Abstract

The case discusses how Deckers Outdoor Corporation (Deckers) made Ugg boots a global luxury footwear brand. It also details the promotion and distribution strategies adopted by Deckers to make the Ugg brand popular in the US and Europe. The popularity of Uggs, which were in existence for several years and was a generic term for sheepskin boots in Australia, grew after Deckers acquired Ugg Holdings, Inc. (which was set up in the US by an Australian surfer in the 1990s) in the 1990s. Ugg product line successfully evolved from just being sheepskin boots to a diverse collection of luxury and comfort styles, mainly due to some unique marketing strategies adopted by Deckers to popularize Uggs. Uggs were patronized by several celebrities, which helped in raising their popularity further. Though some experts had dismissed the success of the brand as a fad that would pass, the brand has experienced steady growth over the years with the introduction of new designs and the luxury/fashion element associated with it. The case also discusses some of the challenges Deckers could face in maintaining the popularity of Uggs.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Study how Deckers made Ugg boots a global luxury brand. Analyze the marketing strategies Deckers used to popularize Ugg boots in the US and Europe. Study celebrity seeding as a marketing strategy. Understand the issues and challenges in growing a luxury b

Keywords

Branding, Luxury brand, Marketing, Promotion, Distribution, Celebrity seeding, Gratis Product Placement, High-end fashion footwear, Ugg Australia, Deckers