You all must have heard this story of an epic battle when a young shepherd boy defeats the giant.
The shepherd boy was David and the giant’s name was Goliath. Since then
David and Goliath have become a metaphor for an improbable win.
“Since then David and Goliath have become a metaphor for an improbable win.”
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The battle was won by an underdog. People jump to conclusions about bigger armies.They believe that bigger armies will always win.Napoleon had said that “God is with larger armies.”
People’s secret wish is that somehow a smaller army or a weaker person should win against the stronger opponent.
That’s why people love to support underdogs- be it a sport or a business organisation.
A political scientist, Tvan Arrequon Toft did the calculations and found that larger armies won only 71.5 % of the time.
Just under a third of the time- weaker and smaller armies prevailed
This is the key point I am trying to make.
It is possible to win against heavy odds if you don’t follow the conventional rules and are able to find the weak underbelly of your opponent.
Here are a few such examples from modern times, where the underdogs’ triumphed over the giants.
Mahatma Gandhi
“You can fight and win against a bigger opponent if you change the rules of engagement.”
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They did not know how to fight against a simple half-clad fakir, who believed in non-violence. Who could rally millions of Indians against the powerful British army?
The rules of engagement had changed completely.
The same rule applies in business. You can fight and win against a bigger opponent if you change the rules of engagement and if you can find a weakness of the bigger opponent and exploit it.
Netflix
“Slowly but surely, Netflix changed the rules.”
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www.theatlantic.com
‘Blockbuster’ was the undisputed king providing entertainment to millions. Netflix was an upstart trying to find space in the industry.
In 2000, ‘blockbuster’ turned down offers to buy Netflix for 50 million$. In 2004, while blockbuster was making 6 billion$ in revenue, Netflix was struggling to be in 500 million $.
Netflix changed the rules. It started offering more convenience to its customers, first with movies through the mail, and then streaming services made available on numerous devices.
A decade later, Blockbuster declared bankruptcy, closing all stores in 2013. Netflix now has more than 31.1 million subscribers and is ahead of the pack by a wide margin.
Apple
“Jobs spent time on great marketing ideas, to create an element of mystique around the brand.”
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Steve Jobs had a plan to create technology that would change the way the world functioned and started in his garage in 1976. Competing against Microsoft, the biggest electronics and Computer Company at that time, Steve had to go all in creating fresh and different technology to beat the top dog of the industry.
www.theatlantic.com
When Apple invented the iPod, People listened to music in a new way.
This resulted in the extinction of walkmans. Followed by the iPhone and the iPad, Apple turned heads and got recognition.
Steve Jobs understood that consumers are constantly looking for something different and eye-catching and so he gave his customers exactly what they wanted.
He created products with new technology with stunning designs.
In his words, “I want to make even computer keypads so beautiful, that my customers would like to lick them.”
Along with his incredibly innovative ideas, he spent time on great marketing ideas, which created an element of mystique around the brand.
Today, whenever a new product is launched by Apple, it is a common sight to see people waiting for more than 12 hours to lay their hand on a new product.
Nirma
“The underdog won against tremendous odds.”
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The use of detergent powder was started in India by HLL’s Surf in 1959.
Starting as a one-product one-man organisation in 1969 by Karsanbhai Patel, ‘Nirma’ took on the Market Leader Surf by giving the good quality product at most affordable prices. The price-value equation was so effective that, by the 1970s, Nirma dominated the detergent market.
In 1990, Nirma entered the market with its Nirma Beauty Soap.
By 1999, Nirma became India’s 2ndlargest manufacturer of toilet soaps by acquiring a 15% share of the toilet soap market.
Nirma’s performance was incredible as compared to Godrej, which had a share of only 8%.
By 1999-2000, Nirma had gathered a 38% share of India’s 2.4 million tonnes detergents market.
HLL’s share was 31% for the same period.
How did Nirma succeed against such strong opponent like HLL’s Surf?
It provided great cost value to Indian lower and middle-class consumers, which Surf could never do. The quality was acceptable, not great. But it added a good jingle based marketing campaign to this heady cocktail and tipping point was reached. The market leader was overthrown and Nirma became a Rs 17 billion company within thirty years.
The underdog won against tremendous odds.
Shaving cream Vi-John
“Vi-John, a shaving cream, has a very low awareness as compared to the foreign brand Gillette does, but it sells…
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It is endorsed by Shahrukh Khan and is a hot favourite in small towns and cities. I understood the power of this brand when my father refused to use any other brand but Vi-John, when he came to visit us.
Vi-John is an INR 500 crore company who is also into other areas such as real estate and liquor, apart from Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
Vi-John created a new segment in non-metros and smaller towns. It did not confront the market leader ‘Gillette’ directly but started chipping at the market leader in non-urban towns.
This was typical ‘outside-inside’ strategy. The product has started entering urban centres after consolidating its base in the non-urban segment.
Waghbakri tea
Waghbakri tea is a market leader in Gujarat. Waghbakri operates on a simple strategy– understand the locals like and offer exactly that. They test about 500 samples in a day to conjure the right brew and blend for a particular region. For example; in south Gujarat people use creamy milk, so Waghbakri has a brew that blends well with milk, and still manages to sport a delicious flavour.
This brand wants to reach new heights and go national.
They have extended their presence in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Delhi, Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is all set to take on its MNC rival – Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Tata brands.
It has started Tea outlets, where people can come for snacks and taste their range of products.
The bottom line: It is possible to win against a superior opponent.
You have more than 50 % chances of beating a stronger and bigger enemy.
You can change the rules of engagement. (Mahatma Gandhi, Netflix)
You can provide a better price-value equation. (Nirma)
Your product design can change the consumer perception (apple)
You can customise your product as per the geography or cultural difference (Wagbakri Tea)
New technology and speed will make a difference. (Flipkart, Snapdeal and all new age companies)
“David can always beat Goliath”
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