Relationship of Brand Name and age
Is it true in the case of Brands, Brand Name such as Apple, Amazon, Coca Cola etc. Is it true that old people stick to their old brands, even when competitive brands have come in market? Does the relationship of brand changes with the age. Is it the same brand when you are old?
Somewhere I read that brand following is like “U”, means, age group of 35 to 65 follow the same brand throughout this age bracket.
Age Group of Generations
In the case of the internet world, “age is just a number” is not true. But when we are talking of brands I feel this is not true again. Before we go ahead let us define the age groups
For the sake of this article, I will be focusing on four different age group generations:
1.Generation Z, or iGeneration (Teens & younger)
2.Millennials, or Generation Y (18 – 34 years old)
3.Generation X (Roughly 35 – 50 years old)
4.Baby Boomers (Roughly 50 to 70 years old) While analyzing the case study, I presumed for the time being, that all brand Names are at the same level of management, sales techniques, and advertisements. Different age groups like to consume differently and they are attracted to brands that appeal to them the most. Since each age group has lived through different times, their requirement is also different. Having a clear understanding of the target consumer is the first step when creating a brand name.
There is some evidence that the use of brands does not change with age which appears to be untrue in the modern world.
Case Study
The new Coke was smoother, sweeter taste — similar to Diet Coke, but sweetened with corn syrup. Market researchers and pollsters were sure it’d be a hit.
But what happened ?. The old age group disliked the new taste and wanted the same old taste. The consumers, old or young started to shift to another upcoming brand “Pepsi’.Similarly, the old generation jumped the fences from bata shoes to other brands with changing times.
Theory of “U” is not true in this case study.
In the present with the rapid pace of changes in the habits of consumers, the brand has to keep moving with the latest needs of consumers. In this competitive new world, a brand needs to be agile enough to be in the relationship of customers and keep studying the changing patterns of their needs. What, I conclude “A brand once established does not survive if they can not change their products according to prevailing requirements.
Brands need to be authentic, consistent and clearer than ever, about their core purpose to be able to win the attention of new consumers and also retaining old one, to continue to build relationships for a long time. Brands need to have clear and consistent values, as well as creative ideas that are flexible and easily delivered, without straining the overall integrity of the brand.