Tag Archives: global marketing

by | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 · 8:47 am

Gen Z’s top 20 brands

Marketers recognize the importance of understanding demographics when deciding on target markets to pursue. Age is a significant factor as different generational cohorts have different tastes, aesthetics, expectations, and values. While different research firms may define the age cohorts slightly differently, the most-often cited years for Gen Z are 1997 to 2012, making Gen Z between 10 and 25 years old. This group is just forming their tastes and solidifying their values. This of course leads them to favor certain brands and companies over others. But which ones are their favorites?

Since this group makes up a large portion of traditional college students, it is critical for marketers to understand which brands they favor and why. Their evolving preferences can indicate how companies should adapt to the new group of consumers.

A recent study done by Morning Consult, which fields tens of thousands of surveys around the world, measured Gen Z’s favorite brands.  Data was gathered between May and August, 2022, with an average sample size of 2,031 Gen Z adults born between 1997 and 2004. Key insights and rankings include:

  • Tech brands are tops with Gen Z. The most favorable brand is YouTube at 86% favorable impression.
  • Major retailers such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart have high ratings hovering around 80% favorability.
  • In particular, gaming brands hold strong sway, along with food and beverage brands.
  • Top 10 most favorable brands: YouTube, Google, Netflix, Amazon, M&Ms, Walmart, Target, Doritos, KitKat, and Oreo.
  • Top 10 with Gen Z men: YouTube, Gatorade, PlayStation, Google, Walmart, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon, Nike, M&Ms.
  • Top 10 with Gen Z women: YouTube, Google, Netflix, Target, M&Ms, Doritos, Amazon, Oreo, KitKat, Walmart.

Which brands are your favorites?

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Poll students: What are their favorite brands? (Note: You might have students break into groups to arrive at a list of 20 brands.)
  2. Link to download the report from Morning Consult: https://go.morningconsult.com/2022-q3-pg8764a1-gen-z-favorite-brands-download.html
  3. Divide students into teams and have students analyze a data segment in the report. Teams can present their insights to the class.
  4. Have teams choose a brands that is NOT in the top (i.e., cars, household goods, consumer product companies).
  5. How can these findings be used to market weaker brands to Gen Z consumers?

Sources:  Jackson, S. (2 October 2022). From Amazon to Skittles, a new survey of the top 20 brands among Gen Z adults shows tech and snack brands reign supreme with the demographic. Business Insider.; Morning Consult. Gen Z’s Favorite Brands.

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by | Tuesday, August 23, 2022 · 7:58 am

World Population Grows to 8 Billion in 2022

Marketers understand the importance of doing research and analyzing demographic factors such as population, gender, education, age, economics and geography. This is why they continually track environmental factors – these factors are important in an organization’s strategy and growth.

Recently, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that the global population, while growing slowly at under 1%, will still reach 8 billion people by mid-November, 2022; 8.5 billion by 2030; 9.7 billion by 2050; and 10.4 billion in 2100. This equates to a 31% increase in Earth’s population by the end of the century.

Half of the world’s population lives in seven countries: China (1.426 billion), India (1.417 billion), United States (338 million), Indonesia (276 million), Pakistan (236 million), Nigeria (219 million), and Brazil (215 million). And, next year (2023), India will exceeds China’s population and become the most world’s most populous country.

Population growth is very unequal though; just eight countries will account for more than half of the global population growth before 2050: Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tanzania.

While some countries will experience economic growth per capita, the increasing number of older citizens will pose problems with health care and senior care. By 2050, people ages 65 and older will account for 16% of the global population, up from 10% in 2022.

And let’s not forget the importance of social factors on population. The coronavirus pandemic plays an important part of the slow population growth as well as economic impacts.

The world keeps spinning!

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss the importance of environmental scanning.
  2. Show the World Population Clock: https://www.census.gov/popclock/
  3. In class, have teams of students examine different topics within the site.
  4. Video of U.N. Population Report: analysis: https://youtu.be/bZZ9gFnCzCM
  5. The U.N. World Population report can be accessed at https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf
  6. Optional: Assign students to read the report and report on critical information. The report may be divided into sections for different teams.
  7. Based on their analysis, what are the issues and risks that might occur for organizations?
  8. What should organizations do to prepare?

Sources:  Hackett, C. (21 July 2022). Global population projected to exceed 8 billion in 2022; half live in just seven countries. Pew Research Center; Tsui, K. (11 July 2022). World’s population to hit 8 billion before year’s end. Washington Post.; other news sources.

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by | Tuesday, August 16, 2022 · 7:46 am

Datsun and Internet Explorer Bite the Dust

As we’ve written in previous articles, no product lives forever. There are always new innovations, trends, social forces, competition, and technologies that push products forward. Ultimately, every product eventually reaches its final stage in the Product Life Cycle (PLC) – decline/harvest – when the product is put to sleep and resources are reallocated to up-and-coming new products.

Two more products joined the eliminated list: Microsoft Internet Explorer and Datsun cars.

Datsun helped Japanese car manufacturers break into the American and European market after World War II. In its heyday, 20 million Datsun cars were sold in 190 countries across the world. The Datsun name was phased out in the 1980s, only to be revived 30 years later as “an important part of Nissan’s DNA.” However, Datsun eventually reversed the decision, making Nissan the primary company brand for the auto maker.

Joining Datsun on the gone-but-not-forgotten product list is Internet Explorer – the Web browser that many say really started the popularity of the Internet. First launched in 1995, IE was the dominant browser for many years, reaching 90% of users in early 2000s. But competition from Google Chrome, Apple’s Safari, and Mozilla’s Firefox finally proved to be too much. All is not lost however; in its place will be Microsoft Edge browser.

Farewell to our old favorite brands.

Welcome to the newcomers!

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss the stages in the product life cycle. What are the marketing objectives in each stage?
  2. Divide students into teams. Have each team draw a PLC and place various products and services into each stage?
  3. How are cars moved through the PLC?
  4. How does technology move through the PLC? What are the adoption cycles?
  5. Show video of Internet Explorer death: https://youtu.be/wZoZV6GjzPA
  6. We’ve seen other products revived after being declared “dead.” What would it take to revive these two brands?

Sources:  Jacobsen, R. (15 June 2022). Internet Explorer has retired. Associated Press.; Nissan signals end of road for Datsun cars. (25 April 2022). BBC News.; other news sources.

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