survey results

Total started survey: 96
Total completed survey: 96 (100%)

1. Are you Female or Male?
-Female 90.6%
-Male 9.4%

2. How old are you?
- 18 or younger 8.3%
- 19-24 89.6%
- 25 0r older 2.1%

3. Do you follow trends from magazines or celebrities?
- yes 14.6%
- no 28.1%
- sometimes 57.3%

4. Have you every bought a purse/bag either as a gift for someone or for yourself?
- yes 90.5%
- no 9.5%

5. When do you buy a purse/bag?
- When you need one. 69.1%
- When a new style comes out. 19.8%
- When you're bored. 28. 4%
- For a gift. 25.9%
-Other
-- If I really like/love the style
-- Never
-- When I have excess money/afford it
--When I feel a need for change
--When I see one that seems "me" or my style.

6. How often do you buy a bag?
-Once a month 0.0%
- Once every other month 8.2%
- Once a year 48.2%
- Twice a year 16.5%
- Three times a year 18.8%
- Never 8.2%
- Other
-- Depends if I like it
-- Depends if I have money
-- When my old one falls apart
-- About every two months
-- When it's for a gift
-- Once every two years
-- Once every three years

7. How much are you willing to pay for a designer purse/bag like Coach?
- $0 44.7%
- $100-$299 37.2%
- $200-$500 16.0%
- $500-$1000 1.1%
- $1000 and up 1.1%

8. How much are you willing to pay for a Louis Vuitton bag?
- $0 56.8%
- $100-$299 16.8%
- $200-$500 15.8%
- $500-$1000 10.5%
- $1000 and up 0.0%

9. Would you pay for a bag that has more function than style? Or one with more style than function?
- Function 19.1%
- Style 16.0%
- Both 64.9%

10. How much would you pay for a bag that had more function like slots and areas where you could organize your thing?
- $0-$100 61.1%
- $100-$200 26.3%
- $200-$500 12.6%
- $500-$1000 0.0%
- $1000 and up 0.0%

The survey was taken by our target range of ages 22-26. This gave us lots of information on how much our market spends on accessory products. By surveying our market, it also gave us a feel on how they perceive Butler Bag's competitors in comparison to Butler Bag's line of bags.

Fall 2008 Bag Trends

From Lucky Magazine
Here is what Lucky predicts to be the predominating styles for handbags for the fall:

These bags are all about the combination of style with function. They range in price from a couple hundred to a couple thousad dollars.

Current and Past trends 1986-2008

http://trendwatching.com/trends/8trends2008.htm
A GREAT website that explains 8 important consumer trends for 2008, goes in depth to explain reasons for buying including feelings, culture and technology.

A recent trend that has come up is “go green” there is a great article on how women have been affected by this trend and it has altered their shopping patterns and lifestyles. This story "seems to reflect a larger cultural pattern connecting the dots between how/where people shop, their changing awareness of living more sustainable, and how that affects the traffic pattern of their buying behaviors in general." this article states how many families are trying to be environmentally conscious right now and buy organic products or serve a greener taker on shopping however the economy is not very strong right now and so many families are starting to focus more on saving money and gas.

Another article shows 46 ways to help the environment in this environmentally conscious time, including how to wash dishes and laundry, and other things that are done daily that you can alter to help the environment

This website talks about different generations and cultural influences! for example, "Average salary: $7,564; Food prices: milk, 33 cents a qt.; bread, 24 cents a loaf; round steak, $1.30 a pound, Life Expectancy: Male, 67.1; Female, 74.8" it goes over art/architecture, literature, education during this time, fads and fashion trends, technology, people, music, theater/t.v., and sports. this article also has many links for each topic that you can read further in depth.

1980s Fashion Accessories
color coordinating was a big thing throughout the 80s with lots of gold jewelry and pearls and bright colors a good website for accessories worn is the link below

2008 Fall/Winter Colors

According to the Color Marketing Group, these colors will be influenced in items for Fall/Winter of 2008:

Extreme matte and very shiny glossy finishes are also to be seen with the upcoming color trends.

Red based purples, reds mixed with oranges and blues, the original gray and some lighter shades of it. Green has been in use for the last couple of years with help from environmental awareness, so new greens that are mixed more with blue will be appearing. Dark navy blues and greens that are almost black will also be in. Soft light blues will also be seen.

For more details on the colors above for Fall/Winter 2008 Visit the Color Marketing Group.

2008 Moccasin Trend

Minnetonka sales representatives distributed these flyers at the World Shoe Association Show in August 2008 to further emphasize to buyers the current moccasin trend that is seen in the media. Celebrities are wearing moccasins, although I have noticed people wearing moccasins as a trend item for about a year now. It is interesting that young, fashion-forward individuals are taking an item typically worn by older adults for casual comfort and slippers at home and wearing them to achieve an entirely new and different aesthetic. This certainly highlights the innovation of a familiar and non-fashion item to a trend accessory.