International Marketing Plan: Sodashi's Entry into Singapore

This report examines Sodashi's international marketing strategy for entering the Singapore market. It includes an overview of the company, its objectives, and a detailed analysis of the market environment using PESTLE. The report also assesses Sodashi's competitors, market readiness through SWOT analysis, and the chosen market entry mode of franchising. Furthermore, it delves into segmentation, targeting, positioning, and differentiation (STPD) strategies, followed by a comprehensive marketing strategy encompassing product, price, promotion, and distribution. The report concludes with key findings and recommendations for Sodashi's successful market entry and expansion in Singapore. Desklib provides students with access to similar solved assignments and past papers.

international marketing Assignment 3

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Objectives................................................................................................................................................2
Market environment....................................................................................................................................2
Competitor analysis.....................................................................................................................................4
Market readiness..........................................................................................................................................5
Modes of entry............................................................................................................................................5
Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning, and Differentiation..........................................................................6
Segmentation...........................................................................................................................................6
Targeting.................................................................................................................................................6
Positioning...............................................................................................................................................7
Differentiation.........................................................................................................................................7
Marketing Strategy......................................................................................................................................8
Product strategy.......................................................................................................................................8
Price strategy...........................................................................................................................................8
Promotion strategy...................................................................................................................................9
Distribution strategy................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................11
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Introduction
International marketing is the process of applying the marketing principles in the international
market for the expansion of the business (Bai, and Chang, 2015). To better understand the
process the organization Sodashi is being selected. The organization is the skincare brand of
Australia and they are developing the international market for Singapore. The firm is making
various types of the skin care products as per the need and demands of the consumers. The major
products are Balancing face mist, Clay cleanser with Lavender and they also offer Samadara.
The market share of Sodashi reveals that the products are being use in 20 countries and by 52
world’s most luxury spas (Professional Beauty, 2009). The firm is trying to achieve the trust and
is trying to expand globally in rest of the countries so that products can reach a large number of
the customers. Development of the brand image is one of the priority of the firm and they are
engaged in deliver superior quality of the products to the customers as per their satisfaction level.
The paper will provide the view of the marketing environment along with the competitor analysis
of the firm. The paper also provides the view on the STPD of the firm in the market of Singapore
along with the marketing strategies. Also, it will highlight the operating advantages that the
company has by executing its business across different countries.
Objectives
The objectives are:
 To increase the market share by 33% at the end of 12 months
 To increase the customer base by 5.1 million or more
 To achieve the trust and loyalty of the customers by developing the brand image
 To deliver superior quality of products to the customers
 To understand the market entry mode of the firm in the international market
 To understand the process of segmentation along with the targeting and the position of
the firm in the market
 To evaluate the marketing strategies for the firm for the betterment of the products
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Market environment
PESTLE Analysis
Political factor: The country is having a low political risk and for that the country provides the
suitable transformation to improve the business opportunities (De Mooij, 2015). The country
allows the foreign market as well as their local market to grow and expand their business. These
political factors will help Sodashi to enter the market of Singapore with their product to expand
the business in the international market.
Economic factor: The economic condition of the country is the vibrant free-market economy. In
the ASEAN countries, per capita income of Singapore is the highest and they are developing
rapidly in the world market. It is the corruption-free environment that eventually supports the
business sector to develop. The GDP of Singapore grew by 4.3 percent in the first quarter of
2018 as evaluated on 13th April 2018. The fertility rate of the country is 1.24 and the populations
as evaluated in 2018 is 5,791,901 which provides desired platform for Sodashi to execute all its
respective business processes (Mti.gov.sg, 2018). The country is also having the cheaper labor
cost which allows Sodashi to expand their business in Singapore with greater opportunities
(Tradingeconomics.com, 2018).
Social factor: The social factor of the country is like all the other eastern countries and they also
follow the traditional family value. The literacy rate of the country is high which allow them to
develop effective awareness regarding the development of the country (De Villa, Rajwani, and
Lawton, 2015). They have effective command in English as well as Chinese which help them to
attract international trade. All these factors of a social environment in the country allow the
organization to establish their business in Singapore.
Technological factor: The country is having the most advanced use of technology in their
various field and this is the primary reason for the change in lifestyle and activity (Hoffman,
Munemo, and Watson, 2016). The Internet is the most efficient part of the country that helps to
develop effective communication among the organizations within the country. Sodashi with the
help of technology and other internet advancement have the suitable ability to capture the
customers of Singapore (Facebook.com, 2018).
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Legal factor: The legal, as well as the regulatory system of the country, is being a focus for the
development of the industry as well as the economic condition of the country. Sodashi also
required to maintain the legal law reading the international trading and also the law for trading
within the country. This effectively allows the firm to maintain the suitable working function
within the market.
Environmental factor: The environmental condition of the country is not suitable for the level
of pollution is high within the urban areas. The country has lost their 30% of the mangrove area.
Sodashi with their sustainable working environment can effectively get adjust to the country that
would not create an issue in the environmental context of the firm.
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Competitor analysis
Porter’s five forces
Porter’s five forces Features Power Market
share
Business
strategy
The threat of new
entrance
The cost for new
entrance in the
skincare and
cosmetic products
are huge.
Low High Low
Consumer
bargaining power
The price of the
products is changed
as well as new
products are formed
according to the
need of the
customers.
High low High
Suppliers
bargaining power
The industry is
having a huge
market player and
also numerous
suppliers of the
products.
Low low Low
Threat of substitutes The level of
competition is high
in the skincare and
cosmetic industry.
High High High
The barrier to
market entrant and
exist
Due to high price
some firm create
market barriers
while due to the
development cost of
the product some
firm face the barrier
to exit.
Moderate High High
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Competitor analysis
The primary competitor of Sodashi is Nivea, L'Oreal Paris, Neutrogena, and Shiseido. The
primary products of the competitors are the skincare and cosmetics items. The primary strategy
of L'Oreal Paris is to make the innovative products which have the potential to attract customers.
Nivea has the unique selling position for providing suitable skincare products to the consumers.
Shiseido also has the quite effective position within the market that provide sun scream and other
beauty products (Papadopoulos, and Heslop, 2014). Neutrogena also provides suitable product to
the market which has the ability to attract various customers. In the cosmetic industry, the level
of competition is high which makes it quite difficult for the firm to provide an effective working
function on the field. The competitors are having the most effective field within the market that
provides best skincare products to the customers (Samiee, Chabowski, and Hult, 2015). All the
competitors of the firm are the branded company in the market which is generally recognized by
all the customers which create huge competition level in the market.
Competitor Brand Name Market share
L’Oreal Paris 23%
Nivea 6%
Neutrogena 11%
Shiseido 3%
Market readiness
SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
 Provide cent percent natural products
 They have high distribution channel in
the leading spa all over the world
 Ingredients are disclosed on the label
to the customers
 Maintain strong relation with the spa
industry and the consumers
 Effective business strategy for the
international market
 Provide superior quality of products
 Sodashi spa have limited outlets in the
capital city of Australia
 Brand recognition is low in Australia
as well as Western Australia
 The production capability is limited
Opportunities Threats
 Sodashi is becoming the leader in the
natural spa along with the beauty
 High level of competition
 Selling the products via online to the
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products
 Introduction to the international
market
 The growth of the firm through online
marketing
 Trends for using the natural as well as
organization raw materials
 Launch of new products within the
international market
consumers
 Managing the requirement of the
business partners
Modes of entry
The organization is having the suitable operational function within the international market and
the country Singapore is also suitable for the firm. After the effective analysis of the business, it
is clear that suitable market entry mode for the firm is Franchising (Skarmeas, Zeriti, and Baltas,
2016). This mode is contract based but far better than the licensing as in this mode the franchisor
can effectively control the franchise. The franchise has to pay the fixed amount as well as the
royalty that is based on the sale of the primary business. This business process is having low
financial risk within the market and also the access to market potential is having the low cost.
This market entry mode also helps the firm to avoid tariffs as well as restriction on the foreign
investment. This is one of the best processes for the firm to achieve suitable view regarding the
local market and also the primary organization has direct control over the business (Morschett,
Schramm-Klein, and Zentes, 2015). In the franchising market entry, high level of trust within the
organizations are essential. This process also helps in the speedy entry into the international
market. It is suitable for Sodashi to maintain their business in Singapore and provide the best
products to the market of Singapore.
Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning, and Differentiation
Segmentation
The segmentation of skincare products within the market is done according to the demographic,
geographic, psychographic as well as behavioral (Vos, and Bartels, 2018). The organization has
segmented their market in the form of geographic where they introduce the business to Singapore
in the international market. This is a skincare product brands and their demographic
segmentation is basically the female of the country. They segment their market according to the
age group of the female where they provide different product for the different age group. The
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organization also have segmented some of their products according to the lifestyle of the
consumers (Smilansky, 2017). The cosmetic and skincare products are different for the
professional and for the students. Segmentation is done to provide the most suitable and effective
product within the market so that their customers are fully satisfied with the appropriate product.
For skincare items, the proper segmentation and formation of the product are essential to capture
the interest and loyalty of the consumer.
Targeting
The primary target of the firm are the females and the males with the age group of 25 to 35 for
providing effective spa treatment. They have further segmented their target within the age group
of the female for better customer satisfaction and product delivery to the market (Akhtar, Siddiqi,
Ashraf, and Latif, 2016). The organization has targeted the female of 18-25 years as the young
group who needs the skincare products for a natural look and maintaining the natural glow of the
skin. They have also targeted women above 35 years of age for their skin aging cream. The
secondary target of the organization is the male and the kids. The organization provides suitable
and effective product in the market that has the ability to grab the attention of the customers all
over the world (Dawes, 2017). Sodashi is providing better cosmetic and skincare products to
attract the customers mainly the females that provide an effective working function to the firm.
The organization provides spa products and for that, they target popular spa within the market.
Positioning
The organization Sodashi is having the effective position within the market but due to the huge
competition level, they are also getting some of the crucial factors for the firm to maintain their
products (Husain, Ghufran, and Chaubey, 2016). The brand image along of the firm within the
market helps them to maintain a valuable position. The positioning strategy of the firm is suitable
for developing effective competitive advantages in the country. The organization is rapidly
growing within the market and for that, they have the effective and the suitable development for
the firm to maintain their products and their effective working function within the market
(Bourguet, Pêcher, Bardel, Navarro, and Mougin, 2016). The change in the lifestyle and change
in trends of the customers helps in targeting their specific needs. With the new and developed
products and also with the developed spa products in the field they are gradually developing the
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position of the top brand within the market. The organization has to compete with the big brands
like the L’Oreal Paris, Nivea in the market which make their position in the development stage.
Differentiation
Differentiation allows the organization to provide unique products within the market that help to
capture the customers. This helps the firm to improve their competitive advantages and also
helps to increase the position of the firm in the market (Garmatjuk, and Parts, 2015). The
organization Sodashi is having suitable differentiation in their products like they provide organic
spa products to the market. The organization also provides the pure nourishment products for the
beautiful skin. Another differentiation of the product is that they provide inconceivably gentle
products but incredibly effective for skin. They also provide the purest skincare product range
within the world which make their product innovation and provide them competitive advantages
within the market (Assawavichairoj, and Taghian, 2017). The organization has most of the
unique value position in the market which is gained with the effective differentiation of the field.
Sodashi providers the most basic skincare treatment to the consumers that is effective and also
suitable for the women along with the men all over the world.
Marketing Strategy
Product strategy
Sodashi is the skincare and cosmetic brand that provide suitable and effective products to the
market. The organization provides various kind of spa products to offer treatment for the
consumers. Their product is inconceivably gentle and also it is incredibly effective on the skin of
the consumer. Samadara is the powerful treatment for ageing that is provided to the customers on
the various outlet of Sodashi spa (Liao, Lee, Lai, and Wang, 2018). The organization also
provides the products that help the customers to tackle the cellulite in their body. They needs to
have various products that rejuvenate the skin and provide nourishment to the skin. They also
provide the product that is suitable for the sensitive as well as the reactive skin and this product
generally available in the complete kit that is calm Skin Care Kit of Sodashi. The product
strategy that is basically utilized by the firm is to develop the smooth and the effective along
with the innovative skin care products (Frey, Ansar, and Wunsch‐Vincent, 2015). Samadara is
the innovative treatment that is provided to the people to fight with the anti-ageing problem and
this is available in the different spa outlet of Sodashi. Their product as well as the packaging of
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the product is innovative and also effective for the market to capture the attention of the
consumers. The organization is also having products for providing smooth lips and eyes to the
customers all over the world. This organization is providing the best product within the market to
develop with the help of innovative strategy.
Price strategy
Pricing strategy of the firm is essential to provide the cost and the value to the products as well
as the treatment in the market. It is basically depends on the market demand as well as the cost
for the making of the products (Bonetti, 2014). The pricing strategy used by the organization for
their products are the economy pricing and they will adopt differentiations in the pricing
strategies and will offer discounts to the customers too. It is effective for the firm to maintain
their product in the most suitable and valuable ways. This also help the organization to develop
effective customer’s loyalty in the marketplace. The organization provides various range of
products within the market that starts from 50 dollar and the maximum price for the product that
is being provided by the firm is almost 300 dollars. The pricing strategy clearly provides the
facts that the beauty products that are providing by the firm is for the customer’s suitability in the
market. They have numerous product range with various price and all are beneficial for the firm
to maintain their activity in the field (Andaleeb, 2016). They have different price range for the
spa treatment where the customers can get effective beauty products in their suitable price. They
also provide different kind of skincare kit with the price range starting from 230 dollar. In this
kind of kit there are various products that is effective for the kind of skin and beauty treatment.
All the products within the market is being settles according to the need of the customers and
also the pricing strategy of the firm.
Promotion strategy
This is the most effective and the valuable strategy for the skincare brand to spread the
awareness of their products. The various promotional strategy that is generally utilized by the
organization is the advertisement on television, the newspaper advertisement along with the
online sales within the market and so on. The television advertisement allow the firm to spread
their news to the vast area and this is also effective for attracting numerous customers in the
market (Heinberg, Ozkaya, and Taube, 2016). Then the promotional campaign is also done by
the organization where they introduce the products by the help of the celebrity within the market.
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The organization also provide suitable demo makeover facility to the customers to various
departmental store. This allow them to deliver the effectiveness of their product to the customers
and also this help to make their brand image within the market of Singapore. Another
promotional strategy for the firm is the integrated marketing communication. This process allow
them to communicate with the customers and make their strong position within the market. The
fact is clear that the organization need to develop effective promotional strategy that helps them
to maintain their working function within the field (Saric, 2014). Promotional strategy that is
being used by the organization is effective for the Singapore market that allow to capture the
consumers and make their strong position within the marketplace. Promoting the products allow
them to share the information regarding the products to the consumers of Singapore in the most
effective and the suitable way.
Distribution strategy
Sodashi is the Australian skincare brand and they are holding the effective position within the
market. The organization has numerous and effective suppliers and the distribution channel for
their products (Liu, and Atuahene-Gima, 2018). One of the most effective distribution channels
that are being provided by the firm is online which allow them to provide suitable and variable
operational function within the market. Sodashi provides their products within the market and for
that, they are having a suitable working function in the country. It is clear that the firm is
developing numerous products according to the need of the customers and all the products are
distributed in an effective way by the firm for the betterment of the company. Due to the high
level of competition in the skincare industry, it becomes essential for the firm to provide suitable
and valuable distribution strategy within the field. This helps the firm to maintain their position
in the market and this is effectively used for the market to provide the valuable products. The
most innovative way to distribute the products of Sodashi is the spa service that is being
provided by the firm. They have spa outlets in Australia and also they are planning to open the
outlets in Singapore to maintain their distribution process within the market (Sodashi Skincare,
2018). The products of Sodashi is also available in the various departmental stores so that the
customers have the easy access to the products. Also, the products are available on the official
website of the company along with the other sites.
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