Apparel Brand Research Project - Prada

✅ Paper Type: Free Essay	✅ Subject: International Studies
✅ Wordcount: 5447 words	✅ Published: 6th Sep 2017

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BRAND OVERVIEW

Prada was founded in 1913 by Mario Prada, Miuccia Prada’s grandfather, in Milan.

Located in the prestigious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Prada was an exclusive, stylish store selling luggage, accessories and luxury goods, in fine materials and of sophisticated workmanship.

The Milan store quickly became a firm favourite with the Italian aristocracy and the most sophisticated members of the European elite. In 1919 Prada received the warrant of “Official Supplier of the Italian Royal Household”, and since then has been able to display the royal Savoy coat of arms and figure-of-eight knots alongside the company logo.

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Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli started working together in the late 70’s, laying the foundations of the international expansion that was to come. Patrizio Bertelli broke new ground in the luxury goods sector, introducing a new business model in which he kept direct, internal control over all processes, applying uncompromised quality criteria across the entire production cycle. Miuccia Prada’s creative talent and avant-garde approach attracted the attention of the global fashion industry, while her ability to look at the world from an unconventional vantage point allowed her not only to anticipate, but quite often, to set new trends.

Related image The classic Prada suitcase was made of heavy walrus skin but as plane travel made heavy suitcases impractical, the company started to make lighter bags and high quality items made of crystals, tortoise shell and wood. They also sold garments of waterproof fabrics to the U.S. However the company had gone into decline in the 1970’s.

1950 Miuccia Prada was born. By her mid-20’s she had a doctorate in political science and in her 30’s, she was a communist. In 1970 she started making backpack bags out of waterproof fabric called Pocone.
1979 She took over the Prada family business. Since sales were down, she expanded into luxury tote bags and backpacks in black with flat classic lines, made from nylon.
1985 She launched a line of footwear for women and her first pret-a-porter clothing line, using high quality fabrics. Her clean lines gave her fame, and she came to be known for under-stated elegant garments.
1993 She received an International award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
1995 She won “Designer of the Year” award.
1998 Prada opened their first menswear shop in Los Angeles, USA. They also opened new Prada stores in Manhattan and Las Vegas, as well as Miu Miu’s first North American boutique, in Los Angeles.

Prada is now a worldwide empire, with stores in practically every country in the western world. It is a million-dollar concern, with every celebrity wearing Prada clothes.

2. NATURE OF BRAND AND ITS TARGET MARKET

Image result for prada TARGET CUSTOMER The Prada brand targets an international customer base that is modern, sophisticated, attuned to stylistic innovations, and expects craftsmanship of the highest quality.

The brand’s iconic trademarks, which are readily recognized around the world, incorporate the Savoy coat of arms and Savoy figure-of-eight knot, reflecting its heritage as an official supplier to the former Royal family of Italy. Introduced in the 1980s, Prada’s famous black nylon bag with the signature triangle logo has been an enduring classic, with both the nylon bag and the logo becoming icons in the brand’s history.

The Prada brand represents the best of Italian culture and tradition, sophisticated style and uncompromising quality, and as one of the most innovative fashion brands are capable of re-defining “the norm” and setting new trends. Prada also captured the attention of literary and cinematic audiences when the novel “The Devil Wears Prada” was first published in 2003, and then was made into a movie in 2006. The Prada brand’s distinctive originality is built on its unique approach to style, craftsmanship and constant innovation in materials and designs, as we unceasingly exert creativity in the development of fashionable designs, sophisticated fabrics and innovative production techniques.

At the heart of the evolution of fashion, we believe Prada has been a sophisticated interpreter of its times and a forerunner of style and trends. Prada is a premium brand. It is very high quality which unfortunatly comes with a substantially high price tag.

2.1. PRADA GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTATION

Under geographical segmentation, product or service is divided accordingly to geographic units, such as nations, states, regions, countries, cities or neighbourhoods.

“Directly operated stores, including the epicentres, are designed, constructed and managed in accordance with precise guidelines: location chosen are among the most prestigious.”

2.2. PRADA PSYCHOGRAPHIC SEGMENTATION

Psychographic segmentation divides the market into groups based on social class, lifestyle and personality characteristics.

The PRADA brand targets an international customer base that is modern, sophisticated, attuned to stylist innovations, and expects craftsmanship of the highest quality.

3. RETAIL DISTRIBITION CHANNELS

Prada, Miu Miu, Church’s and Car Shoe products are sold through two distribution channels:

The retail channel, represented by the single-brand stores (including the three Epicentres) directly operated by the company, which currently account for approximately 78% of sales; the independent channel of multi-brand stores, department stores and franchises (so called wholesale).

This distribution solution enables the Group to have a presence in the most exclusive points-of-sale which are either single-brand or multi-brand worldwide. The Group’s commercial strategy is based on a selective analysis of the potential of individual markets, an innovative approach and rigorous control of display and presentation criteria, and a continuous search for original sales concepts. Prada has always pioneered new solutions combining design, architecture, and technology to create environments that not only encourage sales but also communicate its unique strong brand identity and the cultural influences and values of the Prada world in a consistent and homogeneous way.

Towards the end of the nineties, Prada decided to redefine the concept of shopping and enlisted the help of pioneering architects of international renown, Rem Koolhaas and Herzog & de Meuron, recent winners of the prestigious Pritzker Prize. The result of this partnership was the creation of the Prada Epicenters: areas and buildings which have rapidly acquired landmark status both locally and internationally. Prada’s Epicentres have not only transformed the concept of shopping but have also fused it with cutting edge technology and a multitude of cultural stimuli, offering customers a whole range of unique experiences and exclusive services. There are currently three Prada Epicentres: one in SoHo, New York (designed by Rem Koolhaas in 2001); another in Aoyama, Tokyo (Herzog & de Meuron, 2003); and the third in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles (also by Rem Koolhaas, 2004).

Directly operated stores, including the three Epicentres, are designed, constructed and managed in accordance with precise guidelines: location chosen are among the most prestigious and the personnel is selected and trained to provide customers with an exclusive treatment.

This type of store contributes to maintaining a very close relationship with customers, providing immediate information about the market trend. Moreover, direct-sale stores also provide very valuable support for the brand, acting as true ambassadors communicating the Prada image consistently and uniformly all over the world.

Prada manages the independent shops and department stores channel based on selective distribution and a well-defined strategy of control aimed at maintaining outstanding quality and high volumes, ensuring consistency in merchandising and monitoring sales performance. Franchise shops are located in specific markets where this form of retail is imposed by local legislation or custom, and entail partnerships with local entrepreneurs with an excellent knowledge of the relevant market.

The wholesale channel, besides ensuring the brand benefits by a series of shop windows in particularly significant positions in key markets, enables a direct and immediate comparison to be made with the competitor brands. Therefore, the sales trend through the independent channel represents a very useful indicator of the consumer trends and brand strength.

3.1. PRADA’S FALL CAMPAIGN IS ALL ABOUT MODERN FEMININITY AND NEW FACES

The way fashion houses describe their collections and ad campaigns can often sound like pure nonsense. But the person responsible for announcing Prada‘s fall 2015 campaign did a pretty good job of summing it up as “an elegant, ironic ode to meta-modern femininity.”

Like the collection itself, the campaign – shot by Steven Meisel – is very pretty, but odd. There’s a sense of isolation in the arrangement of the models, who do not look at or touch each other but stare at an unspecified object off-camera. There’s also a feeling of youth and newness provided by a cast of fairly new faces, including Avery Blanchard, Estella Boersma, Inga Dezhina, Lineisy Montero, Ine Neefs, Greta Varlese and Maartje Verhoef, all of whom have walked the runway for Prada and/or Miu Miu this past seasons.

Prada has a knack for casting promising models fairly earlier in their careers, so while some of them already have a campaign or two under their belts, expect to see these girls even more in the coming seasons. Montero, whom everyone started talking about when she walked in the brand’s fall 2015 show, has already landed a Teen Vogue cover.

Image result for Prada logo 4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Website as a whole and all material on this Website, as well the “Prada” trademark, are owned and registered by Prada S.A., a company with registered office at 23 rue Aldigren, L-1118 Luxembourg.

Prada website is operated by Prada S.p.A., an Italian corporation having its principal place of business at Via Antonio Fogazzaro 28, 20135 Milan, Italy, operating holding company of the Prada Group.

Prada S.A. and Prada S.p.A. are collectively referred to as “PRADA”; Prada S.p.A. and its subsidiaries will be collectively referred to as “Prada Group” hereinafter.

All trademarks and logos, whether registered or not, displayed on the Website, including but not limited to the “Prada” trademark, as well as all the other distinctive marks connected with PRADA and reproduced on the Website, are and will remain the exclusive property of Prada S.A.. These trademarks may not be used in connection with any product or service that does not originate with PRADA, in any manner that is likely to cause confusion among users, or in any manner that disparages or discredits the “Prada” name and trademark and the products bearing the “Prada” trademark. Prada website and all the content included therein, including, but not limited to, all texts, information, data, images, icons, photographs, illustrations, multimedia content (graphic, audio and video), charts, indices, descriptions, data, software, HTML codes and screens contained therein and the like (hereinafter collectively “Content”), is owned by or licensed to PRADA and is subject to protection by international intellectual property laws, including, but not limited to, rights in the nature of patent rights, copyrights, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks, service marks, moral rights, know-how and any other similar rights recognized under laws or international conventions in any country or jurisdiction in the world. All materials contained in this Website, except for the “e-store” section, are displayed for informational or promotional purpose only. Subject to these Terms and Conditions of Use, and except as otherwise indicated on the Website, you may access, download, copy, store, manipulate, reformat, print or display any Content to which you have obtained authorized access solely for your personal use and not for business purposes. You may not otherwise download, copy, store, manipulate, reformat, print, display, publish, transmit, distribute, create a derivative work from, resell or make any other use of, the Website, or any Content contained therein.

No right, title and/or interest deriving from or pertaining to the Content, material or software of the Website may be deemed assigned to or acquired by you as a result of your use of the Website. You agree to accept and abide by all copyright or trademark notices and other notices contained on the Website and in the Content. All rights are reserved in all countries worldwide.

People aware that the “Prada” products are sold exclusively at “Prada” monobrand stores, at prestigious multi-brand stores and points of sale belonging to Prada S.p.A.’s selective retail network, outlets belonging to the Prada Group and in the “e-store” section of the Website which is only available in certain countries, as better specified on the Website. Any purchase outside of these points of sale is entirely at the purchaser’s risk, in particular with regard to the authenticity of any such purchased items.

Image result for prada logo

http://www.prada.com/content/dam/external/terms-conditions/EU-EN.pdf

5.OWNERSHIP UPON BRAND

Miuccia Prada is the co-CEO and lead designer of the handbag and fashion empire Prada, in which she has a 28% stake. In 1977 Miuccia and her siblings Albert and Marina inherited the family fashion business, founded in 1913 by their grandfather. Miuccia met Patrizio Bertelli, who ran a luxury leather company, at a Milan trade show in 1977 and signed him on as a contractor. A year later, they were married and Bertelli joined the company, taking care of the business side of things while pushing Prada into new directions. He serves as co-CEO with Miuccia, and his stake in the company also makes him a billionaire. In 1986 Prada opened its first store in New York and expanded beyond high-end suitcases, handbags, and steamer trunks. A few years later, the company unveiled a ready-to-wear women’s collection and a second brand, Miu Miu. Miuccia, who has a Ph.D in political science from the University of Milan, took the company public with Bertelli in Hong Kong in 2011.

5.1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our Board consists on nine Directors, of whom four are executive Directors, two are non-executive Directors and three are independent non-executive Directors.

The ordinary shareholders’ meeting of 26 May 2015 resolved to appoint the Board of Directors for a term of three financial years. The board’s mandate will therefore expire with the shareholder’s meeting to be convened for the approval of the financial statements for the year ending 31 January 2018.

The below shows the current members of the Boards of Directors:

Mazzi, Carlo: -chairperson and executive director
Prada Bianchi, Miuccia: -chief executive officer and executive director
Bertelli, Patrizio: – chief executive officer and executive director
Cozzani, Alessandra: -chief financial officer and executive director
Cereda, Maurizio: -non-executive director
Simontacchi, Stefano: -non-executive director
Mattei, Gian Franco Oliviero: -independent non-executive director
Forestieri, Giancarlo: – independent non-executive director
Liu, Sing Cheong: -independent non-executive director

5.2. SHAREHOLDERS STRUCTURE

As of 31 January 2015, the shareholder structure of Prada S.p.A. is composed as follows

6. LICENCES AND JOINT VENTURES

Eyewear

In 2000 the PRADA Group developed its first Prada and Miu Miu branded sunglasses, and in 2003 it signed a licence agreement with Luxottica Group, a world leader in eyewear. Under the creative supervision of Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, Prada coordinates the conception, design, styling and communications for all collections, while Luxottica has exclusive worldwide rights to the production and distribution of Prada and Miu Miu sunglasses and eyeglasses.

Not only is this an important business agreement, but it is also an excellent example of comprehensive cooperation – in creativity, style, production and distribution – between two of Italy’s foremost industrial groups.

Fragrances

In 2003, an agreement was entered into with Puig Beauty & Fashion Group, one of the world’s largest producers of cosmetics and fragrances, creating a joint venture for the production, distribution and development of Prada perfumes.

Here, too, Prada is actively involved in the various phases of product, creation and development as well as communications, while responsibility for production and worldwide distribution is in the experienced and highly qualified hands of Puig.In 2004, after lengthy and thorough research by Miuccia Prada in cooperation with some of the most qualified noses in the world, Amber – the first Prada perfume for women – was created. Greeted with unanimous critical and public acclaim, Prada

Amber perfume has enjoyed encouraging commercial success in all markets where it has been presented. In 2006 Prada unveiled its first men’s fragrance, Prada Amber Pour Homme, marking the birth of the first Made in Prada perfumes family under the amber scent.

A new perfume for women, Infusion d’Iris, was launched in 2007, which was the key to developing a series of complementary, innovative and personal products for bodycare and for the home. From this new pillar a collection of limited edition fragrances was derived: the Ephemeral Infusion Collection that includes Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger, Infusion de Tubéreuse and Infusion de Vétiver.

In 2011, Prada Candy, the third pillar of the Prada fragrances, is launched. A new

perfume for women that highlights the funny aspect of the brand also in the beauty

sector.

Mobile telephones

In 2006, the PRADA Group entered into an agreement with LG Electronics, one of the world leaders in mobile telecommunications technology, to develop an “innovative and iconic” mobile telephone. By leveraging their respective skills, Prada and LG explored all of the product’s aspects together, both in terms of the contents (for example: software, user interface and music), and in terms of the presentation (from the design to the packaging): the partnership created the “Prada Phone by LG”, a unique, sophisticated and elegant telephone, the first in the world to have an interface that is completely touch screen.

The “Prada Phone by LG” was launched in March 2007 in Italy, Great Britain, France and Germany, and subsequently on the principal Asian markets and in Latin America. The product’s high qualitative and innovative content enables a significant commercial success to be achieved, with more than 1,000,000 mobile telephones sold.

In October 2008 Prada and LG launch the second phone, another quantum leap in mobile phone innovation and design, thanks to ultra-thin keyboard and new enhanced technological features.

In December 2011, Prada and LG unveiled the partnership’s latest smartphone, the Prada phone by LG 3.0 that combines Prada’s distinctive style with LG’s innovative technology, including one of the biggest and brightest screens in the world with 4.3inch and 800-nit screen.

7. PRODUCT LOGISTICS

Product distribution is handled through five central warehouses, four in Italy and one in UK. It is managed by a group division which coordinates product storage, shipping and distribution, as well as arranging transport and customs procedures.

Central to the Prada Group’s distribution strategy is the development of its retail channel in all markets, both consolidated and emerging, focusing in particular on nations with high growth potential.

The Group’s distribution network extends across 70 countries, counting 551 directly-operated stores (at 30 April 2014), which form the backbone of the Group’s international expansion strategy, and a selection of department stores and multi-brand retail spaces in the most significant cities and stylish locations.

The reasons for this strategy are many: not only the DOS are the supreme showcase for newly-launched collections, but they also offer a direct relationship with customers and provide real-time feedback on how each product category is performing. Over and above their primary role as a sales point, DOS also represent an important communication tool: real embassies of each brand, they portray their image in a clear and consistent manner.

Direct sales account for about 83% of consolidated revenues while the remaining 17% is generated by the wholesale channel (multi-brand retail spaces and department stores 16%), from franchising (about 1%).

8. NET SALES OF PRADA

8.1. NET SALES ANALYSIS

(amounts in thousands of Canadians)	ended January 31, 2016		ended January 31, 2015		% change
*Net sales of directly operated stores (DOS***)	4,344,819	86.30%	4,232,865	83.90%	2.60%
Net Sales to independent customers and franchisees	631,349	12.50%	756,214	15.00%	-16.50%
Royalties	61,666	1.20%	54,329	1.10%	13.50%
Net revenues, total	5,037,835	100.00%	5,043,408	100.00%	-0.10%

8.2. NET SALES OF DIRECTLY OPERATED STORES (DOS)

ended January 31, 2016	ended January 31, 2015	% change
Net sales of DOS by geographical area
Italy	12.80%	11.90%	10.70%
Europe	21.80%	21.60%	3.30%
Americas	13.40%	13.10%	5.00%
Asia Pacific	35.30%	37.90%	-4.40%
Japan	13.20%	12.20%	10.70%
Middle East	3.40%	3.10%	11.50%
Other countries	0.10%	0.10%	41.40%
Total	100.00%	100.00%	2.60%

8.3. PRADA GROUP FIGURES

www.prada.com/ company profile

FEBRUARY 2016

9. CAPITAL OR MARKET VALUE

9.1. INCOME STATEMENT

Year on year Prada SpA’s net income fell -26.59% from 634.04 million to 465.46 million despite relatively flat revenues. A contributing factor has been an increase in the selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of sales from 48.33% to 54.41%.

Gross margin	72.12%
Net profit margin	8.76%
Operating margin	12.92%

Revenue

Net Income

Return on assets	6.05%
Return on equity	9.71%
Return on investment	7.59%

9.2. BALANCE SHEET

Year on year, growth in dividends per share remained flat while earnings per share excluding extraordinary items fell by -26.59%. Additionally, five year annualized earnings per share growth is in-line with the industry average relative to its peers.