Final answer:
Reasons for a company to shift away from pursuing a strategy to strongly differentiate its branded footwear from rival companies and sell at a premium price include market saturation, changing customer preferences, and intense competition.
Step-by-step explanation:
In certain situations, it may be reasonable and wise for a company to shift away from pursuing a strategy to strongly differentiate its branded footwear from rival companies and sell its footwear at a premium price. One such situation is when the market becomes saturated with similar products and differentiation becomes difficult. In this case, the company may choose to adopt a different strategy, such as cost leadership or focus on a specific niche market.
Another reason for shifting away from the differentiation strategy is when customers' preferences change and they no longer value the unique features offered by the company's branded footwear. If customers are no longer willing to pay a premium price for the differentiated product, the company may need to reevaluate its strategy.
Lastly, if the company faces intense competition and struggles to maintain its market share, it may find it more advantageous to lower prices and offer more affordable footwear to attract price-sensitive customers.