Consumers Find Brands Important in Buying Decision,
Ralph Lauren Takes First Place, Uniqulo Makes First Showing with Men
NEW YORK NY June 27, 2012 – Five years ago, when retailers were sent
spiraling from the economic downturn, only 8% of US apparel buyers felt
fashion brands and logos were of increasing importance when it came to
differentiating their wardrobes. However, in the following years Brand Keys
consumer research tells a very different story, especially as to how
consumers are making their fashion buying decisions.
Since 2008, the importance of brand names has consistently increased,
standing in 2012 at 29%, more than tripling in importance over four years.
And consumer expectations continue to rise as shoppers increasingly seek
uniqueness in their choice of fashion brands. Taking the top spot is Ralph
Lauren / Polo, followed by: one’s favorite sports team, Armani, Nike, and
Versace, Chanel, tied for fifth place.
“No matter the category, we see one trend growing – the increasing
importance of fashion brands. While it’s true that consumers are not
spending recklessly, that very reality is what drives them into the arms of
true brands,” said Amy Shea, executive vice president of global brand
development for Brand Keys, Inc., the New York-based brand and customer
loyalty research consultancy (www.brandkeys.com).
The more considered a purchase, the greater the role a strong brand plays in
the decision making process, especially true in the very personal category
of fashion. These research findings are an incredibly accurate measure of
this shift, particularly in regard to the brands people see as being more
important when it comes time to buy.
Luxury and Leisure, Sharing Space
“Brand Keys 2012 Fashion Brand Index findings also demonstrate more of a
shared space between luxury and leisure apparel,” noted Shea. ” Luxury
brands like Versace and Chanel moved up to 5th place from an already
respectable showing in the top 10, along with leisure brands like Nike (#4),
J. Crew (#7)and Hilfiger (#11). Uniqlo made the list for the first time, in
12th place among male fashion buyers.
Another indicator of the importance of couture and casual is Ralph
Lauren/Polo, – a brand that does a brilliant job of negotiating both sides
of that consumer lifestyle, taking the number one spot among the total
audience. This is further indication of the importance brand plays at every
level, not just in the luxury space. Clearly differentiated casual apparel
brands are in the fashion palate of both men and women today, a trend we
expect to continue as the youngest fashion buyers (21-34 year olds) showed
the strongest lift in brand importance.”
The Brand Keys Fashion 15
For the total audience of 7,500 men and women, 21 to 65 years of age, who
participated in the annual Brand Keys Fashion Brand Index survey, the
Fashion 15 – the top-15 fashion brands ranked on an unaided basis
(percentages indicate unaided mentions. Percentages in parentheses represent
2011 numbers) were:
1. Ralph Lauren/Polo 39% (38%)
2. Favorite Sports Team 36% (39%)
3. Armani 34% (32%)
4. Nike 30% (NA)
5. Versace 27% (15%) Chanel 27% (16%)
6. Calvin Klein 26% (25%)
7. J. Crew 24% (21%) Levis 24% (17%)
8. Banana Republic 22% (18%)
9. Burberry 20% (18%)
10. Dior 19% (15%) YSL 19% (6%)
11. Hilfiger 18% (13%) Marc Jacobs 18% (8%)
12. A&F 17% (NA)
13. Brooks Brothers 16% (10%)
14. Tom Ford 15% (NA) Donna Karan 15% (13%)
15. Guess 12% (NA) Juicy 12% (8%) Victoria’s Secret 12% (8%)
Men’s Fashion 15
1. Favorite Sports Team 43% (42%)
2. Nike 38% (36%)
3. Ralph Lauren/Polo 36% (35%)
4. Armani 32% (30%)
5. Tommy Hilfiger 30% (27%)
6. Calvin Klein 29% (28%)
7. A&F 28% (11%)
8. Lacoste 21% (23%)
9. Brooks Bros. 23% (21%) Banana Republic 23% (16%)
10. J. Crew 19% (18%) Levi’s 19% (16%)
11. Burberry/ Tom Ford
12. Uniqlo 13% (first time on list)
13. Hugo Boss 12% (10%)
14. Gucci 10% (14%)
15. Guess 9% (12%)
Women’s Fashion 15
1. Ralph Lauren 41% (41%)
2. Favorite Sports Team 38% (36%)
3. Chanel 36% (32%)
4. Armani 35% (34%)
5. Versace 33% (30%)
6. Dior 31% (30%)
7. J. Crew 29% (24%)
8. Dona Karan 25% (26%) YSL 25% (11%)
9. Burberry 23% (21%) Calvin Klein 23% (21%)
10. Levi’s 22% (18%)
11. Banana Republic 21% (20%)
12. Guess 19% (16%) Juicy 19% (16%) Victoria’s Secret 19% (16%)
13. Tory Burch 18% (10%) Kate Spade 18% (10%)
14. Tom Ford 16% (15%) Marc Jacobs 16% (15%)
15. La Perla 10% (10%)
“The rising importance of fashion brands generally, and these fashion brands
specifically, indicates that value – or the perception of value-via-brand –
is of much greater import to consumers, and ultimately, to the success of
fashion brands,” noted Shea.
“It’s not surprising that consumers are looking to brands to make a
difference, to meet their expectations, and to delight,” said Shea. “In the
context of fashion brands, value isn’t just what consumers’ dollars buy,
it’s how fashion fits consumers’ lifestyle, self-perception, and
expectations. This is especially true in a retail marketplace overflowing in
excess of similar products, congruous distribution, and bargain basement
pricing,” said Shea.
This year’s bottom line? Real brand value and meaning will have more
leverage than ever. “There are a lot of clothing labels competing out there,
but – just like the automotive and consumer electronics categories –
retailers are going to be seeing more culling of fashion brands by
consumers,” predicted Shea.
Methodology
Since 1996, Brand Keys has annually conducted a national Customer Loyalty
Engagement Index survey of leading brands, currently assessing 79 product
and service categories.
The survey is conducted among 45,000 men and women, 18 to 65 years of age,
with respondents drawn from the nine U.S. Census regions. The majority of
interviews are conducted via telephone; 20% of the interviews are conducted
via central location intercept so as not to exclude “cell phone-only”
consumers.
Nearly 20% of respondents, 7,500 respondents (50:50 Men/Women, aged 21 to 65
years of age) also respond to questions about the value or importance they
place on the fashion brands and of the clothing brands and logos they feel
are important to them.
First, the respondents are asked to indicate the importance to them
personally of fashion brands, compared to how important they were to them
over recent years. The respondent choices are: Much more important; More
important; About the same; Less important; or Much less important.
Then, on an unaided basis, respondents are asked which brands were more
important to them.
