Brand Extension Definition & Explanation

Brand Extension Explained

A brand extension is where a pre-existing brand creates a new product or creates a sub-brand to sell a new product.

Brand extensions enable brands to tap into a new or growing trend, exploit profitable niche markets or even re-enter the public’s consciousness by exploiting the brand’s reputation and strengths to attract new customers or increase usage & loyalty. These new products are often related to the original brand offering but not always.

Most brands, especially FMCG and Food & Beverages take part in brand extension due to the constant pressure to innovate and stay relevant in today’s crowded market. Brand Extensions should not be confused with Line Extensions – where a brand simply adds a new product to an already existing line (such as a new flavour/variant/model).

A potential disadvantage of a brand extension is that it can expose the brand to a whole new area of the market and new competitors. Whilst broadening the offer can seem like a good idea (especially from an incremental sales and profit perspective) but in reality, it can be incredibly risky and damaging to the brand overall if it fails, such as EasyJet’s EasyCinema.

A successful brand extension should seem like a natural progression for the brand, and so to make it loosely similar to the previous product would be a wise idea (otherwise the original brand may be damaged). If done correctly, a brand extension not only brings more profit to the company but also opens up more possibilities and revives the public’s interest.