Rebranding is a risky business… A very risky one…However, it might be highly needed to sustain your presence on the red carpet of business.
Most successful companies ranging from startups to those enlisted on the Fortune 500 have had rebranding attempts. Companies might realize that they need to strengthen their perception in the eyes of their consumers and to keep up with the new heights they have reached. The current brand might not be compatible with the sought identity. A very important point to consider is the new demographic target you need to hit. When talking about the apparel industry, millennials have proven to love the athleisure segment which many glamorous brands haven’t established yet. This in addition to emergence of new competition, technological shifts or taste trends justifies and urges top brands to fuel newness…Otherwise, obsolescence is the fate.
Accused of confusing messaging over whether it’s a fashion brand or an athletic wear brand, driven by enthusiasm to stay relevant, Lacoste started a strategy of fueling newness to its brand. Thierry Guibert who was appointed as a new CEO in the year 2015 says that “Lacoste was, some years ago, considered an old-fashioned brand, like your father wore Lacoste”. This justifies the need to be more urban, cooler and more casual to better appeal to the young guys and to the native digital citizens.
Lacoste faces a challenge of being chic enough to be desired and available enough to be accessible. Very lucrative combination to be achieved. From a critical perspective, Lacoste accessibility strategy had some flaws which raised a red flag. Lacoste was over present and more is less for a differentiated brand. This overexposure is considered a misguided attempt to be a fashion brand.
Driven by image elevation and bringing sales back to their own stores by eliminating less-expensive alternatives, Lacoste pulled out of many of its department-store doors, including Macy’s and Nordstrom locations.
To maintain its edge and to make better appeal to the new generation, Lacoste has done the following rebranding attempts:
Lacoste Joins Influencer Marketing Strategies via the legendary tennis player Novak Djokovic who is known for the values of sporting elegance, fair play and determination which he shares with the founder of Lacoste Rene’ Lacoste.
Lacoste has transacted its distinctive crocodile logo for one of 10 threatened animal species on a series of limited-edition polo shirts, designed to bring attention to the global state of biodiversity. The French brand made 1,775 polo shirts in total which corresponds to the number of individuals known to remain in the wild. This change happens for the first time in the brand’s history. The socially responsible purpose is saving our species.
Lacoste has given its buyers the chance to express their style and customize their polos with the croc, colors and initials of their choice. The customer is the playmaker.
Lacoste and Disney celebrated their milestones together. The prominent crocodile-logo-adorned tennis brand observes its 85th anniversary, while Disney celebrates the 90th anniversary of its charming Mickey and Minnie Mouse. So both brands eventually joined forces to create an anniversary collection of their own putting their iconic figures together… The result according to many fashion lovers was Pure magic!
Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag, who are a design duo and award-winning French art created a two-tone geometric alphabet to reinterpret the legendary crocodile and create pieces targeting the youth.
Lacoste announced recently that British fashion designer Louise Trotter will join the brand as its new Creative Director. This appointment marks a historic milestone for Lacoste as Louise will be the first female creative head in the brand’s history. Louise is eager about writing a new chapter in its history of the brand
Rebranding, uplifting or even reinventing your brand can be your panacea to maintain your glamour and edge. It is a very challenging task since your identity might be jeopardized. Lacoste has done it right so far with a driving force of fueling newness. Brand Manager Fred Abou Adal tells our blog that fueling newness can be through a strategy of changing the perception of an old item. He adds:
“Fueling newness is essential for any brand in order to constantly attract customers and especially Millenials. Lacoste’s winning strategy to renew the image of its iconic Polo has been through storytelling, giving this timeless item a strong heritage to the younger generations.”
When asked about Lacoste’s strategy, Haifa Najjar who is communication manager of Holdal Group, the distributor of Lacoste in Lebanon, says that targeting young consumers who look for chic uniqueness and promoting feminine styles to match “On the Go” needs was a smart positioning direction. Haifa adds:
“This also comes in line with Holdal’s vision to keep up with the market fast-moving needs and trends.”
Hasan Youness 
Very interesting article, you always know the way that attracts us to read 👍👍👍
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Thank you for the feedback Hussein! Please keep an eye on the different posts and share your comments with me and the readers
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Thank you Dr.Hassan for the interesting review article, I highly refer it to scholar audience. I will be waiting for your next posting..🙏🙏
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Very interesting
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Many thanks dear! Please keep an eye on the different posts and share your comments with me and the readers
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Very Interesting Article🔝
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Very good article 👍👍
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Thank you Hasan! Much love!
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Very interesting 👍👍👍iam waiting the next one
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Thank you for the feedback Dalia! Please keep an eye on the different posts and share your comments with me and the readers! Did you have the chance to read the rest of the posts?
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Good Job Dr Hassan, an impressive and creative article👏
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Thank You Zeina! I hope that your enjoying the rest of the posts! Are you?
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Love it
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Thank you! Keep in reading and sharing your feedback! I’d appreciate:)
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Lacoste is a well established brand, their target market are mainly people above 30 years old.
If they want to expand their business and target millenials some young celebtrities need to wear Lacoste so that millenials feel “cool” and not old wearing this brand, interesting topic
Best of luck blogging.
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Oh! Thanks for the insightful feedback!
Thank you! Keep on reading and sharing your feedback! I’d appreciate Ali:)
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Rebranding is not changing the corporate image of the company, it’s upgrading / widening it to keep your company in shape.
It’s always important to know the impact of any new strategy on the local market.
Lacoste succeeded in the rebranding, and you, Dr. Hasan, suceeded in delivering the message.
Keep it up Dr. Hasan.
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Joe! Thank you! I agree with your perspective on rebranding.
Keep on reading and sharing your feedback! I’d appreciate:)
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Interesting and attractive..
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Thank you! Keep on reading and sharing your feedback!
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Rebranding is always a good idea to keep up with changing customers’ dynamics!
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I totally agree! Keep sharing your insights on different posts Ghina:)
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Thank you Dr. Hasan!
This can definitely be a very interesting and important case study.
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Thank you! Keep n reading and sharing your feedback! I’d appreciate as always Fatima:)
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I think that Lacoste is mistaken when it transacted distinctive crocodile logo for one of 10 threatened animal species on a series of limited-edition polo shirts, designed to bring attention to the global state of biodiversity. Shouldn’t this confuse lacoste’s Clientele? I feel this is confusing as they should always stick to their one identity ‘crocodile’.
Add to, i feel like it’s a very good job to work with this tennis player who relies on the elegance rather than working with Disney which became a ‘déjà-vu’ collaboration.
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Hello! When it comes to limited edition items I don’t fear losing identity.. what do u think?
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Very interesting article that sheds the light over a strategic issue which will define the inevitable new challenge that every company will be facing in the near future .
An impressive article as usual Dr. Hassan Youness
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Thanks a lot!!
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Very interesting article that sheds the light over a strategic issue which will define the inevitable new challenge that every company will be facing in the near future .
An impressive article as usual Dr. Hassan Youness
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Thanks a lot my dear Loubna!
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I’d like to read your comments on different posts
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very interesting article👍👍
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Many thanks HALA! Please share your feedback on different posts:)
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Very nice topic
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Love it!! Always impressing us Dr.
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Thank you Ghady! Keep on reading and sharing your feedback! I’d appreciate:)
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It is an important article which gave the reader hints about how the brands company build their strategy. Dr Hasan go on and i am waiting for the next article.
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Great job, so interesting!
Impatiently waiting for the next one!
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Thank you Valeria! Did you have the chance to read the rest of the articles? I’d like to get your feedback:)
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So true ive always thought lacoste was an old-fashioned brand targeting baby boomers and generation X.
Very interesting doctor 🔝
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Did your view change now?
I’d like to know your insights on the next posts Eyad:)
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Very Interesting and Informative article !
Keep up the Great Work Dr Youness ,You are a Role Model 🙂
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Oh! Many thanks:)
I look forward to know your feedback on the other articles
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Love it! Looking forward for the next one.
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Thank you! Did you have the chance to read the rest?
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interesting
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Very interesting article and information Hasan! BRAVO🌟The way U presented the article is very professional and well organized!
They took a lot of time to think of rebranding or doing something special and new but at least they did it. I loved the fact that Louise will join the brand, women rock💪🏻
All the best for the followed articles.
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Women indeed rock:) I am glad you liked it! Did you check the rest of the articles? I’m eager to read your insights
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Innovation and the non-questionable need for consistency in change in order to keep yourself in track with the modest trend where always of Dr. Hassan’s most interest. Personally, such the above article in its informative stylist look is a must read for everyone who is interested in style and brands. U can pass by Lacoste Shop now with a totally different desire. The latter is to be branded by “a crocodile” which has a core view in how to attract the cam on the red carpet of world of business!
Keep your informative track Dr. Hasan. We are benefiting ….
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Thanks for the detailed feedback! Please share such insights on the rest of the posts:)
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Innovation and the non-questionable need for consistency in change in order to keep yourself in track with the modest trend where always of Dr. Hassan’s most interest. Personally, such the above article in its informative stylist look is a must read for everyone who is interested in style and brands. U can pass by Lacoste Shop now with a totally different desire. The latter is to be branded by “a crocodile” which has a core view in how to attract the cam on the red carpet of world of business!
Keep your informative track Dr. Hasan. We are benefiting …
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Fadel! Insightful as usual:)
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An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been doing a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me lunch due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to talk about this subject here on your internet site.
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