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ABSTRACT CAMPBELL, NATALEE MARIE. Marketing to the U.S. Hispanic Consumer: Apparel Preferences and Strategies. (Under the direction of Dr. Traci A. M. Lamar.) The Hispanic population is the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the United States. Given its size and growth rate, the Hispanic market, as a whole, has grown in importance. The purpose of this study was to learn more about the U.S. Hispanic market in regards to apparel preferences and to discover how these products were being promoted to the Hispanic consumer. The literature suggests that the growth of the U.S. Hispanic market will lead to a greater demand for apparel. However, there is not much known about Hispanics’ apparel design and style preferences. Additionally, there are not currently many retailers who targeted this market specifically, so marketing strategies were not well documented. The methods used in this research encompassed smaller component investigations. Those component investigations included a pilot survey, visual content analysis of photographs, content analysis of Spanish-language television advertisements, and apparel store evaluations. After analysis, results provided insight to U.S. Hispanic consumersʼ preferences for design attributes of apparel worn in everyday situations. Results also identified methods used by the apparel retailers who were actively engaged in marketing to Hispanics through television and in stores. This was important research for apparel retailers, as it provided a better understanding of the apparel-design preferences of U.S. Hispanic consumers as well as determined opportunities for apparel retailers targeting the U.S. Hispanic market. For further research, the methodology used in this project may also be expanded to other geographical areas of the United States where television advertisements, photographs, and store evaluations could be conducted. Also, a more direct interaction with respondents could give more qualitative information enhancing the depth of understanding U.S. Hispanic consumers. Marketing to the U.S. Hispanic Consumer: Apparel Preferences and Strategies. by Natalee Marie Campbell A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Textile and Apparel Technology and Management Raleigh, North Carolina 2009 APPROVED BY: ___________________________ ___________________________ Dr. Traci A. M. Lamar Dr. Michelle R. Jones Committee Chair ___________________________ ___________________________ Dr. Pamela Banks-Lee Dr. Cynthia Istook Biography The author, Natalee Campbell, was born March 3, 1980 to Dan and Nattaya Campbell in Austin, Texas. When she was 12 years old her family moved to North Carolina where she attended Garner Senior High School in Garner, North Carolina. After graduating from high school in 1998, Natalee began her undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University at the College of Textiles. Since then, she graduated in May 2002 with her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Textile and Apparel Management. After three years in the work force, Natalee decided to return to her alma mater to pursue her Master’s degree in Textile Technology Management. She plans to graduate in December 2008. ii Acknowledgements I would first like to acknowledge my committee chair, Dr. Traci May-Lamar, for her patience and willingness to help me throughout this project. I was off to a slow start, but we were able to pull it all together. She also encouraged and supported me in my decision to study abroad in Hong Kong for a semester. It has been a long journey but it would not have been possible without her. I would like to thank Kate Sykes for working with me on part of the project. She traveled with me to Miami, Florida for a Hispanic marketing conference and helped me with the visual content analysis of photographs. We worked long hours cropping, manipulating, and analyzing hundreds of photographs. I appreciate all the time and effort she put into the project. To my mother Nattaya Campbell, I have always been able to count on your support and encouragement. You also provided me plenty of home cooked meals when I needed them. To my cousin Christine Rhyne Johnson for always asking how things were going and making sure I was staying on task. To Krys Leszcsynski for being my on call technical support and being a great friend. I could always count on you when I need someone to talk to, when I need to laugh, or when I need a study break. While you’ve often experienced the brunt of my stress or frustration, you’ve also been a constant source of support. iii Table of Contents List of Tables ......................................................................................................... vii List of Figures......................................................................................................... ix Chapter I: Introduction............................................................................................ 1 Rationale................................................................................................................ 3 Purpose of Study ................................................................................................... 3 Research Objectives.............................................................................................. 4 Limitations.............................................................................................................. 5 Chapter II: Review of Literature.............................................................................. 6 Hispanics in the United States ............................................................................... 6 Demographics .................................................................................................... 7 Psychographics ................................................................................................ 11 Income and Buying Power................................................................................ 15 Buying Patterns and Behaviors ........................................................................ 17 Hispanic Demands........................................................................................ 21 Advertising to the Hispanic Market....................................................................... 23 Common Mistakes............................................................................................ 24 Targeting the Hispanic Market.......................................................................... 25 Apparel Retailer’s Marketing Efforts Toward the Hispanic Market ....................... 29 Macy’s .............................................................................................................. 31 Target Corporation ........................................................................................... 36 J.C. Penney Company...................................................................................... 38 Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated .......................................................................... 40 Sears Holdings Corporation ............................................................................. 46 Sears ............................................................................................................ 46 Kmart ............................................................................................................ 52 Spanish-Language Media Outlets........................................................................ 57 Spanish-Language Television .......................................................................... 62 Univision Communications Incorporated .......................................................... 62 Brief History .................................................................................................. 63 Univision Network ......................................................................................... 69 Observational Research ...................................................................................... 70 iv Content Analysis.................................................................................................. 73 Visual Content Analysis.................................................................................... 74 Television Content Analysis ............................................................................. 76 Chapter III: Methodology....................................................................................... 78 Research Purpose ............................................................................................... 78 Research Objectives............................................................................................ 78 Location Selection................................................................................................ 79 Austin, Texas.................................................................................................... 80 Miami, Florida................................................................................................... 81 Raleigh, North Carolina .................................................................................... 82 Selection of Television Station............................................................................. 83 Research Objective One...................................................................................... 84 Data Collection ................................................................................................