Short answer

Designers and marketers should focus on creating a brand identity and product offering that communicates both quality and desirability to a wide audience, while strategically managing price points and promotional activities to maintain an aspirational appeal.

Field
Innovation & Markets
Source
Marketing Intelligence & Planning (2015)
Method
Quantitative research combined with case study analysis.
Sample
590 participants
Evidence
Strong effect

A well-defined 'masstige marketing' strategy, integrating product, price, promotion, and place, is a strong indicator of long-term brand success and market penetration, particularly in diverse cultural contexts. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Marketing Intelligence & Planning. Using Quantitative research combined with case study analysis. with 590 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and marketers should focus on creating a brand identity and product offering that communicates both quality and desirability to a wide audience, while strategically managing price points and promotional activities to maintain an aspirational appeal.

Study
Innovation & MarketsHigh ImpactStrong effect

Masstige Marketing: A Strategic Framework for Brand Building and Market Penetration

A well-defined 'masstige marketing' strategy, integrating product, price, promotion, and place, is a strong indicator of long-term brand success and market penetration, particularly in diverse cultural contexts.

Marketing Intelligence & Planning · 2015

01

Key Findings

  • 01Masstige value is a significant indicator of long-term brand value.
  • 02A higher Masstige Mean Score (MMS) correlates with a higher likelihood of brand success and 'top of mind' recall.
  • 03Effective masstige marketing requires a strategic integration of the four Ps (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) tailored to specific cultural markets.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Designers and marketers should focus on creating a brand identity and product offering that communicates both quality and desirability to a wide audience, while strategically managing price points and promotional activities to maintain an aspirational appeal.

How to apply

When developing a new product or brand strategy, consider how to position it within the 'masstige' spectrum. Analyze competitor strategies and consumer perceptions to identify opportunities for creating a desirable yet accessible brand.

Project actions

  • 01When researching a brand, consider its 'masstige' appeal – does it feel both high-quality and attainable?
  • 02Think about how the '4 Ps' (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) contribute to a brand's prestige.
  • 03If you're developing a brand strategy, consider how to balance exclusivity with mass appeal.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo redefine and map the 'masstige marketing' strategy as a new model for brand building and to examine its effectiveness through the lens of the marketing mix.
MethodQuantitative research combined with case study analysis.
ProcedureA 'Masstige Mean Score Scale' was developed and used to collect data from young women consumers in Japan and France. The marketing strategy of a European luxury brand (LV) was also analyzed.
Sample590 participants
ContextConsumer goods, luxury and premium markets, international marketing.

Variables

IVMasstige marketing strategy (mix of 4 Ps)
DVBrand value, market penetration, brand recall
CVConsumer demographics (young women), geographic location (Japan, France), brand type (luxury/premium sector).
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Introduces a new theoretical model and measurement scale for 'masstige marketing'.
  • +Empirically tests the effectiveness of the strategy using consumer data from diverse markets.

Limitations

It can be challenging to objectively measure 'masstige' value, as it's subjective. The study's focus on a specific demographic and geographic region might not apply universally.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliability is supported by the development of a new scale and its application to a substantial sample size. Validity is addressed through the examination of a well-known brand and the use of established marketing mix theory.

Think critically

How can a brand maintain its prestige while significantly increasing its accessibility and sales volume? What are the potential ethical considerations of 'masstige marketing'?

05

Design Principles

"Balance accessibility with exclusivity to maximize brand value and market penetration."

Understanding and implementing 'masstige marketing' allows businesses to strategically position their brands to appeal to a broader consumer base while maintaining an aura of exclusivity. This approach can be crucial for companies looking to expand into new or culturally distinct markets, enhancing brand recall and overall market value.

06

What This Means for Your Design

To make a brand successful and memorable, it needs to be both desirable (prestigious) and accessible to many people. This is achieved by carefully planning what the product is, how much it costs, how it's advertised, and where it's sold, especially when entering new countries.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use the concept of 'masstige marketing' to justify the positioning of your designed product.
  • 2.Analyze how your chosen marketing mix elements contribute to or detract from the perceived prestige of your product.
  • 3.Discuss how your design choices can influence the 'masstige' value of the product.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The concept of 'masstige marketing' suggests that brands can achieve significant market penetration and long-term value by strategically blending mass appeal with an aura of prestige. This involves a careful orchestration of the marketing mix – product design, pricing strategy, promotional activities, and distribution channels – tailored to specific market segments and cultural contexts. A higher perceived 'masstige' value often correlates with increased brand recall and market success, making it a critical consideration for brand development and strategic planning.

09

Source

Marketing Intelligence & Planning

Masstige marketing redefined and mapped

journal · 2015

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about masstige marketing: a strategic framework for brand building and market penetration?
Designers and marketers should focus on creating a brand identity and product offering that communicates both quality and desirability to a wide audience, while strategically managing price points and promotional activities to maintain an aspirational appeal. Evidence: Marketing Intelligence & Planning (2015).
Why does "Masstige Marketing: A Strategic Framework for Brand Building and Market Penetration" matter for design?
Understanding and implementing 'masstige marketing' allows businesses to strategically position their brands to appeal to a broader consumer base while maintaining an aura of exclusivity. This approach can be crucial for companies looking to expand into new or culturally distinct markets, enhancing brand recall and overall market value.
How can designers apply this research?
Designers and marketers should focus on creating a brand identity and product offering that communicates both quality and desirability to a wide audience, while strategically managing price points and promotional activities to maintain an aspirational appeal.
What were the main findings?
Masstige value is a significant indicator of long-term brand value.. A higher Masstige Mean Score (MMS) correlates with a higher likelihood of brand success and 'top of mind' recall.. Effective masstige marketing requires a strategic integration of the four Ps (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) tailored to specific cultural markets.
What research method was used?
Quantitative research combined with case study analysis. with 590 participants.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Marketing Intelligence & Planning.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When developing a new product or brand strategy, consider how to position it within the 'masstige' spectrum. Analyze competitor strategies and consumer perceptions to identify opportunities for creating a desirable yet accessible brand.
What are the limitations?
The study focused on young women consumers in specific markets, which may limit generalizability to other demographics or regions. The 'Masstige Mean Score Scale' may require further validation across different product categories.