How To Launch A New Product With Brand Collaboration? + Examples

Launching a new product can be an exciting yet challenging task. In today’s competitive market, it’s essential to stand out and make a lasting impression. One effective way to do this is through product collaboration. 

Collaboration with brands can expand your reach, increase brand awareness, and create a buzz around your new product. But how do you go about launching a new product with brand collaboration? 

In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps you need to take to launch your new product successfully and create a winning brand collaboration. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, this post will provide valuable insights to make your next product launch a success.

What is product collaboration?

Product collaboration refers to the process of two or more companies or individuals working together to develop, produce, market, or distribute a product. This collaborative effort can involve sharing expertise, resources, and intellectual property to create a unique product or improve an existing one.

Product collaboration can take many forms, such as co-branding, where two or more brands collaborate to create a new product, or joint ventures, where two companies invest in a new venture together to develop a new product. It can also involve licensing agreements, where one company grants another company the right to use its technology or intellectual property to develop a new product.

Product collaboration can be an effective way for companies to leverage each other’s strengths and create products that are more innovative, efficient, and effective than those developed by a single company. It can also be an effective way to share the risks and costs associated with developing a new product.

How To Launch a New Product with Brand Collaboration?

Collaborating on a product launch can be a highly effective way to reach new audiences and create buzz around your product. Here are some steps to consider when planning your launch:

1- Identify potential brand partners

Look for brands that share similar values and target audiences as your product. Reach out to them with a proposal for a collaboration.

When identifying potential brand partners for a product partnership, there are several steps you can take:

• Identify your target audience: Determine the demographics and psychographics of your target audience. This will help you identify brands that have a similar target audience.

• Research the market: Conduct research to identify brands that are currently successful in your industry or niche. Look for brands that complement your product or service but do not compete with it.

• Evaluate brand compatibility: Evaluate potential partners based on brand values, mission, and image. It is essential to find a partner whose values align with your own to create an authentic and effective partnership.

• Analyze marketing strategies: Evaluate the brand marketing strategies of potential partners. Look for brands that have a similar marketing approach and those that can help you reach a wider audience.

• Determine partnership goals: Define your partnership goals and objectives. This will help you identify brands that have similar goals and objectives.

• Reach out: Once you have identified potential partners, reach out to them to discuss potential partnership opportunities. It’s important to have a clear and compelling pitch that highlights the benefits of a partnership.

2- Define the collaboration

Determine the scope and objectives of the brand collabs in your partnership agreement. Will they involve joint marketing efforts, co-branding, or product integration? Be clear on what each partner brings to the table and how collaboration with brands will benefit both brands.

3- Set a launch date

Coordinate with your partner to determine the launch date and make sure both brands are aligned on the timing and messaging.

4- Create a marketing plan

Develop a marketing plan that leverages the strengths of both brands. Consider social media, email marketing, influencer partnerships, and PR to generate buzz and excitement around the launch.

The more popular social media gets, the more popular influencer marketing becomes in generating buzz around your brand. 

To make the most of influencer marketing campaigns for promoting your business collaborations, take advantage of a quality influencer marketplace like Ainfluencer. For small to medium-sized businesses wishing to produce high-quality content, find influencers, and connect with millions of prospective customers via the influence of micro influencers on TikTok and Instagram, Ainfluencer is the ideal DIY marketplace. Businesses can use Ainfluencer to authentically, affordably, and virally leverage the creativity and influence of micro influencers to increase brand recognition, drive sales, and position themselves as market leaders in their respective industries.

5- Design co-branded assets

Work with your partner to design co-branded assets such as packaging, graphics, and promotional materials that reflect both brands.

6- Execute the launch

Roll out the launch with a coordinated effort across all marketing channels. Host a launch event or a social media campaign to build excitement around the new product.

7- Measure and analyze results

Track the success of the launch and analyze the impact of the collaboration. Use these insights to inform future product launches and collaborations.

Measuring and analyzing the results of a product collaboration involves several steps. Here are some key steps you can follow:

1- Set clear goals

Before you start measuring the results, it’s essential to define clear goals for the collaboration. These goals should be specific, measurable, and achievable and should align with the overall objectives of the collaboration.

2- Identify metrics

Once you have defined the goals, you need to identify the metrics you will use to measure progress toward those goals. Some common metrics for product collaborations include sales revenue, customer satisfaction, product adoption rates, and user engagement.

3- Collect data

Collecting data is crucial to measuring the success of your product collaboration. You can collect data through surveys, customer feedback, website analytics, social media engagement, and other sources.

4- Analyze data

After collecting data, analyze it to gain insights into the performance of your product collaboration. Look for trends, patterns, and correlations in the data, and identify areas where you need to improve.

5- Communicate results

Finally, communicate the results of your analysis to stakeholders. Use visualizations and clear language to present your findings and make recommendations for future improvements.

Brand collaboration examples

Now it’s time to go over some examples to better understand our topic! So let’s delve right into it!

1- The Travis Scott Meal McDrop

This is one of the best companies collaboration examples. The Travis Scott Meal McDrop was a brand collaboration between McDonald’s and the rapper Travis Scott. The meal included a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, bacon, lettuce, pickles, onions, and Travis Scott’s preferred condiments, along with medium fries and a side of BBQ sauce.

The partnership was announced in September 2020 and quickly gained popularity, with fans of both McDonald’s and Travis Scott eager to try the meal. The collaboration also included merchandise, such as t-shirts, hats, and a McNugget-shaped body pillow.

The Travis Scott Meal McDrop was available for a limited time at McDonald’s locations across the United States, and it was reported that the promotion led to a surge in sales for the fast food chain. The collaboration was seen as a successful example of how brands can partner with popular influencers and celebrities to generate buzz and attract customers.

2- The Chunky Dunky Nike x Ben & Jerry’s brand collab

The Chunky Dunky Nike x Ben & Jerry’s brand collaboration was a limited-edition sneaker release that brought together Nike and the ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s. The shoe design was inspired by Ben & Jerry’s signature “Chunky Monkey” ice cream flavor and featured a bold and colorful design with a cow print pattern, tie-dye accents, and a melting ice cream cone graphic on the heel.

This is one of the best collaboration examples that was announced in May 2020 and quickly became one of the most anticipated sneaker releases of the year. The shoes were released in May 2020 and sold out almost immediately, with fans and collectors lining up for hours to try and get their hands on a pair.

The Chunky Dunky Nike x Ben & Jerry’s collaboration was seen as a creative and unique way for Nike to tap into the cultural cachet of Ben & Jerry’s and connect with a younger, more socially conscious audience. The collaboration also helped to raise awareness of environmental and social issues, with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the shoes going to support the work of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

3- Starbucks x Samsung

This is one of the other brand collaboration examples between the two most popular brands. Brand partnerships are hot right now, and Starbucks and Samsung is the one to speak about.

Brand partnerships are hot right now, and Starbucks and Samsung is the one to speak about. The two brands created a limited-edition line of coffee-themed accessories, and the results are seriously stylish.

The line of protective covers for the Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, and Galaxy Buds feature themed designs. One of the phone cases resembles a receipt from Starbucks.

4- IKEA x Virgil Abloh product collaboration

IKEA x Virgil Abloh was a product collaboration that occurred in 2019 between IKEA, the Swedish furniture giant, and Virgil Abloh, an American fashion designer and artist. The collaboration resulted in a collection of furniture and home decor items designed by Abloh and produced by IKEA.

The collection was called “MARKERAD,” which means “marked” in Swedish, and it aimed to bring together Abloh’s unique aesthetic with IKEA’s commitment to affordability and functionality. The pieces in the collection were intended to appeal to a younger, urban audience and featured Abloh’s signature design elements, such as bold typography and deconstructed forms.

Some of the most notable pieces in the collection included a rug with the words “KEEP OFF” printed on it, a glass cabinet with a door that appeared to be partially melted, and a chair with a doorstop attached to one of its legs.

The MARKERAD collection was well-received by both the design community and consumers, with many pieces selling out quickly after they were released. The collaboration between IKEA and Abloh was seen as a successful merging of fashion and furniture design, and it paved the way for future collaborations between IKEA and other designers.

5- Uber x Spotify 

Uber and Spotify partnered in 2014 to integrate the music streaming service into the Uber app, allowing passengers to play their own Spotify music during their rides. This collaboration was initially launched as a beta program in 10 global cities, including San Francisco, London, Sydney, and Mexico City.

The integration allowed riders to connect their Spotify accounts through the Uber app and then select their music preferences and playlists to play during their rides. The driver’s car stereo system would then play the chosen music when the ride started.

This collaboration aimed to enhance the riding experience for Uber passengers and strengthen the brand identity of both companies. It also allowed Uber and Spotify to access each other’s user base, with Uber riders being introduced to the music-streaming platform and Spotify users being introduced to the ride-hailing service.

Overall, the Uber x Spotify partnership was a successful collaboration that brought together two popular brands to provide users with a unique and innovative experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, launching a new product with brand collaboration can be a great way to increase brand visibility and reach more customers. It opens up a world of opportunities for businesses, from additional resources and marketing to increased revenue streams. This venture can be incredibly successful with careful planning and the right partners. To ensure success, it’s important to keep an eye on the competition, consider potential partners carefully, and create a comprehensive strategy before investing in collaboration.

FAQs on Brand and Product Collaboration