Many companies launch with a flagship product. But over time, these flagship products can reach market saturation—at which point tried-and-true marketing strategies may start to yield diminishing returns. If you find yourself in this position and are searching for new avenues for growth, a brand extension might be the solution.
A brand extension involves launching products in new categories—think shoe brand Allbirds adding apparel to its offerings. This strategy drives new revenue streams thanks, in part, to recognition and credibility among existing customers.
What is brand extension?
Brand extension, or brand stretching, is when a company leverages its established brand name to launch a new product or service in a different but related category. The brand’s established image helps it sell the new products to current customers, and the new products allow the brand to enter new markets and appeal to different customer segments.
Brand extensions capitalize on consumers’ trust in your core brand, allowing you to increase sales and market share. But extensions need to make sense to customers — meaning they need to have an obvious connection to the flagship product you’re known for. Here are some examples of brand extensions that align—and don’t align—with a company’s prior offerings.
| Existing product | Less relevant brand extension | More relevant brand extension |
| Luxury watches | Affordable fashion accessories | High-end smartwatches |
| Premium gourmet coffee | Energy drinks | Bottled cold brew |
| Athletic shoes | Dress shoes | Fitness apparel |
| Yoga mats | Body care products | Meditation cushions |
| Wireless earbuds | Plastic phone cases | Portable speakers |
Types of brand extensions
- Product line extension
- Complementary product extension
- Brand lifestyle extension
- Expertise extension
There are several ways your business can expand its offerings:
Product line extension
A product line extension introduces new variations of an existing product within the same category. For example, a dry shampoo brand might offer new formulations for different hair types. This type of extension lets brands cater to different consumer preferences while staying within their core expertise.
Complementary product extension
With complementary product extensions, businesses launch products related to their existing offerings, but the new products serve a different purpose. This type of extension often builds on customers’ enjoyment of the core product. For example, a bathing suit company might add a line of beach towels.
Brand lifestyle extension
With a brand lifestyle extension, a company adds products or services that align with its brand image. This creates a more comprehensive brand experience for consumers. A sportswear brand could branch into fitness trackers or nutrition products, supporting its customers’ health and fitness lifestyle holistically.
Expertise extension
Expertise extensions use a brand’s authority in one area to enter related markets. This strategy relies on consumers’ trust in the brand’s expertise. For example, a company respected for its car audio products might start selling home theater systems.
How to implement a successful brand extension
- Validate demand through market research
- Align the extension with your core brand
- Communicate clearly with customers
A well-executed brand extension strategy can strengthen your parent brand, but it requires strategic execution. Here’s how to launch a brand extension that resonates with your target audience.
1. Validate demand through market research
Before committing to a brand extension, conduct market research. This helps you understand your audience’s needs, preferences, and potential demand for your new offering. Assess the competitive landscape and identify any gaps or opportunities in the market.
Take your research a step further by talking one-on-one with a selection of existing customers to gain a deeper understanding of their needs. Consider asking the following questions in customer interviews:
- What pain points do you face in your daily life in areas adjacent to our product line?
- When you think of our brand, what words or emotions come to mind? Why?
- If you could wave a magic wand and have our brand offer any product or service imaginable, what would it be and why?
- How do you feel our brand could better support your lifestyle or help you achieve your goals?
2. Align the extension with your core brand
When implementing a brand extension strategy, maintain consistency with your core brand values and product positioning. It’s not enough for your new product to fall under the same brand name—the new product or service must also complement your brand’s identity to effectively leverage the brand equity you’ve built so far. For instance, it makes sense for a premium organic food business to extend its brand into eco-friendly kitchenware—and not conventional cleaning products. Launching a new offering that feels irrelevant to your customer base can damage your existing product lines.
3. Communicate clearly with customers
When extending your brand, communicate to customers how new products fit with what they already know and love about you. Use your marketing channels—email, social, paid ads—to show how these new products offer new ways to serve them. Consider a phased messaging strategy: tease the extension with a “Coming soon” announcement on Instagram, follow with a formal launch on your website, and then integrate your new and existing products into a multimedia marketing campaign.
For example, a popular backpack company expanding into messenger bags and baby carriers might show how their brand can grow with customers—from college to career to family life. An effective video marketing campaign could show the same person using their products across different life stages: running across campus, interviewing at corporate offices, and exploring a neighborhood park with their infant.
This approach helps customers see how your brand is adapting to their changing needs, making it easier for them to understand (and embrace) your expanded product line.
Brand extension examples
- Luxy Hair: From hair extensions to hair care
- Ridge: From metal wallets to men’s rings
- Allbirds: From cozy kicks to comfy clothing
Here are a few examples of successful brand extensions to inspire your own growth trajectory:
Luxy Hair: From hair extensions to hair care
Luxy Hair, founded by Mimi Ikonn and Alex Ikonn, made its mark by offering premium hair extensions for both everyday wear and special events. As the brand grew, it expanded its product line to include a variety of hair accessories such as trendy scrunchies and practical claw clips, as well as hair care products like its Luxy Heat Protectant Primer and Luxy Luminous Shine Hair Oil.
By branching out from extensions to accessories and hair care, Luxy Hair grew its product line while staying true to its hair-focused roots.
Ridge: From metal wallets to men’s rings
Ridge CEO Sean Frank expanded the company’s focus from metal wallets to developing metal rings, illustrating the brand’s versatility in crafting durable accessories. With their wallet business already generating $100 million in annual revenue, the introduction of rings allowed Ridge to tap into a small but growing market for affordable men’s wedding bands that can be purchased online. This brand lifestyle extension has been a massive success: Rings, which weren’t part of Ridge’s lineup in 2022, blossomed into an eight-figure business by 2023.
Allbirds: From cozy kicks to comfy clothing
Allbirds is known for its eco-friendly sneakers that prioritize comfort and minimalist design. The brand quickly gained a loyal following for its commitment to reducing environmental impact in the footwear industry. Building on this success, Allbirds expanded into apparel in October 2020, offering items such as socks, pants, sweatpants, caps, and beanies, using the same sustainable materials that made its shoes popular, including merino wool, organic cotton, and eucalyptus fiber.
Brand extension FAQ
What is an example of a line extension?
An example of a line extension could be a soft drink brand introducing new flavors or sugar-free versions of its existing products.
What is the difference between brand extension and line extension?
Line extension is a type of brand extension. Brand extension involves expanding your product category; a line extension occurs within your existing product category.
Why should a company consider branding extensions?
Companies should consider brand extensions to leverage existing brand equity, enter new markets, and drive growth opportunities.
