They are bought by most people. Few people stop buying them in any year. They have a proven formula for success. Their annual sales grow by inflationary price increases and population increases. Their advertising costs increase by media inflation. So why would their advertising investment change?
In article 10 we identified the 20 brands that most people use most. Their combined annual investment in advertising over the past four years is (according to Adex):
2012 was a great year for the agencies and media when the combined budgets increased by 30% on the previous year. If one ignores 2012, there has been a steady increase in the combined advertising investment by these 20 brands from R 511m to R 653m. This is an annual increase of 8.5% - just above inflation.
However, this is not what happened to the individual big brands. There have been very big variations in their advertising investment in/decrease decisions.
One reason for this might be that the overseas principals demanded that the profits they reap from these brands (in dollars) remain constant so that the companies have to decrease their advertising investment to pay the principals.
Another reason for decreased advertising investment by some brands might be that the companies want to milk the brand to support other brands in their fold.
In the new year, we will consider whether these changes in advertising support have had any short-term effects on the number of users of these brands.
Have a good holiday - Neil and Erik.
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SA Marketing Magazine is a joint effort by Neil Higgs and Erik du Plessis to provide marketing insights for companies to use as the basis for marketing strategies.
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