Saturday 19 March 2011

Defining target consumers for competitor brands

Using the tier model given to us during Michael Clarke's lecture on New Balance, I have assesed which the top 5 of NB's competitors target consumers fit into. This also includes any relevant information I have found to support my choices.


Onitsuka Tiger

Tier 1: Lifestyle Trendsetter 'Sneaker Head'
- 18-29
- Limited availability product
- Bright neon colours
- Sneaker sites

These paragraphs are taken from their website detailing where their stores are located and a short description about each one:

BERLIN: Onitsuka Tiger opened its jaws on the trendy Berlin-Mitte district in June of 2006, with a classic flagship store design that continues to attract fearless German style mavens. Atsushi Suzuki’s bleeding-edge store concept fuses state-of-the-art styling with traditional Japanese elements in a 160 square-metre showcase that immerses visitors in the raw style of the brand’s boldly contemporary streetwear. 
PARIS: The fashion capital of the world began sporting Onitsuka Tiger’s stripes in 2005, when the brand opened its first European flagship store in Paris’ fashion district, Les Halles.
Now a mecca for forward-thinking French fashionistas, the store is an exceptional example of design fusion, with modern styling, minimalist lines, and natural wood detailing that speaks to the brand’s roots in traditional Japanese culture. 
I think this helps describes the type of consumer Onitsuka Tiger target to.



Converse

Tier 3: Sport/urban 'Urban Youth'
- 18-24
- Lives in the now
- Trend driven but within brands
- Peer group influenced
- Athletic footwear key to look

I believe Converse are a well established brand with consumers that like to buy into the brand, for example if they own a pair of Converse they are likely to have more than one colour or style. These consumers will have friends who also wear Converse as casualwear. These consumers arent excerise orientated and would wear Converse for comfort, convienience and a laid back style.



Puma

Tier 1: Lifestyle Trendsetter 'Fashionista'
- 24-35
- Biking
- Open to wide range of brands
- Inspired by design
- Trend pioneer
and or

Tier 3: Sport/urban 'Urban Youth'
- 18-24
- Lives in the now
- Trend driven but within brands
- Peer group influenced
- Athletic footwear key to look

This section of an article found on the internet helps me to define the brands target consumer:

Puma's market segmentation targets active, eccentric, individualistic, bold and creative consumers who admire originality. Recognition is important when you are a responsive, consumer-driven company. In the ever-changing consumer market, Puma attempts to adapt its unique mentality of being outside the box to the design of its products. Above all, Puma strives to surprise consumers by constantly delivering the unexpected and challenging perceptions that continues to be a defining voice in the world of sports.

Consumers perceive Puma as a sports brand that defines the culture of a sports lifestyle. The icon of the cougar creates an immediate sensation of durability, strength, speed and power, which depicts athleticism. The cougar, Puma's index is an example of Kansei engineering; which translates customer's feelings of vitality into design elements. These elements are significant because they distinguish Puma from the cluster of other brands. 




Adidas

Tier 1: Lifestyle Trendsetter 'Sneaker Head'
- 18-29
- Limited availability product
- Bright neon colours
- Sneaker sites


The athletic company's target market is consumers 14 to 22 years old, according to: http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/adtrack/2005-06-05-track-adidas_x.htm.

I think the type of consumers attracted to Adidas are those who own several pairs of trainers, that like to be the first getting exclusive limited addition pairs. These types of consumers are either very active or fashion conscious and like keeping ontop of trends. They will regularly visit shoe stores such as Size? and will maintain the condition of their trainers. Brand ambassadors include David Beckham, Lionel Messi, Katy Perry, Zinedine Zidane, Snoop Dogg, Franz Beckenbauer, Mohammad Ali, Sachin Tendulkar and so on.. These are highly regarded celebrities or sportspersons who many people aspire and look up to each for different reasons. These choices in celebrity endorsements are each selected specifically to target a wide range of aspirational individuals.



Nike

Tier 1: Lifestyle Trendsetter 'Sneaker Head'
- 18-29
- Limited availability product
- Bright neon colours
- Sneaker sites

Nike's target market are those who maintain an active lifestyle and are concerned to own high quality trainers. They also target a fashion and trend influenced market.
Nike create ads that also inspire like Adidas, they encourage the individual to push their limits whether it is sport or lifestyle based.
Nike are a very well established brand which seems to be forever expanding. They currently cover several areas of the sports wear industry including ranges: Nike Football, Nike Women, Nike Basketball, Nike iD, Nike Running. This is very clever and makes them a dominant brand as there is something for everyone, whatever their trainer need.

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