4Hoteliers
SEARCH
SHARE THIS PAGE
NEWSLETTERS
CONTACT US
SUBMIT CONTENT
ADVERTISING
Luxury's got a brand new style.
Tuesday, 15th April 2014
Source : Pam Danziger ~ Unity Marketing
The latest trend report about affluent's new values and attitudes toward luxury explains how to position your brand around customers' new expectations of luxury.
 
Think about the 'It' handbag carried by an ultra-fashionable, ultra-affluent consumer, and you may picture the Hermès Birkin or maybe the little NN14 number from Louis Vuitton. These iconic bags can top five figures in price and have often boasted a waiting list of hundreds of customers and a wait time of months or years.

But it is time for the Birkin and NN14 to step aside. Today's affluent consumer craves a whole new bag, and it is pretty much the exact opposite of one from Hermès or Louis Vuitton.

"Today's affluent consumer is looking for a more understated expression of style, not the arm candy that ultra-expensive bags represent," says Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and author of a new luxury trend report, Luxury's Got a Brand New Style: How to position your brand to the new affluent consumer psychology.   In the report, Danziger explains the shifts in how affluents view their wealth and consumption.

"There is a new kind of conspicuous consumption today required in a political environment that is demonizing income inequality and the excesses of the 1%.   Rather than conspicuous consumption and status symbols that proclaim one's wealth, the affluent are embracing brands that give them bragging rights to how smart a shopper he or she is.  For example, this past season's 'It' coat embraced by the wealthy wasn't one from a tony Madison Avenue furrier, but the Uniqlo Ultra-Lite Down Jacket which sold for less than $70.  This jacket is cool and chic in an anti-status, smart-shopper way," Danziger explains.

The new report profiles successful brands that have brilliantly captured the new psychology toward luxury goods. One such company is J.W. Hulme Co., a U.S.-based maker of handbags that is quietly taking the affluent world by storm.
 
"J.W. Hulme sells to a quality and value-based consumer who is willing to pay a premium for the old-fashioned American heritage values that the brand embraces," says Danziger. "You can see and feel the quality - so the bags aren't inexpensive - but there is a sense of paying for construction and heritage, not logo and prestige. And what's more a hallmark of the brand is lifetime guarantee of lasting quality. Marketers can no longer assume that affluent consumers are willing to spend up without a compelling reason."
 
"The recent recession has reshaped the American economy in ways that will affect us for decades to come. Affluent consumers no longer feel like carrying a symbol of wealth on their arm knowing that the American middle class has been severely weakened from the recession.  Most affluents, both the HENRYs (income $100-250K) and Ultra-affluents ($250K+), would rather throw their lot in with the 99 percent and avoid the conspicuous consumption that characterized luxury in previous years," Danziger concludes.
 
Luxury's Got a Brand New Style: This trend report details this important shift. Targeting these new affluent consumers with new attitudes and values will take a completely different approach from that used in previous decades. Unity Marketing's new 100+ page trend report explains these new strategies.
 
Based on the most recent study of 1,335 affluent consumers in the top 20 percent of households by income, this report examines:
  • Affluents' shifting attitudes toward money.
  • Affluent shopping strategies.
  • How to position your brand to appeal to these consumers.
  • The role of discounts and special offers.
  • What purchases give affluents the most pleasure.
  • What companies are doing things right in this new affluent economy.
  • The psychographic profiles you will encounter, and how to talk to them.
To learn more about this study and to order a copy, click this link.
 Latest News  (Click title to read article)




 Latest Articles  (Click title to read)




 Most Read Articles  (Click title to read)




~ Important Notice ~
Articles appearing on 4Hoteliers contain copyright material. They are meant for your personal use and may not be reproduced or redistributed. While 4Hoteliers makes every effort to ensure accuracy, we can not be held responsible for the content nor the views expressed, which may not necessarily be those of either the original author or 4Hoteliers or its agents.
© Copyright 4Hoteliers 2001-2024 ~ unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved.
You can read more about 4Hoteliers and our company here
Use of this web site is subject to our
terms & conditions of service and privacy policy