After reading about bonding with a specific brand and all the ways that there is to bond, it really go me thinking. I relate to several brands in various ways. For example my most favorite brand in the world is juicy couture. Ever since my roomate my freshman year introduced me to it, I have been hooked. I love everything about it, and all there different product lines all appeal to me. I LOVE juicy couture. A brand that I relate to because of nostalgia is 
While going back over my notes and studying for the upcoming exam, I had thought a little bit more about the 80/20 rule. It is a concept that is engrained in my head in all my classes actually and holds a big role in creating success in a business. It is important to remember that you need to target the correct market to which you wish to pursue, but also remember those loyal customers who have been there the whole time giving you the desired sales you need. If 20% of your customers make 80% of your businesses overall purchases it would be benefitial to you as a retailer to spend most of your time and marketing strategies on this 20%. It is a waste of time to spend money on advertisement such as catalogs on those who probably don't have any intention on buying!
Intrigued by the zip code looking up that we did in class on Tuesday, I revisited the Claritas website and looked up my home zip code of Bonney Lake which is 98391. The categories that it provided for this particular zip code were as follows...
To look up your cities zip code and learn all about the Market near you click here
COUNTRY SQUIRRELS- Upscale, Middle Age w/ Kids The wealthiest residents in exurban America live in Country Squires, an oasis for affluent Baby Boomers who've fled the city for the charms of small-town living. In their bucolic communities noted for their recently built homes on sprawling properties, the families of executives live in six-figure comfort. Country Squires enjoy country club sports like golf, tennis, and swimming as well as skiing, boating, and biking.
FAST-TRACK FAMILIES-Upscale, Middle Age w/ Kids With their upscale incomes, numerous children, and spacious homes, Fast-Track Families are in their prime acquisition years. These middle-aged parents have the disposable income and educated sensibility to want the best for their children. They buy the latest technology with impunity: new computers, DVD players, home theater systems, and video games. They take advantage of their rustic locales by camping, boating, and fishing.
GODS COUNTRY-Upscale, Middle Age w/o Kids When city dwellers and suburbanites began moving to the country in the 1970s, God's Country emerged as the most affluent of the nation's exurban lifestyles. Today, wealthier communities exist in the hinterlands, but God's Country remains a haven for upscale couples in spacious homes. Typically college educated Baby Boomers, these Americans try to maintain a balanced lifestyle between high power jobs and laid back leisure.
KIDS IN CUL DE SACS-Upper-Mid, Younger w/ Kids Upper-middle class, suburban, married couples with children--that's the skinny on Kids & Cul-de-Sacs, an enviable lifestyle of large families in recently built subdivisions. With a high rate of Hispanic and Asian Americans, this segment is a refuge for college-educated, white-collar professionals with administrative jobs and upper-middle-class incomes. Their nexus of education, affluence, and children translates into large outlays for child-centered products and services.
UPWARD BOUND -Upscale, Middle Age w/ Kids More than any other segment, Upward Bound appears to be the home of those legendary Soccer Moms and Dads. In these small satellite cities, upscale families boast dual incomes, college degrees, and new split-levels and colonials. Residents of Upward Bound tend to be kid-obsessed, with heavy purchases of computers, action figures, dolls, board games, bicycles, and camping equipment.
As a apparel merchandising major, I very well understand that finding your target market and serving them correctly is a huge portion of having a successful business. Within your target market you will have your loyal customers, those customers that will purchase from you regardless of what the competition is doing down the street and perhaps even though the economy has fallen. It is important to understand the buying potential of these customers and realize how important they are to your business. By satisfying your target market, and catering to their every need by offering a unique service or product you have hopefully convinced them that you are a retailer worth shopping at, some place that they can rely on to shop at for years to come. I believe that Target has done this to me. I use to only shop at Nordstroms, but now as a broke college student, I can no longer afford $20.00 tank tops. Target has continually provided savings and quality and that is something that can't be beat.
I went this weekend to see "Confessions of a Shopaholic" with my girlfriends. The entire movie all that I could think about was the fact every five seconds there was a brand drop...Prada, Gucci, etc. The main character of the movie lived in a branded world. It really made me think how often we all come in contact with brands, everyday of our life and don't even realize it. I know personally that I shop brands because I have loyalty to certain ones that have always treated me well. When shopping at the grocery store, I think that all the brands are the same...I ever steer clear of the brands because they are more expensive than if you purchase the stores personal label.
As a former employee of Nordstrom, I know some of their brilliant marketing strategies. While I was home over the weekend I spent a day at the mall, and Nordstroms by far knows how to properly market their products. All the new spring apparel and accessories is displayed out front for everyone to see which draws you into the rest of the merchandise. On a daily basis the merchandise is moved on the sales floor to promt the fact that there is always something new to look. Five days out of the week new products do come, but for days like Sunday when there really isnt' anything new, it seems like their is! I just thought this was something interesting to share!
The Superbowl is the only time of the year that we all actually enjoy watching commercials. This years round up was almost disappointing. There were a select few that I really liked such as the Doritos ad that involved the snow globe and the free bag of Doritos. The E-trade baby can always make us laugh and I loved the Bud Light commercial where the guy gets thrown out of the window. I found a place where you can all relive the Superbowl commercials again. Just click here. I believe the best type of marketing occurs when you can make the consumer laugh. In a way you can make the product unforgettable.
I chose the existing layout not only because I am a fashion merchandising major and love Chanel, but also because it is a form of marketing. When choosing from the various layouts, and there are thousands of them, you can pick anything from Pepsi to your favorite actress or actor. Blogger is helping these products advertise by offering these layouts, which I found interesting.
