Brand Extension - Types of Brand Extension

Types of Brand Extension

Brand extension research mainly focuses on consumer evaluation of extension and attitude toward the parent brand. In their 1990 model, Aaker and Keller provide a sufficient depth and breadth proposition to examine consumer behaviour and a conceptual framework. The authors use three dimensions to measure the fit of extension. First, the “Complement” refers to consumers taking two product classes (extension and parent brand product) as complementary in satisfying their specific needs. Secondly, the “Substitute” indicates two products have the same user situation and satisfy the same needs, which means the product classes are very similar and that the products can act to replace each other. Lastly, the “Transfer” describes the relationship between extension product and manufacturer which “reflects the perceived ability of any firm operating in the first product class to make a product in the second class” The first two measures focus on the consumer’s demand and the last one focuses on the firm’s perceived ability.

From the line extension to brand extension, however, there are many different types of extension such as "brand alliance", co-branding or “brand franchise extension”. Tauber (1988) suggests seven strategies to identify extension cases such as product with parent brand’s benefit, same product with different price or quality, etc. In his suggestion, it can be classified into two category of extension; extension of product-related association and non-product related association. Another form of brand extension is a licensed brand extension. In this scenario, the brand-owner works with a partner (sometimes a competitor), who takes on the responsibility of manufacturing and sales of the new products, paying a royalty every time a product is sold.