COLGATE-PALMOLIVE:

CLEOPATRA FAILED
IN QUEBEC
RAJA RAMINDER SINGH-
PLANT HEAD NUFLOWER FOODS & NUTRITION PRIVATE LIMITED
SMP-13 NIIT-IMPERIA-IIM-C
Marketing Basics
Guidance by Prof. Ramendra Singh
COLGATE PALMOLIVE:CLEOPATRA SOAP
LAUNCH IN CANADA
 Cleopatra SOAP a beauty care brand of Colgate Palmolive launched in
Canada in February 1986 in an Extravaganza in a very dramatic way.
 Hostesses serving cocktails were dressed like Cleopatra, the queen of
ancient Egypt.
 Multimedia presentation of new brand with the award winning
commercial.
 Each of retailer guests received an exclusive three-dimensional
Pyramid invitation.
 Cleopatra was revealed to around 1000 audience with positive
overwhelming response.
 Colgate-Palmolive salespersons received an order of 2000 cases by the
end of the launch day.
FRENCH EXPERIENCE WITH CLE0PATRA
 Cleopatra soap introduced in France in November 1984.
 Amazing market share of 10 % during start up in 1985 and
market share shot up to 15% by end of 1985.
 Cleopatra become number one brand in France.
 Premium product with 23% price premium comparison to
other brands.
 Success of Cleopatra soap in France encouraged the
organization to launch the same product in Quebec,
Canada
MIXED REACTION OF CLEOPATRA AT CANADA
 Some Managers were enthusiastic about Market test of
Cleopatra in Canada.
They were expecting even better performance of Cleopatra
than that in France.
They were
Group Product Manager for Canada: Steve Boyd
Assistant Product Manager: Stan house

 Other Managers like Ken Johnson was skeptical about

Cleopatra’s success in Canada.
RESEARCHES CONDUCTED ON CLEOPATRA IN CANADA
 Two types of research were conducted
(1) First research on “Super group” of Professional Women. They were
introduced to the product, its price and advertising to openly discuss
their Likes and Dislikes. Overall result were positive.
(2) Second research on typical consumers and exposed to advertising. 50
% of them were positive.
 They were also given the soap bar to try at home. After one week the
they were called over phone for their response. 64% of the group were
ready to buy the Cleopatra soap.
 These successful research confirmed the launch of the Cleopatra soap
in Canada in the premium segment.
Background of COLGATE-PALMOLIVE CANADA
 Multinational consumer packaged Goods Corporation operating in 58
countries marketed Personal care & Household products.
 Annual Sales of $ 5.7 billion worldwide.
 Many of brands of Colgate Palmolive were Global Leaders.
 Colgate Toothpaste was number 1 and Palmolive Soap was number 2 in
the world in respective markets.
 Canada opened its doors in 1912 for Colgate Palmolive and since then
it had grown into a $ 250 million- a- year corporation.
 Competitors of Colgate Palmolive were Procter & Gamble and Lever,
dominated the Personal care and Household market sectors in Canada.
 Products of Colgate Palmolive in Canada were
Personal Care- Toothpastes, Toothbrushes, Mouth rinse, Shampoo, Soaps,
etc.
Household Products- Liquids, Detergents, Food wraps, Cleanser, etc.
STATE OF CANADIAN SOAP MARKET
 In 1986, at the time of launch of Cleopatra,
Canadian soap market was worth $ 105 million to
manufacturers.
 Revenue projection was 4-5%.
 Major challenge was the Limited Shelf space at
that time.
 Retailers were all powerful and the deciding
authority for promotion and allocation of the
products at their stores.
MAJOR REASONS OF INTENSE MARKET
COMPETITION
 Volume growth slowed down and coincided with Canadian population
growth.
 Method of survival between different brands was to steal share from
other products.
 Increased competition was from no name and privately labeled
products.
 Launch of “Cosmetic” in nature products were increasing.
 Large bundle packs were developed, twin packs or utility packs were
introduced.
 Limited number of acceptable brands that consumer were willing to
buy. There were around 15 Mainstream brands and around 25 minor
ones, which increased competition for choices.
 Competition was price based.
 Liquid soaps also entered the market and held an 8 % share
DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF SOAPS
 3 SEGMENTS OF SOAPS
(1) SKIN CARE SEGMENTS- BRANDS- Dove, Camay, Caress, Cleopatra, Aloe & Lanolin,
Palmolive
(2) REFRESHMENT SEGMENT-BRANDS- Zest, Coast, Irish Spring Dial
(3) UTILITY SEGMENT-BRANDS-Jergens, Woodbury, Cashmere Bouquet,Lux
IVORY competes in all the three segments.
The skin care was the largest of the three market segments.
MARKET SHARE OF ALL THREE SEGMENTS FROM YEAR 1985 TO 1987

SEGMENTS 1985-Market share 1986-Market share 1987-Market share

SKIN CARE 37.3% 38.4% 38.8%

REFRESHMENT 34.9% 33.4% 32.3%

UTILITY 27.8% 28.2% 28.9%

AVAILABLE SOAPS WITH HIGH MARKET SHARE
 DOVE –advertised as facial soaps for years dove was having a loyal
customer base because of its unique formulation and moisturizing
capabilities, low additives & scent. As per Exihibit-3, Its market shares
increase from 7.1(year1985) to 10.8 (year 1987) i.e.52%
 IVORY- was an institution in Canadian market. This competed in all
the 3 markets, with its 100 year heritage & ever powerful. (I use it
because my mother use it) positioning. As per Exhibit-3, its market
shares decreases from 28.2(year1985) to 22.9(1987) i.e.18 %
 IRISH SPRING – Made especially for men but also used by females
refreshment soap due to strong scent & high lathering capability.As
per Exhibit-3, market share increased from 6.2 to 6.5 i.e.4.8%
 ZEST- seen as family brand and market share increased 1.5 to 2.9 i.e.
93.3 %
CANADIAN CLEOPATRA-MARKETING STRATEGY
 The Colgate-Palmolive company introduced Cleopatra as a “premium
quality premium priced beauty soap”
 Colgate – Palmolive has already well – positioned products like
Irish Spring(6.2%)-refreshment segment,
Cashmere Bouquet (3.3%)-utility segment,
Palmolive soap(3.7%)
 Even knowing the risk, company avoided to rely on retailers.
 Company did not want to offer trade allowances and discounts.
 Company also planned that demand should come directly from the
consumers by generating their interest in Cleopatra with the help of
strong media & promotions.
 Followed completely different approach from industry norms by not
taking retailers support of listing their product in their order account
books.
AMBITIOUS OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPANY

 Company targeted 4.5% Market share for 1986.

 100% distribution of the products with retail accounts.
 Maximum shelf presence same as current segment leader
DOVE
 Maintained Premium Pricing- (High cost) Strategy
 Expected that consumers should demand the product &
forced retailers to keep it in their store
 Company also wanted that both consumers & salesperson
should be enthusiastic about product from day one.
AMBITIOUS OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPANY
 Company majorly relied and emphasized on TV
Advertisement. Company targeted Out of 100 minutes of
soap advertisement, at least 15 % should be of Cleopatra.
 Target group was women between ages of 18 to 49
 TV Advertisement was same as that was used in France
 Advertisement was shot in Rome.
 Advertisement showed Cleopatra, eternal woman , holder
of all secrets
 Tag Line ‘ A new soap that might well change the face of
the world’ as in Exhibit 4.
 Cleopatra –A new soap. The secret of beauty.
PROMOTION ACTIVITIES FOR CLEOPATRA
 From research projection was that 64% people would buy
after availability in market.
 “Free Bar coupons” were given to 250,000 households in
Quebec and this coupon could be exchanged to get free
bar of soap from nearest store. All stores were fully
informed.
 “Cleopatra Gold Collection and Sweepstakes Promotion”
which offered consumer a variety of popular & fashionable
costume jewelry at very reasonable prices
 Because it is a premium quality product, no discounts
were offered
 Cleopatra pricing was higher than Dove
PROMOTION ACTIVITIES FOR CLEOPATRA
 The most expensive brand of Colgate Palmolive in Canada.
 Cleopatra has a competitive advantage over dove for $
.476 per case i.e. $3.00+$0.77+$0.99
 Soap was also given attractive shape.
 The logo was stand on ivory cover bar which conveyed
quality, luxury & prestige.
 The soap bar came out in its own gold colored laminated
carton.
 Laminated material was unique for reflecting unique in
shelf.
 Prevented the perfume from escaping.
RESULTS OF CANADIAN LAUNCH
 First month’s target 67% was achieved alone on launch evening.
 But from then on the brand started missing its targets. It showed very
discouraging results even after one year of its launch.
ACHIEVED SHARE OF VOICE TARGETS
 After 13 weeks, advertisement commercial created an
awareness of 63%, which was highest in the skin care
segment.
 At this time Camay was 49%, Dove was 24% and Aloe and
Lanolin was 13%.
 By the end of 1986, Cleopatra had achieved its share of
voice target, which was the number 1 position in Quebec.
 After promotion period , only 21 % of the coupons had
been redeemed
 The sweepstakes had been disappointing. Only 1500
people entered by the December Deadline.
 Wrong distribution of coupons
NEW MARKET RESEARCH
 Over the first year small scale research had been done in stores
to understand consumer reaction, but this was of no use.
 By January1987, a serious research was needed and a full blown
tracking study was commissioned.
 Two Panels were chosen from Quebec.
(1) A random sample of 204 consumers.
(2) An oversample of 99 Cleopatra ‘triers’
Over 90 questions were asked to learn the key information needed:
Brand awareness, usage, brand ratings, likes and dislikes,
advertising recall, and trial information
MARKET RESEARCH RESULTS
Exhibit-9 clearly proved that
 brand Awareness of Cleopatra was 73.5% whereas that of Dove has 99.5%,
Palmolive has 96.1% and Camay has 98.5%.
 People were not buying the new products coming in market ( Ever tried
Cleopatra was just 14.2%)
 People don’t prefer to use this product Occasionally( 8.8%) against highest
use of Dove and Camay soaps.
 People who tried Cleopatra has very less chances of leaving that brand
(Stopped using =1 %)
Exhibits-10 clearly proved that
 People who have tried CLEOPATRA has given scoring higher in every aspects.
 People who have not tried Cleopatra has given more score to Dove and
Palmolive
MARKET RESEARCH RESULTS

As per Exhibit-11(Likes/Dislikes)
 29% of people said that the smell is good and pleasant but
17%of people said it has strong fragrance /harsh fragrance
 26% of people like that it makes lot of suds/foam but 12%
of people said it is too harsh and not mild enough.
 20% of people said it softens skin and 6%of people said it
irritates the skin.
 20% of people said that the price is too high
 42 RESPONDANTS OUT OF 99 HAD NO DISLIKES
MARKET RESEARCH RESULTS

As per Exhibit-12
 People want to buy CLEOPATRA occasionally i.e. 66%
 People don’t want to use CLEOPATRA everyday.
 Majority of Respondents have chosen product for Body only.

As per Exhibit-13
 Most of the Respondents are not influenced after seeing the
advertisement.
 Respondents have no reaction after seeing the advertisement
 DILEMMA
 The brand flopped so badly in Quebec due to short sightedness &
Impatience.
 Not properly advertised, even repetitive French advertisement could
not influenced Canadian people
 People considered this as Beauty Soap for Women only.
 Not Available at majority of stores.
 Dove and other variants use to sell Bundled packs , which reduced no.
of purchases in a year.
 Coupons were not distributed properly.
 Location of product on the shelf was not appropriate to attract the
customer.
 No innovations.
 Research was done in Toronto & Cleopatra introduced in Quebec
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN
 Advertisement should be changed and should be shoot at best Canadian locations.
 Achievable targets should be there.
 Too much fragmented should not be there.
 The company should compromise with the powerful retailers to carry forward their
brand by offering incentives and discounts.
 To improve shelf positioning of the product with other brands.
 The prices of Cleopatra should be same as that of Dove.
 Company should wait for some more time before scrapping the brand because
customers who tried the product were actually liking the product
 Company is wholly dependent on Advertisement, Canadian customers didn’t that
French advertisement
 Company should take steps to improve Promotional activities because all the
coupons were not redeemed
 Company could also sell Cleopatra in bundled packs.
THANK YOU