Exclusive Fognini Inc. (EFI) is a family-owned business specializing in high-end customized skis. Giulio, a remarkable engineer, is the majority shareholder and president of the company. The balance of shares is owned by three family members. Giulio founded the business 15 years ago. His wife, Haley, was a professional skier at the time, and she attributed the gold medals she won to the highly innovative skis her husband had built for her. The market for high-end, customized skis presented an unmet demand, and Giulio took advantage of that opportunity. Operating just outside of Vancouver, EFI produced strong sales numbers even within the first year. The skis were priced to sell at a large premium, and the company made significant investments (initial and ongoing) in research and development. EFI turned a profit in its third year and has achieved strong results since that time. The company's controller is a young CPA who joined EFI soon after receiving her designation and has grown with the company. Financial statements are prepared in accordance with ASPE and are reviewed by JK&L CPAs, a three-partner CPA firm in Vancouver.

EFI does not invest in advertising but relies instead on word-of-mouth referrals. Giulio offers his wealthy clientele not only highly customized skis with a guaranteed exclusive design, but also the highest quality available on the market. In addition, microchips are embedded in each ski to make them easy to locate in case of loss or theft. The company offers a unique level of personalization and free maintenance at the beginning of each ski season; this has won over many prospective clients. Giulio's brother, Antonio, took on the responsibility for the maintenance service and has kept customers happy over the past 15 years.

Giulio's brother-in-law, Marcus, is an EFI shareholder and the ski instructor of choice for wealthy skiers in Whistler, B.C.; and Aspen and Vail, Colorado. Marcus has spent his career as a ski patroller, medic, and instructor. He devotes a few days to each client or group of clients and travels between the three resorts as frequently as required, all while promoting EFI skis to his clientele. Each December, Giulio and Haley travel to the famous ski resorts of Europe, where they introduce new designs to powerful sponsors and selected clientele. The couple invites those clients who purchased new skis or recommended the new skis to a buying customer to an annual spring skiing event in Whistler, which is partly sponsored by EFI. The event provides EFI's customers with an opportunity to show off their prized possessions the exclusive skis and to enter into new business relationships, all while enjoying the outstanding Whistler-Blackcomb ski terrain and upscale hospitality.

In recent years, EFI has continued to achieve strong and stable sales levels, but the growth rate has slowed. Giulio has begun to look for ways to expand the business and take advantage of new opportunities.

As one option for growth, Giulio's daughter, Lucia, who specializes in accessories design, has proposed that the company diversify into silk and leather ski masks and gloves, which would follow EFI's tradition of exclusive design, high quality, and personalization. The accessories would carry a high unit cost, but Lucia sees launching the new products as an indirect but excellent investment in advertising for the core of the business, the skis.

EFI's board is looking further into Lucia's idea of developing a high-end accessory line, and they have asked for your guidance. As a starting point, they need to better understand what types of strategies would be relevant if EFI were to pursue this opportunity.

a) What would be the value proposition of the high-end accessory line? What would distinguish EFI's products from those of the competition?

b) What type of strategic vehicle would be represented by developing the high-end accessory line? Justify your decision.