Thursday, February 16, 2006

Vicco : Lost in the woods?

Brand : Vicco turmeric
Company: Vicco lab

Vicco Turmeric cream is India's first fairness cream although it is not positioned as a fairness cream. The product which is based on turmeric have a 54 year old history. The product was launched in 1956 missed the liberalisation era all together.

Although the product is successfully exported, the potential of Vicco Turmeric is not fully utilized in the Indian market. Vicco was marketed as a skin care cream . Over the years this product is stereotyped as a brand for " would be brides" . The ads which was aired for a long time had this theme.
In olden times this theme perfectly works since marriage is the most important occasion in a woman's life. But Vicco failed to understand the changing consumer trends which Fair & Lovely correctly sensed. Women have changed and their attitude towards life have also changed. Instead of marriage, now there are many occasions where women celebrate . Infact the stereotype of marriage now don't work. In simple terms the TG changed.
Vicco never was aggressive. It continued with its conventional traditional strategies while HLL marched away with the market.
Vicco Turmeric ayurvedic cream is in the naturals segment of Indian skin care segment which is estimated to be around 1300 crore. Except for Vicco there are no pure naturals brands in this segment . All major brands have a naturals extension some of them have failed miserably.
Vicco had huge potential because of its excellent quality , brand recall and more importantly the ingredient "Turmeric". It should have owned "Turmeric" factor. Now we see lot of local manufacturers selling turmeric powder to women to be used as a cosmetic. That was a market that Vicco should have concentrated. Fairever succeeded because of the ingredient saffron. Vicco could have made a killing with turmeric which is one of the best ingredient you can ever have. But alas....
Although there is lot of concentration on fairness market, there is a market for pure beauty creams which can give a wholesome solution to the consumers, Vicco turmeric had all that to be a leader.
A brand is built only if there is a clear strategy and support . Vicco failed to understand the changing value system of the customers. What it needs is a repositioning strategy based on the wholesome properties of turmeric and lot of noise in the market.
What a potential to be wasted.......

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:36 PM

    Point taken - but you speak as though the brand is already dead- I think there is still quite some bit that Vicco can do to save the brand - I dont think you shold sing the elegy yet!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous11:54 AM

    Absolutely ..vicco is an amazing product ! Though the poor marketing has done its damage .. its a product that will stay .. but to grow and realise its full potential .. it needs a better strategy .. i hope the promoters realise it soon .

    ReplyDelete
  3. yes its true that vicco has not adopted aggressive and modern approach for marketing which results in the situation were no one thinks about this cream to buy....

    ReplyDelete

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