The Downy baby softener product line is designed to provide superior fabric care while prioritizing the comfort of babies, giving parents peace of mind.. By implementing the marketing g
Trang 1HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY
OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BASIC MARKERTING
DOWNY’S MARKETING PLAN REPORT
LECTURER: HUYNH BAO THACH
+ t *
A
Nguyễn Lộc Hoài Thuong | 21DH482644
Mai Lâm Thảo Vy 21DH485516
Nguyễn Kiéu Héng Ngoc | 21DH485054
Văn Thị Kim Hồng 21DH122433
HCMC, 11/2023
Trang 2Chapter 2: Mission Statement
Chapter 7: Buyer Personas
7.1 Buyer profile that Downy targets
9.5 Improve product quality
10.2 Pricing strategies
10.2.1 Pricing strategy when first introducing the Downy baby product
Trang 311.3 TikTok 22
11.3.2 Disadvantages when using TikTok to promote products, typically 24 11.3.3 EsfimafedÌ COSí Go 0 họ lon cm mm 0m 24
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Table of Figures
Figure 1 Downy fabric softener packaging sizes for sensifive skin 19
Trang 4While implementing the marketing plan report, we learned a lot of knowledge and
collected more useful information Although it only lasts 10 weeks, this is a good opportunity to help us reach out and become real marketers We would like to sincerely thank lecturer Huynh Bao Thach once again for creating favorable conditions for us to
complete this report
Finally, | would like to thank the team members for providing the necessary resources
and support to complete this report Their commitment to this project was evident
throughout the process
Thank you to everyone who played a role in this effort Your contribution is greatly appreciated
Executive Summary
The executive summary presents a comprehensive marketing plan for P&G's Downy Baby Softener product line P&G 1s a top global consumer goods company that always aims to meet the changing needs of parents by offering safe, innovative, and high-quality
products for their children The Downy baby softener product line is designed to provide superior fabric care while prioritizing the comfort of babies, giving parents peace of
mind
The market for baby care is growing quickly, as consumers become more aware of the
importance of using gentle and safe products for their infants P&G recognizes this trend
and seeks to capitalize on it by mtroducing the Downy Baby Softener product line By
implementing the marketing goals of increasing product sales, increasing the number of
new customers, and increasing awareness effectively P&G can establish a dominant presence in this market and make Downy a preferred brand in the field of baby fabric
care
P&G's Downy fabric softener line for children was developed with a product strategy aimed at meeting the needs and preferences of stay-at-home mothers, especially mothers
looking for gentle, comfortable washing products for their children P&G highlights the
unique features and benefits of Downy children's products, such as hypoallergenic formulas and long-lasting fragrance, that differentiate its products from competitors
To raise awareness and drive testing, P&G uses a multi-channel marketing approach Use digital platforms, social media, and parenting forums to engage your target audience In particular, TikTok is a potential platform to promote products and have a competitive advantage in the domestic market, especially to increase the number of products sold on
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Trang 5the market, increase the number of new customers as well and increase brand recognition Collaboration with influencers such as KOLs, and KOCs in the field of parenting and
healthcare experts will also build credibility and trust with stay-at-home mothers P&G's Downy fabric softener line for children was developed with a product strategy aimed at meeting the needs and preferences of parents, especially mothers looking for
gentle, comfortable washing products for their children P&G highlights the unique
features and benefits of Downy children's products, such as hypoallergenic formulas and
long-lasting fragrance, that differentiate its products from competitors
To raise awareness and promote trials, P&G uses a multi-channel marketing approach
Use digital platforms, social media, and parenting forums to engage your target audience
Collaborations with parenting influencers and healthcare professionals will also be leveraged to build credibility and trust with parents
In terms of distribution, the Downy Baby Softener line has been widely distributed both 1n traditional retailers and e-commerce P&G works with strategic partners to ensure full
shelf presence and outstanding online visibility
P&G's pricing strategy is competitive The optimal pricing for Downy baby fabric
softener is penetration pricing and bundling pricing P&G believes that by providing quality products at affordable prices, they can build trust and loyalty with their target
customers
In short, P&G's Downy fabric softener product line for babies has great potential to
become the market leader in fabric softener for children Effectively implementing
marketing goals includes increasing the number of products sold, increasing the number
of new customers, and increasing brand recognition P&G will gain significant market
share and drive growth for Downy's children's product line
Chapter 1: Company Profile
1.1 Introduction company
¢ Company name: Procter & Gamble (P&G)
¢ Headquarters (city, state, country): Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
® Year founded: 1837
¢ Number of employees: 99,000+
e Annual revenue (estimate): $76.1 billion (2022)
® Link to website: - Company: https://vn.pg.com/
- Product: https://downy.com/en-us 1.2 Purpose and scope of the report
With an increasingly competitive fabric softener market, building a marketing strategy
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Trang 6for fabric softener products is extremely important The research goal of this report is that
we will build a comprehensive marketing plan for Downy products for busy housewives and people with sensitive skin (both adults and children) The research scope of this article is our research in the Vietnamese market itself
Chapter 2: Mission Statement
"The Downy fragrance brings new inspiration every day for you and the whole family” Busy families with young children are always served by Downy, especially mothers Downy is constantly working to give families with the best fabric softeners possible, ones
that not only offer exceptional softness but also prevent static cling, maintain a long-
lasting, aroma, safeguard clothes, and soothe young children's skin With just one rinse, gives them a lovely smell In contrast to its rivals, Downy will set itself apart with a cutting-edge formula that prolongs aroma retention for up to 7 days, individualized fragrance selections, and hypoallergenic variations
Chapter 3: SWOT Analysis
- Brand reputation: In the laundry care
sector, Downy is a well-known and
reputable brand that is renowned for its
premium fabric softeners and enduring
fragrance
- Product quality: Due to its mnovative
formulae, which deliver exceptional
results and safeguard fabrics, Downy
offers superior softness and freshness,
successfully researched on scent transfer
in the collection, the perfume helps bring out a
seductive scent after every gentle touch
on clothes with diverse designs and a full
of
range capacities, volumes, and
- Price: Product prices mainly target
urban environments and mid-range
customer segments (Most fabric softener products cost 100,000 VND or more If
its below, the capacity will be quite
small.)(BachHoaXanh, 2023)
- Dependency on External Factors: The
success of Downy is dependent on
like
income,
customer buying patterns (The average income per person in 2022 at current prices will reach 4.67 million VND, an
of 11.1
compared to 2021 The average monthly
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packaging for customers to choose from
to suit their consumer need(Downy,
2023)
- Innovation: In order to introduce new
and improved products and maintain a
technological edge over rivals in terms of
development conditioners are
increasingly being improved to help
soothe your baby's skin Softens fabrics
and preserves long-lasting fragrance on
clothes With WrinkleGuard technology,
clothes are less wrinkled after washing
and easily brightened with the dryer)
(Downy, 2023)
- Wide Product Range: Fabric softeners
from Downy come in a variety of scents,
hypoallergenic varieties, and tailored
versions for different types of materials
Downy 1s popular, widely distributed, can
be easily found in all grocery stores,
convenience stores, markets (According
to a survey in Vietnam, there are 10 most
popular types of Downy fabric softener
sold in almost every place such as
markets, supermarkets, Bach Hoa Xanh,
e-commerce platforms, )(Downy, 2023)
- Advertising: Promoted very strongly on
television, newspapers, mass media and
has discount programs, sponsorship of
contests, free trial samples,
spending per capita will be approximately 2.8 million VND, down 3 3 percentage
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- Intense Competition: The fabric softener
market is fiercely competitive, with many
distinct brands providing products at
various price points Vietnamese people
today have the tendency of "Vietnamese
people use Vietnamese products", so
there will be many Vietnamese fabric
softener brands that compete directly with
Downy (number and market share of
discussions about brands on social media:
Downy:7%, Comfort:22%;
brands: 71%)(Buzzmetrics, 2023)
and other
- Changing Consumer Preferences:
Downy must adapt and develop to keep
up with shifting consumer expectations
because trends and tastes can change
quickly (The publicity of the two product
lines focuses on the two elements of
perfume and baby
perfume series: 6,750; Downey baby soft
drinks: 4,630) (Buzzmetrics, 2023),
safety: Downy
- Economic: Consumer expenditure on
non-essential items, such as_ fabric
softeners, can be impacted by economic
downturns or variations in disposable
income (In 2022, the average spending
be approximately 2.8 million VND, down
per capita per month will
3.3 percentage points compared to 2020
It can be seen that under the impact of the
Covid-19 epidemic, households tend to
- Advertising: Advertise products campaigns with the participation of
leading KOLs Increase advertising on
social media sites like Facebook, Tik
Tok, and others, along with encouraging
messaging, to win over customers
and
- Sustainability Eco-Friendly Practices: Products that are environmentally friendly are in more demand By highlighting its eco-friendly packaging options and _— sustainable business methods, Downy may profit from this trend
- Expansion into New Markets: Downy
can investigate new markets and areas
where the brand is underrepresented in
order to take advantage of growth and market share expansion potential
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tighten spending , especially households
living in urban areas.) (Vietnam, 2021)
Chapter 4: Marketing Goals and Objectives
We arrange the marketing goals in order according to the timeline: Accomplish the next objective 1, then 2, 3
Estimated time to implement this goal: From 3-4 years (Starting from 2020 — 2022)
Marketing Goal: Increase product sales (1st year: increase 10%, 2nd year: increase 10%, 3rd year: increase 15%) - (3 years)
@ Objective #1: Increase the number of new customers by 20% within the first year
@ Objective #2: Increase customer return rate by 15% within 2 years (after
implementing objective 1)
@ Objective #3: Increase brand awareness by 20% (performed throughout the process)
Chapter 5: Market Segmentation
Vietnam's population is getting younger The population of working age is growing quickly, which might be very advantageous to business Of the 1,000 Vietnamese participants, 41% reported using social media platforms frequently for news, while 7% stated they only use them once a day (Saigoneer, 2018) The study also found that social media is a common source of purchasing for younger and wealthier individuals Procter
& Gamble likewise targets this category of metropolitan consumers in an effort to
achieve high efficiency
Specific Customer Problems or Issues Solved
The product or service offered by Downy, a brand owned by Procter & Gamble (P&G), is fabric softener (© 2023 Procter & Gamble, 2023) The primary customer problem or issue that Downy solves is providing softness, freshness, and long-lasting fragrance to clothes Fabric softeners like Downy help to reduce static cling, make ironing easier, and enhance
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Trang 10the overall comfort and feel of garments This addresses the concerns of customers who want their clothes to be soft, fresh-smelling, and pleasant to wear (Downy.com, 2023)
Downy, a product of Procter & Gamble (P&G), is a well-known fabric softener brand that targets a wide range of potential customers Let's analyze the segments and explore
which products are suitable for each segment:
Families with children: This segment includes households with children who require
soft and gentle fabrics Downy offers products like Downy Ultra Free & Gentle, Downy Baby Sensetive which are hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin, ensuring the comfort and safety of children
Young professionals: This segment consists of working individuals who value
convenience and want their clothes to look and feel fresh throughout the day Downy
offers products like Downy Wrinkle Guard, which reduces wrinkles and helps maintain a professional appearance, making it suitable for individuals with a busy lifestyle
Fashion enthusiasts: This segment comprises individuals who are passionate about fashion and take pride in their clothing Downy offers products like Downy Infusions, which provide long-lasting fragrance and enhance the softness of fabrics, catering to the desire for a luxurious and indulgent laundry experience
Outdoor enthusiasts: This segment includes people who are actively engaged in outdoor activities and require their clothing to withstand rugged conditions Downy offers
products like Downy Sport, specially formulated to remove odors and keep sportswear fresh and comfortable, making it suitable for individuals involved in sports or outdoor
adventures
Eco-conscious consumers: This segment consists of environmentally conscious individuals who prioritize sustainable products Downy offers products like Downy Nature Blends, which are made with plant-based ingredients and environmentally
friendly packaging, appealing to consumers seeking eco-friendly options
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Trang 11Seniors: This segment includes older adults who appreciate products that provide extra care for their clothing Downy offers products like Downy Fabric Conditioner, which
helps reduce static, soften fabrics, and make clothes easier to iron, meeting the specific
With the growing youth population, we see that the potential segment that can develop in
the future is “Families with children” for the following reasons:
Depending on the goals and tactics of the business, the Downy for Baby marketing plan
may concentrate on one or more of these market niches Nonetheless, the psychographic
group of parents who are emotionally invested, environmentally sensitive, and health- conscious may present development and financial opportunity for the company This market niche may be appealing due to:
¢ Due to the fast urbanization of Vietnam, many households live in small apartments
or even restricted spaces As a result, household wives encounter specific
challenges when doing laundry: drying clothing indoors or on a balcony or narrow
street may cause the fabric to absorb smells from the surrounding area and causes skin irritation in children (WARC, 2018) The product "Downy for Baby" shows that Downy has fully recognized this problem of its target customers and solved it directly
e Size and Potential: Families with children represent a substantial consumer group According to the Vietnam Census Bureau, there are about 24,776,733 children in the population (accounting for 25.75% of the total population) according to the announcement date of December 19, 2019 (Cuc Tré em, 2020) According to estimates, in 2023, there will be 3,887 children born on average every day (Dan sé
Trang 12Viét Nam, 2023) Targeting this segment allows Downy to reach a large customer base with constant laundry needs
® Households across the country are experiencing relatively low unemployment rates through to 2040 It has a large and growing size as more parents are becoming aware of the importance of natural and organic products for their babies' health and safety This guarantees stable income growth and buy power of this major target segment Women are the main forces that take care of the family affair in this Southeast Asian country They often use fabric conditioners to maintain the softness of the clothes, enhance skin-health, and prevent odor in order
to increase the confidence of their family's members
® It has a high compatibility with the company's mission and vision as Downy is
committed to providing superior products that can enhance the lives of consumers
and their families (Downy Market Research, 2014)
Chapter 6: Target Market
The target market for Downy's fabric softener products is families with children, specifically mothers This target market is selected based on the following demographic, psychographic, and behavioral characteristics:
- Family Size: Families with children tend to have larger household sizes, including
parents and one or more children
- Income: The target market encompasses a range of income levels, from middle-
income to higher-income households, as fabric softeners are used across different
socioeconomic groups
Psychographics:
- Lifestyle: The target market consists of families with busy lifestyles, where mothers
often juggle multiple responsibilities, including managing household chores and caring
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Trang 13for their children They appreciate products that can simplify their laundry routines and provide added comfort to their family's clothes
- Values: Mothers within the target market prioritize the well-being and comfort of their children They seek products that offer gentle care, hypoallergenic properties, and maintain the quality of their children's clothing
Behavior:
- Purchase Occasion: The target market regularly purchases fabric softeners as part of their routine laundry needs They may buy fabric softeners alongside other laundry products or during dedicated shopping trips
- Benefits Sought: The target market seeks fabric softeners that provide softness, long-
lasting fragrance, and freshness to their family's clothes They value products that reduce
static cling, make ironing easier, and enhance the overall comfort of garments
- Usage Frequency: Families with children have higher laundry frequency due to the constant need to clean and refresh their clothes As a result, they tend to use fabric softeners more frequently, leading to repeated purchases
The selection of families with children, specifically mothers, as the target market for Downy's fabric softeners is justified by the following reasons: (The figures have been discussed in chapter 5: Market Segmentation)
Market Need: Families with children have specific laundry needs, including stain removal, odor elimination, and garment care Downy's fabric softeners address these needs by providing softness, freshness, and enhanced garment comfort, making them an ideal solution for this target market
Market Size: Families with children represent a significant consumer group, offering a large potential customer base for Downy The demand for fabric softeners remains
consistent within this segment due to the ongoing laundry requirements resulting from
having children
Decision-Making Influence: Mothers play a pivotal role in household purchase
decisions, including laundry products They are typically responsible for selecting and
purchasing fabric softeners, making them the primary target within the target market By catering to mothers’ preferences and concerns, Downy can effectively influence purchase decisions and build brand loyalty
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Trang 14Customer Lifetime Value: Establishing a connection with families during their child-
rearing years can lead to long-term brand loyalty As children grow older, they may continue using Downy products, ensuring a sustained customer base and potential for increased lifetime value
Chapter 7: Buyer Personas
7.1 Buyer profile that Downy targets
Housewife: Downy may be aimed at mothers with many children and housework These people may want laundry products that are quick and easy to use so they can get clean clothes with little effort and free up time to spend with their children Besides, their main concern is their children's sensitive skin, which is easily allergic to chemicals, so they can only use products containing benign ingredients Therefore, these customers appreciate fabric softeners that are dermatologist-tested and contain no harmful chemicals or irritants (Downy.com)
7.2 Example buyer personas
7.2.1 Name: Loan Nguyen
fresh, providing comfort and a pleasant scent
- Personality Traits: Nurturing, organized, family-oriented
- Hobbies: Cooking, interior design, child development, homemaking
- Number of children: 1-3
Specific characteristics:
-Concerned about their child's health and well-being
-Wants to use products that are gentle and safe for their baby's skin
-Appreciates convenience and time-saving solutions
Challenge:
-Balance work and family life
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Trang 15-Take time to take care of yourself
-Make sure their children have everything they need
-Choose products that are safe and good for your child's health
Opportunity:
-Spend quality time with their children
-Create lasting memories
-Watch your child grow and learn
7.2.2 Imagine their day
6:00 a.m.: Wake up to the sound of your baby crying Get them dressed and fed, then
prepare lunches and snacks for them to take to daycare
7:30 a.m.: Take your child to daycare and stop by the supermarket to buy ingredients for the day
8:30 a.m.: Come home, clean up, and do the children's laundry
9:00 a.m.: Meet with a client and discuss a new project
Noon: Lunch break You're tired and hungry but you also have to make sure you have
enough time to clean the house
1:00 p.m.: Back to work You are feeling overwhelmed and stressed You're trying to juggle work responsibilities with parenting responsibilities, and you're not sure how you're going to get through the day
5:00 p.m.: Finish work and pick up the child from daycare You're both tired and hungry,
but you're also excited to spend time together
6:00 p.m.: Cook dinner and help your child with homework
7:00 p.m.: Bathe your child, change him into a fragrant outfit, and put him to bed
9:00 pm.: Finally have some time to myself You're exhausted but you're also grateful for the chance to relax
The workload of a housewife 1s very large She is always busy with housework, including picking up and dropping off her children She faces the challenge of balancing work,
childcare time, and self-care Calculate daily and monthly expenses approprlately,
making sure to provide your children with everything they need Therefore, choosing a
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Trang 16fabric softener that 1s convenient, fast, and time-saving 1s necessary Besides, she puts her child's safety first, so she always carefully chooses benign products for her As a mother, she always wants to be by her children's side, spend precious time with them, and create unforgettable memories with them Therefore, a gentle fabric softener that avoids skin Irritation and saves a lot of time and energy 1s the most optimal product she chooses to buy
Chapter 8: Positioning
8.1 Positioning map
The primary factors influencing consumers' decisions on liquid fabric softener products are cost, scent, reputation, and skin safety Four elements are displayed in the two positioning maps below: Downy's price, scent, reputation, and skin safety in comparison
Positioning map | Positioning map 2
Positioning map 1: When purchasing fabric conditioners, consumers always take the cost
and duration of the scent mto account They need to consider whether the product's quality is decent and whether the pricing 1s appropriate for it
° Price: Image 1 shows a comparison between price and odor retention While
Hygiene has the highest price (about 208,000 VND/2.2 liters), Downy has a cheaper
imitation with slightly better scent retention On the other hand, Lix is the cheapest on the map With only 150,000 VND we can buy a 3.5 liter product - twice as cheap than other products (BachHoaXanh, 2023)
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Trang 17incorporated "fragrance transfer technology” into Downy perfume This exactly solves
the odor problem raised by the customer (Downy) Comfort, on the other hand, uses ingredients from French perfumes to keep our clothes smelling fresh all day, although some customers say the scent fades easily (Unilever) Downy goes head-to-head with Comfort Other brands, Lix and Hygiene, still do not offer anything particularly outstanding, possibly because the ingredients are so common that it is difficult to attract and convince consumers
Positioning map 2: In the second positioning map, there are two attributes: well-known and skin safety First, customers often trust products from famous brands more than
products from less famous brands Second, fabric softener for children is a product aimed
at women who are meticulous in choosing fabric softener that is safe for their children's skin
° Well-known: In Vietnam, the two most popular liquid fabric softeners are Comfort and Downy These two are large multinational companies that have established a solid
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