“The saying goes that men wounded in the battlefield call out for their mothers. So spending on Mom will generally surpass that for Dad despite the aberration this year.”
“Jewelry has become an affordable luxury for fashion-forward women and men, as well as a favorite gift item in all price ranges. The jewelry market is becoming more democratic in the past decade as good quality and high design jewelry is now available at a much wider range of retailers. After all, Wal-Mart Stores with over $2 billion in jewelry sales in 2000 is now the nation's largest jewelry retailer.”
“What we see with those affluent consumers is they bring their middle-class values into the luxury market, so they're really the middle-class luxury class. They are looking for discounts and sales and they buy the majority of their luxury goods on sales or [at] discount. They have this middle-class orientation and they know how to save money.”
“The key for success in retailing today is to understand what makes shopping fun and then make sure the entire shopping experience is designed to maximize the shoppers' pleasure.”
“Recreational shoppers are not so much motivated by sales and discounts as by value. A better shopping experience, not just cheaper prices, is the answer.”
“Luxury consumers' attitudes about the economy and their personal financial status have sea-sawed over the last six months, but ended 2005 with a strong upward trend. Significantly more luxury consumers feel their personal financial situation is better now than three months ago and that the country overall is better off. But while they feel better, the residual effects of the ups-and-downs they experienced in the recent past makes them a little tighter when it comes to luxury spending. In other words, they are more likely to take any windfalls to the bank, rather than to the store.”
“Today, the outdoor living market has expanded to encompass far more than just gardening, though gardening remains an important aspect of outdoor living. Outdoor living is a lifestyle, not just a hobby... .”
