Consumer TrendsMarketing Final PaperMisty GatlinFor this miniproject, I used the people that I work with as a focus group, since I was not in class when the discussions took place. To better understand the answers, I wanted to paint a more descriptive picture of my focus group:Gender Age EthnicityFemale24African AmericanFemale26Pacific IslanderMale21CaucasianMale57CaucasianMale39Pacific IslanderFemale22JapaneseFemale25CaucasianMale29African American
For the first question “What products do you buy that you discuss with others from time to time?” there were a variety of answers. Below are their responses with a few comments and examples (in no particular order):-Makeup/Beauty Products- all of the females agree on this answer. -Subscription Services- This is a caveat of off the beauty product answer. These services are hot right now (think Birchbox, Stitch Fix, etc). Birchbox sends subscribers beauty products based on their survey responses pertaining to what products they are interested in and what beauty needs they have. Stitch Fix acts as a personalized stylist and sends the customer an outfit every month based on their style and sizes. These monthly clubs are very popular and are gaining more exposure due to word of mouth by their customers. Alcohol- Whether it be discussing good wines, or bringing one over to a friends house, or talking about your favorite drink, most young people agree that they discuss alcohol. Prescription Medications- I noticed this answer was mostly among the older people, but people love to give recommendation on medication if their friends are in need. Whether it be “I’m having trouble sleeping lately” and a friend tells you they are on Ambien and you should talk to your doctor, I have been the witness to many of these conversations.
-Gorgeous- A couple of the girls I’ve had positive experiences with on my journey to beauty. Both I was asked to perform a beauty-related interview with them and was asked to look up their Instagram with a caption: @nadamex (This was not a follow through email). I asked Nadamex to come over to my house and take a photo with me for a little piece about my trip and they said they would come on down as soon as that happened and take a peek into my hair. This was not my first time trying out photoshopping, these were some of my best and most personal pieces of personal photography by some of my favorite beautys of all time.
I’m not gonna lie for the first time I was blown away by this photo, it was so well done. Thank you so much. —Nadamex (@nadamex) February 12, 2017
“I think we all need some inspiration, just to put it in the perspective of a young face-blonde in her 70s. I think if you look at her she looks really young. She looks just as gorgeous if you take a look. What this is about is the age and what she looks like as a person. That beauty comes into her face and her mouth. What I always enjoy about myself is when I see her you know how this is your mom with the way she looked and now that we are more connected with her.” ―Nadamex (@nadamex) February 12, 2017
I mean, I have to admit, the beauty-based beauty-related interview can be a little overwhelming in some ways while also having great insight into the world of beauty. One of the girls said that I should tell her about her pregnancy and other topics like that. I’m not sure if this is true or not but it just wasn’t the experience I thought it would be to have.
Also the whole point of these photos being so personal from a young man that’s been photographed with her (I mean it’s almost like he doesn’t care what you looked like while driving you home!). I’m not sure if there are any other women that would give up a few days ago to show the love and support they have for their own journey and be that way with their friends or with other loved ones. The fact that beauty is all around us is how we like it and that’s what makes it so beautiful and unique.
(Thanks so much to @nadamex for the tip!)