Analysis of Shampoo Brands in India

Cross-cultural advertisement means something more than translation. The factors, which are considered in cross-cultural advertisement analysis, are style, numbers, language, and symbols. The research on cross culture advertisement analysis is a relatively new field, which focus more on trends and development of last decades in commercial and economic activities (Okazaki and Mueller, 2014). The main issues which has been identified through international advertising and marketing is that, customers from different countries is become more alike or the difference will remain stable or difference level has grown more. To do comparison in this essay the four products is been selected, two from India and two from Australia. The category of product is been selected is shampoo and to analyse the cross-culture advertisement hofstede’s cultural dimension theory is been discussed.

For cross-cultural advertising analysis, the product is selected form the BRIC country Indian and the product that has been selected is two shampoo brands Sunsilk and Dove. Both shampoo brands are high in demand among consumers. The advertisement of both shampoo brands are shown on television. The commercial of sunsilk focus on strengthen the hairs from roots and the commercial of Dove focus more on the smoothening and dandruff removal. Both the advertisement that is shown on television is considered to be more creative rather than conventional brand communication. The story line of sunsilk commercial is based on the relationship or understanding between mother and daughter. The sunsilk has tried to show how the strong hair can build a good relation among mother daughter. In particular commercial few girls are making fun of the girls hair and because of that the confidence of girls goes low, when girl reaches home mother ask here reason behind her sadness and as a solution of problem mother handover a bottle of sunsilk shampoo to her daughter. After using the shampoo, the hair become strong and the bond of mother and daughter become stronger. In this particular, add the writer focus on creative part the bond of mother daughter rather than just focusing on product.  The second commercial focus on the try and purchase model, in this advertisement the company offers 7 days challenge to girls to use dove on shampoo and if they find any difference then start using shampoo. The commercial is about comparing two product and chose better among them.

(Source: Sunsilk India, 2017)

(Source: Dove Bar India, 2016)

Analysis of Shampoo Brands in Australia

Geert Hofstede has developed a hofstede’s cultural dimension theory, theory consist of framework for cross- cultural communication. Theory describes the effects of a society culture on value of its habitants. To analyse the cultural specificity display in the advertisement the two dimensions of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions is been selected (Cutler, Javalgi and Krishna Erramilli, 2012). The two dimensions are Masculinity and uncertainly avoidance. These two dimensions are closely related to the products which is been selected for cross-cultural advertisement analysis.

These two dimensions will help in understanding that culture of country. Analyse of cultural advertising on the bases of Masculinity. India is very masculine in terms of visual display of power and success. While designing advertisement the brands or companies develop ostentation and flash which will goes with advertising one’s success (Obeidat et.al. 2012). However, India is a spiritual country consists of number of religions and millions of deities.  India is an ancient country with longest surviving cultures which gives ample lesson on value of abstinence and humility. Analyse of Cultural advertisement on the bases of long term dimension. In India, the concept of karma dominates philosophical and religious through (Bian and Forsythe, 2012).   In country like India have a great tolerance for religious view from all over world. In India, there is an acceptance that there are many truths are often depends on the seeker.    

For cross-cultural advertising analysis, the product is selected from Australia are Pantene and head and shoulders both are popular shampoo brand of Australia. The demand of head and shoulder and Pantene is very good in market. The large number of Australian population is using these two shampoos. Both companies are showing their advertisement on television. The Pantene advertisement company has shown a strong and confident girl is telling about her experience by using shampoo. The advertisement mainly focus on the how the shampoo make the hairs of girl strong and shinny and with bouncy hairs the girl has boost up her confidence of girl to face the world. The second advertisement is of head and shoulder, in particular advertisement the girl has went to the doctors to consult the issue of hair problem and the doctor recommended head and shoulder to the girls. When girl start using the product its hair become more strong and beautiful. The core concept behind the both advertisement are they show how the advertisement boost the confidence level of girls. Both brands focus on modern generation how these two shampoos are playing important role in boosting their confidence.

Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimension Theory

(Source: Head & Shoulders, 2017)

(Source: Pantene Australia, 2017)

To analyse the cultural specificity display in the advertisement the two dimensions of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions is been selected. The two dimensions selected to understand the cultural advertisement analysis are individualism and masculinity. Analyse of cultural advertising on the bases of Masculinity. Australian society masculine driven by competition, success and achievement, the success means best in the field or winner. The value system in Australia began at schools and continues throughout life. Feminine dimension means the value of women in society is caring for others and quality life. Feminine society is one where quality of sign success and standing out from the crowd is not admirable (Christie et.al. 2013). Analyse of cultural advertising on the bases of individualism, the advertisement also focus on individualism. The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is degree of interdependence society maintains among its members (Minkov and Hofstede, 2012). Australia is highly individualist culture. The society members in Australia are self-centred. The transactions, which are take place in Australian society, is based on loosely knit the association which take place between the person are purely based on the interest. If the person is getting profits by maintaining relation with the other person then only they will maintain relations. At work place also the same interest based relationships are been managed, to get promotions, hiring etc. 

The culture of both Australia and India are very different. While watching advertisement on television the difference of both cultures can be easily noticeable. The Australia culture is full of broad-minded people but the residents of India are rigid. The Culture of India give much importance to maintaining relationship with their family and other people without expecting anything in return, but the people of Australia is very self-centred they only go after profits and they build relations if they are getting some profit out of that relation (Mazanec, 2015). The advertisement stated that the women in Australia are very confident and self-dependant that shows that the women in Australia are very much confident and they are not depending on any other person for their need but this concept is not followed in India the much women population is depend on some other person for their basic need (Gilly, 2011). In India the condition of women are not same as condition of women in Australia. It is important for the Brand communication practitioners to know about the culture of the country for which they are going to make advertisement. While making advertisement it is important to understand the cultural, with help of this they can connect with their target costumers easily.

References

Bian, Q. and Forsythe, S., (2012). Purchase intention for luxury brands: A cross cultural comparison. Journal of Business Research, 65(10), pp.1443-1451.

Christie, P.M.J., Kwon, I.W.G., Stoeberl, P.A. and Baumhart, R., (2013). A cross-cultural comparison of ethical attitudes of business managers: India Korea and the United States. Journal of Business Ethics, 46(3), pp.263-287.

Cutler, B.D., Javalgi, R.G. and Krishna Erramilli, M.,(2012). The visual components of print advertising: A five-country cross-cultural analysis. European Journal of Marketing, 26(4), pp.7-20.

Dove Bar India, (2016), Advertisement [Online] Available form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eD36J9qtFs [Assessed on: 12-08-2018].

Gilly, M.C., (2011). Sex roles in advertising: A comparison of television advertisements in Australia, Mexico, and the United States. The Journal of marketing, pp.75-85.

Head and Shoulders (2017). Advertisement [Online] Available form: https://www.headandshoulders.com.au/en-au [Assessed on: 12-08-2018].

Mazanec, J.A., Crotts, J.C., Gursoy, D. and Lu, L., (2015). Homogeneity versus heterogeneity of cultural values: An item-response theoretical approach applying Hofstede’s cultural dimensions in a single nation. Journal of Tourism Management, 48, pp.299-304.

Minkov, M. and Hofstede, G., (2012). Hofstede’s fifth dimension: New evidence from the World Values Survey. Journal of cross-cultural psychology, 43(1), pp.3-14.

Obeidat, B.Y., Shannak, R.O., Masa’deh, R.E.M.D.T. and Al-Jarrah, I., (2012). Toward better understanding for Arabian culture: Implications based on Hofstede’s cultural model. European Journal of Social Sciences, 28(4), pp.512-522.

Okazaki, S. and Mueller, B., (2014). Cross-cultural advertising research: where we have been and where we need to go. Journal of International Marketing Review, 24(5), pp.499-518.

Pantene Australia, (2017). Advertisement [Online] Available form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riMJkYFcIfY [Assessed on: 12-08-2018].

Sunsilk India, (2017). Advertisement [Online] Available form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YMk9kI3Tuw [Assessed on: 12-08-2018].