Brand Management Report: Apple's Branding and Portfolio Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Apple's brand management strategies. It begins with an introduction to branding and its importance, particularly for Apple, exploring how the company differentiates itself in the market. The report delves into the key components of a successful brand strategy, including brand awareness, association, experience, perceived quality, brand loyalty, and brand preference. It examines Keller's Brand Equity Model, outlining how Apple builds a strong brand identity and manages customer perception. The analysis extends to various brand strategies, including portfolio management, brand hierarchy, and brand equity management, along with how brands are managed collaboratively and in partnerships. The report concludes by exploring techniques for measuring and managing brand value, providing a holistic view of Apple's branding practices and their impact on market share and profitability. The report also describes how brand has emerged in business practices.

Brand Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Importance of branding...........................................................................................................3
P2 Key components of a successful brand strategy for building and managing brand equity....5
LO2..................................................................................................................................................7
P3 Analyse different strategies of portfolio management, brand hierarchy and brand equity
management.................................................................................................................................7
LO3................................................................................................................................................10
P4 Brands managed collaboratively and in partnerships...........................................................10
LO4................................................................................................................................................12
P5 Techniques for measuring and managing the brand value...................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Branding is marketing process where firms tries to differentiate its company with other
competitor by using unique name, logo sign and symbols to enhances its sales and profitability.
This report explains about brand management of Apple that helps it in gaining competitive
market share in domestic and global market. Apple Inc. is American multinational technology
company that develops, designs and sells computer software, consumer electronics and online
services. This report covers importance of branding as marketing tool and why and how it has
emerged in business practices. It also analyses various key components of successful brand
strategy for building and managing brand equity. It analyses different strategies of portfolio
management, brand hierarchy and brand equity management. This report the way brands are
managed collaboratively and in partnership both at domestic and global level. At last this report
explains different types of techniques for measuring and managing brand value of company.
LO1
P1 Importance of branding
Branding is a useful marketing technique that is used by company in order to gain
competitive position in the market by using unique name or logo. It is important for any
company to have a brand name as it helps in identification of company by distinguishing it with
other competitors. Thus, branding helps in enhancing sales and profitability of company by
clarifying customers about quality that the company offer to its customers. Apple is able to gain
competitive advantages in global market as company focus was to build strong brand image by
providing quality products and services to its customers.
Branding increases Business value: Strong and well establish brand image helps in increasing
value of business as employees, customers, supplier and investor are aware of brand image of the
company. They are aware about quality of product and services, company give to its customers
to satisfy their needs in effective manner (Shabbir, Khan and Khan, 2017). For example: Apple
company has well-establish brand image give more leverage to company in industry thus helps in
increasing value of business in the market. Thus, it can be stated that strong brand image of
Apple helps in enhancing value of business and its sales and profitability.
Generates new customers: Strong brand image implies that company has created positive
impression in the mind of customers thus they like to purchase company product as compared to
another. As people are aware of quality of products that company offers it helps in generating

new customers. For example: Strong brand image of Apple helps in generating new customers
because of word of mouth promotion by its existing customer about the quality of product
company render. Thus, it can be stated that brand image of company not only attract existing
customers but helps in generating new customers in the market.
Improves employee satisfaction: Strong brand help in satisfying needs of employees, as they
are proud of working in such enterprise, which has well-establish name in market (Nyadzayo,
Matanda and Ewing, 2016). They enjoy working with such reputate company thus it helps in
increasing productivity and performance of employees. For Examples: Apple has a reputable
brand in the market that motivates employees to work effective for growth and expansion of
business. Employees of Apple have feeling of belongingness with company thus provide quality
services and products to its customers and helps in achievement of organisational goals.
Helps in advertisement: Brand helps in advertising company’s product and services by using
logo or name at the packaging or back of product. Unique logo or symbol helps in differentiating
company product from other competitors in the market. For example: Apple by using its logo at
the back of product is able to advertisement its existing product and helps in promoting new
product developed by company.
Helps in business expansion: Strong brand helps in expansion and growth of business in the
industry by using well-established brand image in the market. Company can use well-
established brand image to promote new product or to enter into new market. For Examples:
Apple is able to successfully launch its latest iPhone 11 Pro by use of establish brand image of
the company. Thus brand image of Apple helps in promotion of new launch product and
expansion of its business in the market.
Keller's Brand Equity Model
This model was developed by Kevin Lane Keller that explains that to build strong brand
image, company has to shape its customer thinking and feeling about its product. Apple uses
Keller's Brand equity model to build strong brand equity to retain its customer’s satisfaction and
loyalty. There are four steps that are followed by the company to build strong brand equity of
company:
Brand identity: In its first goal of company is to make aware customers about brand name of the
company by recognition and differentiating with other companies (Bapat, 2017). Company
aware about it by using social media such as Facebook, Instagram. Company also ensure positive

perception of brand in minds of customers. Every individual in today's world is aware of apple
brand name that is iPhone and the quality offered by company to its customers. Thus, apple is
able to create positive image of its brand name in minds of customers.
Brand meaning: After creating awareness among people about brand name it should make
effort to explain people what it stands for. It is able to defines its meaning by providing quality
product and world-class customers services. There are two key factors in building strong brand
name performance and imagery. Apple is well-known for satisfying needs of customers by
offering product that have unique features, durable and have stylish design. Company is also
create good customer experience by offering quality services to its customers.
Brand Response: It such a stage where customer judge company product or express their feeling
and experience about the product. Company take continuous feedback from customer through
online sites thus solve their problem effectively. Customers have judge company product on the
basis of quality, credibility and superiority and company have get good response on basis of
judgement.
Brand resonance: It is the last stage in creating strong brand equity by building relationship
with customer for repeated sales of products. Apple has achieved this stage as it able to make
repeated sales by building and maintaining customer’s loyalty.
Why and how brand has emerged in business practices
Brand evolved as company product and services range expands and 20 years were taken
by company to establish its brand image in the market. Company first launch iPod then iPhone,
iPad, Apple pay and Apple Watch and so on. Brand face number of challenges while building its
image but it able to establish strong brand by maintaining customers satisfaction. Company by
fulfilling its promise to provide unique and standard quality of products and services to its
customers is able to expand its business in the market. Brand name helps in differentiate
company product and services from other competitors and to enhance its sales and profitability.
P2 Key components of a successful brand strategy for building and managing brand equity
Brand equity refers to total value of brand that means it reflects the way customers see,
feel about particular brand and it can be measured by market price, profitability and demand of
products. There are various components of brand Equity such as:
Brand Awareness: First step in developing brand image is creating awareness about company
products and services in the minds of customers (Paul, 2019). It reduces efforts of marketer as if

people are aware of brand name of company it can easily influence customers to make purchase.
For example Apple in its initial stage of brand establishment creates awareness of its brand name
among customers by using logo at back of the product.
Brand Association: In this stage company build strong relationship with customers so that they
can relate company brand with themselves. Brand association is crucial in order to make
repeated sales by retaining customer satisfaction and loyalty. It helps company in creating
barriers for new entrances and leverage brand in the industry as customers highly prefer a
particular brand. For Example: Apple has make effort to build strong relationship with customers
by fulfilling its promise to offer continuous quality and unique product to its customers. Thus,
help company in repeated sales of its product and retention of customers.
Brand experience: It is sum of customers experience with overall company, its brand and
product and services. It includes experience of customer before sales and after sales of product to
its customers (Grubor and Milovanov, 2017). Customers consider such brand superior which
provide good brand experience by offering quality products to them. For Examples: Apple focus
was to satisfy needs of customers beyond their expectancy for this it ensures that it provide
quality services to its customers. Apple mobile phone are highly unique and offered specialized
features that helps in provide good experience to its customers.
Perceived Quality: Company by fulfilling its promise is able to build strong brand equity as
customers prefer such brand that stays on its words. It also helps in growth and success of
business in long run as company has effectively satisfied needs of customer. For example: Apple
by continuously innovating in its technology and research and development department is able to
fulfil its promise to offer product that have unique features. It also offers after sales services to its
customers that help in retaining customer loyalty and satisfaction. Thus, it helps in increasing
sales and profitability of the company.
Brand loyalty: This element also helps in building and managing brand equity of company as in
it customer prefer particular brand over similar product in the market. It promotes repetitive sales
and is a good method for advertising products of company (Romeroand Yagüe, 2016). It also
helps in reducing marketing cost of company thus enhances sales and profit margin. For
Example: Apple is able to attract existing as well as new customer base by building and
maintaining its brand loyalty to provide qualitative products and services to its customers. It can

also easily introduce or launch product by using well- establish brand image of the company and
loyalty of its brand.
Brand preference: Company should make effort that customers prefer their brand over other
competitor brand. Apple offers innovative and unique product influence customers to prefer its
brand over another.
LO2
P3 Analyse different strategies of portfolio management, brand hierarchy and brand equity
management
Brand strategies are action plans of company that helps in gaining competitive
advantages in the market thus helps in growth and survival of business in long run. It helps in
building and maintaining strong brand image of company in the market (Steenkamp, 2019).
Brand strategies are used by company in order to distinguish itself from other competitors in the
market. It helps in increasing sales, profitability and market share of the company.
Portfolio management: It refers to management of company investment in such a way that
maximizes rewards and minimizes risk and it is done by evaluating various investment and
choosing best among them. There are two types of Portfolio management such as active and
passive portfolio management:
Active Portfolio management: In this company hires manager or broker to purchase or sell
stock by use of specific index. It in manager pay close attention to market trends, economic
condition and other factors that affect company. Thus, such process helps in boosting potential
return higher than other methods in which investment is chosen by seeing securities listed on
particular index.
Passive Portfolio management: It is also known as index fund management it is created to track
return form particular investment by use of market index or benchmark (Bertilsson and
Rennstam, 2018). Purpose of passive portfolio management is to generate same return as chosen
index from other securities. Thus, it helps in maximizing return with minimum cost as they it is
safe approaches and easy to understand.
Apple has chosen Active Portfolio as it helps in taking advantages in uncertain market as
the manager deeply analysis different investment of company. Thus, it helps in maximizing
investment return and minimizing risk of company. Company is able to outperform from specific

index because of highly knowledgeable and skill manager that has deeply analysis and evaluate
investment opportunities.
Brand hierarchy: It is collection of brand strategy of the company that display number and
nature of distinct and common brand within organization. In it company decide whether to use
single brand for all product range or to use distinct name for each category or combination of
both. There are various brand strategies that company can adopt such as:
Branded House: It is also known as mono brand portfolio such strategies are used by company
that want to assign corporate brand name to all its product range (Huarng and Roig-Tierno,
2016). It provides various benefits to the company such as reduces cost of marketing, can easily
launch new product, create awareness among customers. Certain risk is also involved such as
reputation risk which means if problem in one product occur it will affect to entire brand.
House of Brand: This approach is most used by company as separate or individual brand name
is created by company for each product. Some company uses individual brand but at the same
time also disclose parent company identity by using logo, name or symbol at the packaging or
back of the product. Other may not disclose parent company name due to some specific reason or
strategies.
Sub branding: Some companies plan to use mix branding strategies thus product may have
more than one brand name. It provides opportunities to attract new customers by creating sub
brand of main brand as it has ability to develop and maintain relationship with new customers.
Endorsed brand: In it new brand can use of master brand such that both master brand and sub
brand exist independently. It does not expose company to reputation risk and it can also create
distinctive identity and market presences.
Apple has use endorsed brand strategies to save itself from reputation risk and dilution
risk and can easily promote its new brand by creating its own distinctive identity and market
presence. Both master brand and sub brand can exist independently and have distinct target
audience thus able to attract large number of customers and expand its market share.

Equity brand management: It is essential for company to manage its brand equity to grow and
expand its business worldwide. It refers to customers feeling and perception about company
product, services and brand name (Osuna Ramírez, Veloutsou and Morgan-Thomas, 2017).
Apple focus is to build and manage equity brand thus satisfy needs of customers by continuous
innovation in its products and technology. Keller brand equity model:
Brand identity: Customers are fully aware about well-established brand image of Apple in the
market and its product and services in which it deals. By advertisement its product through
hoarding and offering promotional offers.
Brand meaning: Company by providing quality products able to explains its meaning.
Consumer known about the quality and unique features, continuous innovation of products
offered by Apple to its customers.
Brand response: People react positively towards product and services offered by company and
think apple is reputable company that provide qualitative services to its customers Company is
able collect feedback from customers through social sites.
Brand resonance: Company is able to make repetitive sales by maintaining quality of product
and building strong relationship with customers. It is able to retain customers by building strong
relationship with them.
Illustration 1: Endorsed Brand
(Source: Create a clear brand architecture to drive growth, 2019)

LO3
P4 Brands managed collaboratively and in partnerships
The emergence of technology enabled solutions in global platform has enhanced the
competitive growth among companies in volatile business environment. Benefits and scalability
of technology in brand management is extensively important for companies. Developing an
adaptive and flexible approach by leveraging technology is very important for companies to
grow in volatile business environment where consumers look for new brands. It is important for
brands to enhance their performance on global platforms by collaboratively working in domestic
market and international markets (Naveed, Ahmad and Hamid, 2019). Global brand management
needs to develop proactive discipline towards their business linking various initiatives to develop
their company on domestic levels and international countries. It has evolved into a complex and
ever-changing discipline where multinational companies are expanding their business through
online commercial advertisements with partnerships, mergers.
Apple and IBM gorge global partnership to transform company’s mobility
The partnership between two companies aims to redefine their working standards for
higher productivity levels, to address the key mobility challenges in competitive industry. It aims
towards higher profit margins for companies and spark true mobile-led business change, by
offering new IBM cloud services optimized for iOS, device management security, analytics and
mobile integration (Ahn, 2019). The partnership allows exclusive combinations and advantages
for technology users which draws distinct strengths of each company. IBM's big data and
analytics capabilities with the power of more than 100000 IBM industry, highly skilled domain
consultants and software developers behind it, fused with legendary consumer experience and
goodwill of Apple globally. This hardware and software integration and developer platform will
allow companies to achieve new arenas of business growth along high levels of efficiency,
effectiveness in high profit margins growth and enhanced strong goodwill among consumers.
Apple and Salesforce partnership
Apple and Salesforce has announced a strategic partnership between the companies to
bring the customer relationship management platform and iOS,the worlds most advanced
operating system, enabling [powerful new mobile apps for business. Companies together are
defining new era of mobile innovation with the native apps on iOS, and empowering millions of

people with high technical knowledge and skills to access high-tech equipment’s. Companies
together though partnership will ensure consistency in brand positioning, adapting high brand
commination strategies for attracting consumers. Integrating local marketing strategies into
global brand strategy has enabled companies to facilitate exchange of knowledge.
Importance of Brand extension- Brand extension leverages the reputation and popularity of
well-known product already established in the market share with strong goodwill among
consumers to launch a new product by company. There should be strong association between the
2 products with strong identification between them for customers to strongly adopt. Brand
extension can be performed by companies in following ways:
 Brand stretching (vertical extension)-It refers to strategy when company sense an
opportunity in other value segments of market where customers market is highly
growable. Value conscious segments in market share are the main attracting new group of
customers. An upward vertical extension can improve the brand image positively to a
great extent, I Phone users who look for innovative technology can be targeted with this
strategy (Arifoglu and Tang, 2019).
 Brand extension-It refers to expansion of brand into new territories or markets where
there is competitive growth and the values and aspirations of new customers match with
the characteristics of brand. IPhone by extending its brand business to international
markets, where there lies huge opportunities of young generation using Apple company
phones. Line extension- It refers to launching new variant for the expansion in an existing product
line by company for customer segments who look for new benefits offered by the brand.
It revives the interest of customers by offering new desirable attributes in product and
enhances the brand value (Deepak and Jeyakumar, 2019). IPhone by launching new
models adds exciting variety for technology lover customers who look unto Apple
Company.
Importance of brand leveraging for companies-Brand leveraging provides the consumers with
highs sense of familiarity along with the positive brand characteristics and attitudes into a new
product category. Strong brand leveraging techniques perceives instant recognition of new
segments of customers to the brand, aiming to gain high customer satisfaction levels for
continuous growth in industry. It is an important form of marketing technique used by company

to introduce new product in market-share. Consumers with favourable brand opinion are likely to
get themselves introduce to new variant which possess similar attribute and quality levels
(Garanti, and Kissi, 2019).
LO4
P5 Techniques for measuring and managing the brand value
A strong and enduring brand value is of vital importance for company growth and
expansion in market share globally. High brand value gives leverage and competitive advantage
to brand expansion and company goodwill through large level customer satisfaction. There are
various techniques for measuring and managing the brand value in relation to developing strong
enduring performance levels (Iglesias, Markovic and Rialp, 2019).
Goodwill and the value of brand- It is one of the most intangible asset for company to retain
long term growth in the market growth which also allows to measure the brand equity levels.
Apple has achieved strong goodwill among its consumers globally with the high quality of
services, variety of products for people who look for different advanced technological products.
The 3 key elements for companies to create a valuation structure for measuring brand value are:
Financial forecasting of future.
Revenue associated with brand by analysing the statistics though various metrics
Role of the brand performance in the overall revenue for company.
Measuring brand value and cash value-The financial reports of company provides significant
report with the performance of all brands and assess the various new opportunities for enhancing
brand performance levels(Keller and Brexendorf, 2019). It is important to calculate the statistics
of market growth by brand how much it is able to reach among the targeted customers. Company
aims to reach high profit margins with strong brand value to occupy high competence ion
volatile business environment. Apple by measuring the brand value and cash value asses the
future potentialities for growth and it can reach to new customer segments.
Consumer awareness- It is an important measure to manage the brand value and assess how
much popularity the brand possess among the consumers. The accountability of brand value is an
important point to retain consumer loyalty for long term sustainability in the industry. As there is
high competition in industry with the emergence of new brands coming up in technology sector
every day among highly globalized market. It is highly necessary for Apple to keep the

consumers satisfied with high technology quality in iPhones, and strong after sale services
(Rahman, Rodríguez-Serrano and Lambkin,2019).
Preference metrics- It refers to metrics which measure the brand competitive position in market
growth and how it has been able to create benchmark among competing brands. Consumers
generally have various levels of preference which ranges from general awareness’s about the
brand characteristics to building strong loyalty towards company. iPhone has created high level
of loyalty in the consumers with supreme quality of technology and high customer satisfaction
services.
Financial metrics- It refers to metrics through which financial parameters of market share can
be measured by company. Revenue generation capabilities and how much premium price brand
can command among the consumers to gain high competitive growth with high performance
levels and increased profit margins. This measure facilitates the company to assimilate the
accurate financial value of brand equity and how it can reach high profit margins in future by
expanding in new arenas of services and products.
Profitability levels- Company need to check their profitability levels while analysing the brand
value and how much it has been able to spread within the consumer market. There is a high cost
attached to branding and marketing of products and brands by company which needs to be
successfully met for long term cost efficiency. It is necessary measure to check brand equity and
the overall value it has achieved among consumers (Yakimova,Owens and Sydow,2019). High
profitability levels are an imperative sign which signify the strong performance levels brand of
company is able to achieve. Apple by analysing the profitability levels in the IPhone sales and
the various other brand products it offers to consumers check the brand value and overall equity
generation in the brand performance standards.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that branding plays important role in
marketing of company product and services. It can also be explained that key components of
successful brand strategy helps in building and managing brand equity. Company by choosing
appropriate portfolio management, brand hierarchy and brand equity management is able to build
strong brand image in the market. It can also be concluded Apple by making partnership and
collaborative at domestic and global level is able to expands its market share and was able to

attract new customers. At last, it can be concluded that different techniques for measuring and
managing brand value helps it in achievement of organisational goals.

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