetti, L. (2021, June 22). A Guide to Off-White, the Designer Label. Who What Wear.
https://www.whowhatwear.com/off-white-guide
Kwek, K. (2021). How Off-White Became the Hottest Brand in Fashion. The Rake.
https://therake.com/stories/style/how-off-white-became-the-hottest-brand-in-fashion/
Yotka, S. (2018,). How Off-White is rewriting the rules of fashion branding. Vogue.
https://www.vogue.com/article/off-white-virgil-abloh-samir-bhatia-interview.
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