Journal of Student Research 2012

Consumer Trend Research

177

dormitory, or a form of independent housing off campus. The questions were compiled into one survey which was approved by the IRB, then published through the online survey tool Qualtrics. The research team gathered a convenience sample by sharing a link to the survey with others through e-mail and Facebook, which brought together 466 responses used to gain an understanding of the sleepwear, loungewear, and intimate apparel preferences of the target market. The majority of the respondents were 20 to 21 years old. Eighty-seven percent had an education level of college undergraduate, while 10% were college graduates, and the remaining 3% had not attended college at all. The responses of those who were not currently enrolled in college were still analyzed because these individuals matched the age requirement of the targeted demographic.

Table 3: Intimates Competitive Analysis Results

Intimates Competitive Analysis Results

Bra Pricing/ Panty Pricing

Visual Merchandising

Product Placement Assortment Quality

Ambiance

Below Average Below Average Below Average Below Average Average

Above Average Above Average Above Average Below Average

$13 – 17 / $5 – 7 $10 – 30 / $16 – 45 $6 – 44 / $7.50 – 15

Average

Average

Average

Target

Average

Average

Average

Kohl’s

Average Below Average Average Above Average Excellent Excellent Above Average

Average

Average

JCPenney

$5 – 8 / $6 – 8

Average Above Average Excellent

Average

Walmart

$18 – 60 / $4 – 50 $20 – 150 / $16 – 50 $6 – 30 / $5 – 12.50 $39 – 98 / $9.50 – 18.50

Excellent Excellent

Frederick’s

Excellent

Average

Excellent

Nordstrom

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent Excellent

Aerie

Victoria’s Secret

Excellent Above Average

Excellent

Excellent Excellent

$10 – 88 / $7.50 – 27

Excellent

Excellent Excellent

Macy’s

Sleepwear Responses The responses from the survey questions presented both predictable and surprising results at the same time. Respondents were first asked to rank the importance of certain attributes of their sleepwear such as comfort, price, color, style, fit, and trendiness. The most important attribute was comfort, which 88% said was very important. The second most important attribute was fit, which 62.5% said was also very important. The attribute that was