StORES Magazine - September 2007 - (Page 20) trEnDS Opening Purse Strings hat can you tell about a woman by looking at her handbag? It depends, of course. You might be able to tell her brand preference and whether or not she has a penchant for designer labels. But how often she buys a new handbag, and what prompts her to buy – that’s a whole different bag. The latest research from the Consumer Intention and Actions Survey compiled by BIGresearch provides some insight into shoppers’ behaviors and attitudes toward this category. More than four out of 10 women (43 percent) said they purchased either one or two handbags last year; 10 percent bought three, and 5 percent bought four new handbags. Among the oldest group of shoppers (65-up), 17 percent purchased just one handbag last year. Looking at respondents with an annual household income of $50,000 or more, 12 percent bought anywhere from three to five handbags. Women are most likely to buy their handbags at department stores; 58 percent say they regularly purchase there. Four in 10 shop discount stores, and 16 percent buy at specialty stores (respondents could choose more than one segment). Shoppers with annual incomes of $50,000 or greater are more likely to choose a specialty store (25 percent) or to shop online (18 percent). Impulse buying is the top reason that motivates most women to purchase a new handbag; 40 percent buy a new bag on a whim, but there are several motives that women say can prompt a purchase. Thirty-eight percent say they buy when they see a good sale or promotion; 37 percent adopt a practical approach — buying when the handbag they’ve been using begins to wear out; 34 percent buy a new bag when they get tired of the one they currently carry. Handbag prices vary widely, but the majority of purchases by women — 55 percent — fall in the $21-to-$75 range. Shoppers with an annual income in excess of $50,000 are willing to spend more; 15 percent say they typically spend between $101 and $300 on a new handbag. On average, those in the 25- to 34-year-old age group typically spend the most ($95.05); those 65 and older spend the least ($42.54). It’s interesting to note that, on average, men ($87.88) spend more than women ($50.81), suggesting that when they buy a handbag for a woman they tend to splurge a bit. W Micro Bakery, Macro Goodness Micro-breweries may be all the rage, but micro-bakeries are quickly gaining popularity. Introducing Tank Goodness, a Minneapolis-based microbakery run by the husband and wife team of Dennis and Anne Tank. Years back the couple earned a reputation among friends and family for always arriving with a plateful of warm cookies in hand. One day, after an especially great vacation, they had an epiphany. The couple decided to ditch all things “responsible” and bake cookies for a living, spreading sugary goodness all around. After all, they reasoned, why bother sending a dozen roses when you can send a dozen gooey, stillwarm-from-the-oven cookies? Their signature oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are made from top-notch ingredients, including fresh organic eggs, Ghirardelli chocolate chips, premium all-natural flour and butter from a local creamery. For $20, locals can have a dozen delectable cookies delivered via the Tank Goodness Mini Cooper. “Our goal is to provide customers with an ‘Oh, wow, this is good’ moment — a gooey, soul-sustaining break in an otherwise thankless day,” they write on their website. The Tanks will deliver to local homes or businesses – though for larger orders they can be persuaded to drive a bit farther. Customers can place orders by phone or fax on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Tank Goodness will make every effort to deliver within one hour. WWW.STORES.ORG 20 STORES / SEPTEMBER 2007 http://WWW.STORES.ORG
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