Case Study

870 Words2 Pages

Problem Statement
Cunard Line, Ltd., is continually facing challenges with combining strategic and tactical advertising techniques. Cunard has found it difficult in creating price-promotional advertising that is persuasive but does not reduce the value of the Cunard image has proven to be difficult. The main challenge is the balance and implementation of tactical strategies while maintaining the image of Cunard.
Situation Analysis
A. Effects of Environment and Market Conditions
The predominant effect of the environment on Cunard was the Iraq War. Prior to the war, Cunard held approximately half of the market share, with the ships filled to capacity often. However, the war affected travel companies in Mediterranean and European destinations. Ship capacity was not being met. Cunard resorted to tactical strategies of price promotions and discounting in order to fill the cruise ships, resulting in a loss of market shares.
B. Competitive Effectiveness
The different advertising techniques utilized by Cunard Line, Ltd. allows the company to reach deeper to the customer, implementing strategic and tactical marketing techniques. Magazine advertising employs strategic marketing by appealing to customer emotions through senses of sight, touch, and feelings of luxury. Direct marketing (mailings) creates closeness with customers through tactical marketing, educating customers of the cruise ships while maintaining a sense of luxury. Newspaper advertising uses tactical marketing to crease immediate inquiry and short-term sales.
The option between seven cruise ships, each with similar yet different features allows Cunard Line, Ltd. to have appeal to a larger target group. Each ship aims to employ strategic techniques to portray a simila...

... middle of paper ...

... achieved as well.
Recommended Course of Action
Cunard should create realistic marketing goals pertaining to tactical advertising and budgeting. First, Cunard should create a consistent image of the brand as a whole, which they will use as the main advertisements. Cunard should divide the ships into umbrellas and create a realistic budget for each umbrella based on average filling capacity. This allows for each ship to pay their own advertising based on the customer purchases. Cunard should then create advertisements for each umbrella group. Each advertisement should highlight the differences in service and activites on each umbrella of cruise ships while still maintaining the consistent Cunard Line, Ltd. image of luxury. Following these recommendations, Cunard should experience a greater success in the balance and implementation of tactical marketing techniques.

Open Document