Table of Contents
Scope and Themes
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- What you need to know
- Definition
- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
- Advertising creative
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Executive Summary
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- Market factors
- Employment levels in relation to the workwear market
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- Figure 1: U.S. Unemployment and underemployment rates, January 2010- May 2013
- Changes in workplace environments impact the category
- The consumer
- Business casual most commonly worn by the employed
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- Figure 2: Types of clothing most often worn to work, by gender, March 2013
- Work and non-work wardrobes kept separate
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- Figure 3: Self-description of work wardrobe, March 2013
- Value department stores primary destination for workwear
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- Figure 4: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes, March 2013
- Comfort most important when selecting workwear
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- Figure 5: Key important attributes when shopping for work clothes, March 2013
- Sales and special offers appeal to shoppers when buying work clothes
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- Figure 6: Attitudes to work clothes, March 2013
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- Casualization of workplaces leaves little demand for formal business attire
- The issues
- The implications
- What can encourage consumers to buy workwear?
- The issues
- The implications
- Where do people buy work clothing?
- The issues
- The implications
- Do consumers wear the same clothing for work and non-work?
- The issues
- The implications
Trend Application
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- Inspire Trend: Many Mes
- Inspire Trend: Life – An Informal Affair
- Mintel Futures: Generation Next
Market Drivers
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- Key points
- Employment levels impact the market for workwear
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- Figure 7: U.S. unemployment and underemployment rates, January 2010-May 2013
- Shifts in workplace dynamics
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- Figure 8: Employed persons working at home, by full- and part-time status and gender, 2011 annual averages
- Rise in online and mobile shopping makes buying workwear easier, more convenient
- Impact of obesity
Retailer Overview
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- Specialty stores
- Ann, Inc. – Ann Taylor and LOFT
- Brooks Brothers
- Express, Inc.
- Gap Inc. – Gap, Banana Republic
- J. Crew
- Jos. A. Bank
- Lands’ End
- New York & Company
- The Limited
- Market threats and opportunities for specialty stores
- Department stores
- Macy’s, Inc. (incl. Bloomingdale’s)
- Nordstrom
- Kohl’s
- JCPenney
- Sears
- Market threats and opportunities for department stores
- Mass merchandisers
- Walmart
- Target
- Kmart
- Market threats and opportunities for mass merchandisers
- Discount stores
- TJX Companies – T.J. Maxx and Marshalls
- Market threats and opportunities for discount stores
Innovations and Innovators
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- Celebrity collections popping up in workwear
- Custom, tailored offerings
- FreshNeck rents accessories to men
Marketing Strategies
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- Overview
- Strategy: Focus on price
- Jos A. Bank
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- Figure 9: Jos A. Bank TV ad, “Suit statement,” March 2013
- Figure 10: Jos A. Bank TV ad, “Tie pants,” April 2013
- The Limited
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- Figure 11: The Limited email ad, “50% off original ticket prices,” June 2013
- Target
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- Figure 12: Target email ad, “increasing discounts”, June 2013
- Banana Republic
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- Figure 13: Banana Republic email ad, “we love Wednesdays,” June 2013
- Strategy: Focus on fashion
- Banana Republic
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- Figure 14: Banana Republic Milly Collection Gilt City Chicago deal, June 2013
- Figure 15: Banana Republic Milly Collection print ad as seen in InStyle Magazine, June 2013
- Brooks Brothers
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- Figure 16: Brooks Brothers TV ad, “Sheep sing Jingle Bells,” December 2012
- Express
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- Figure 17: Express TV ad, “New Styles,” September 2012
- Strategy: Exclusive access
- Ann Taylor
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- Figure 18: Ann Taylor email ad, “You’re on the list,” June 2013
- Gap/Banana Republic
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- Figure 19: Banana Republic email ad for reserve in store service, June 2013
Primary Workplace Environment and Dress Code
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- Key points
- Women more likely than men to work in offices, more than half of all follow dress code
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- Figure 20: Primary workplace environment and presence of dress code, by gender and age, March 2013
- Full-time workers primarily employed in offices
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- Figure 21: Primary workplace environment and presence of dress code, by employment, March 2013
- Those living in higher-income households likely to be corporate professionals
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- Figure 22: Primary workplace environment and presence of dress code, by age and household income, March 2013
- Not all offices enforce a dress code
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- Figure 23: Primary workplace environment by presence of dress code, March 2013
Type of Workwear Worn Most Often
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- Key points
- Items worn
- Business casual worn most often by employees
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- Figure 24: Types of clothing most often worn to work, by gender, March 2013
- Figure 25: Types of clothing most often worn to work, by gender and age, March 2013
- Higher income households wear business casual attire most often
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- Figure 26: Types of clothing most often worn to work, by household income, March 2013
- Items purchased
- Older men most likely to purchase shirts, pants, and suits
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- Figure 27: Men's apparel purchases, by age, October 2011-November 2012
- Younger women more likely than older ladies to purchase dresses, skirts
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- Figure 28: Women's apparel purchases, by age, October 2011-November 2012
Best Way to Describe Own Work Wardrobe
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- Key points
- Work and non-work wardrobes kept separate
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- Figure 29: Self-description of work wardrobe, by gender and age, March 2013
- Highest income earners have two wardrobes – work and non-work
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- Figure 30: Self-description of work wardrobe, by household income, March 2013
- Millennials likely to have separate work and non-work clothing
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- Figure 31: Self-description of work wardrobe, Millennials vs. non-Millennials, March 2013
- Department stores shoppers likely to have separate wardrobes for work and non-work
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- Figure 32: Self-description of work wardrobe, by types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online, March 2013
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- Figure 33: Self-description of work wardrobe, by types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online, March 2013 (continued)
Types of Retailers Shopped for Workwear
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- Key points
- Most shop at value department stores for workwear
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- Figure 34: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes, in-store vs. online, March 2013
- Discount stores preferred by women, online retailers favored among young adults
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- Figure 35: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online, by gender and age, March 2013
- Value department stores preferred by those in all household income groups
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- Figure 36: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online, by household income, March 2013
Importance of Key Clothing Attributes When Buying Work Clothing
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- Key points
- Most seek comfort, younger adults seek style and fashion
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- Figure 37: Key attributes sought in work clothes, by gender and age, March 2013
- High-income households seek style, price more important to lower-income households
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- Figure 38: Key attributes sought in work clothes, by household income, March 2013
- Millennials want fashionable, stylish work clothes
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- Figure 39: Key attributes sought in work clothes, Millennials vs. non-Millennials, March 2013
- Upscale department store, specialty store shoppers seek quality clothing
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- Figure 40: Key attributes sought in work clothes, by types of retailers shopped for work clothes – in-store or online, March 2013(Part 1)
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- Figure 41: Key attributes sought in work clothes, by Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – in-store or online, March 2013 (Part 2)
Attitudes Toward Work Clothing
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- Key points
- Sales and special offers appeal to shoppers when buying work clothes
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- Figure 42: Agreement with attitudes to work clothes, by gender and age, March 2013
- High-income earners update clothing frequently, those with lower household incomes accessorize for a fresh look
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- Figure 43: Agreement with attitudes to work clothes, by household income, March 2013
Impact of Race and Hispanic Origin
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- Key points
- Most work in offices, Hispanics and blacks more likely to work in retail/hotel/restaurant/bar environments
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- Figure 44: Primary workplace environment and presence of dress code, by race/Hispanic origin, March 2013
- Hispanics more likely to wear casual attire, blacks wear uniforms when working
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- Figure 45: Types of clothing most often worn to work, by race/Hispanic origin, March 2013
- Hispanics have separate work and non-work clothing
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- Figure 46: Self-description of work wardrobe, by race/Hispanic origin, March 2013
- Value department stores favored by all, particularly Hispanics
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- Figure 47: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online, by race/Hispanic origin, March 2013
- Hispanics seek trendy, brand-name workwear
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- Figure 48: Key attributes sought in work clothes, Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic, March 2013
- Figure 49: Attitudes/opinions toward apparel, by race/Hispanic origin, October 2011-November 2012
Cluster Analysis
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- Figure 50: Target clusters, March 2013
- Stylish Shoppers
- Demographics
- Characteristics
- Opportunity
- Casual Dressers
- Demographics
- Characteristics
- Opportunity
- Dress to Impress
- Demographics
- Characteristics
- Opportunity
- Cluster characteristics tables
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- Figure 51: Primary workplace environment and presence of dress code, by target clusters, March 2013
- Figure 52: Types of clothing most often worn to work, by target clusters, March 2013
- Figure 53: Types of clothing also worn to work, by target clusters, March 2013
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- Figure 54: Self-description of work wardrobe, by target clusters, March 2013
- Figure 55: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online, by target clusters, March 2013
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- Figure 56: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In store, by target clusters, March 2013
- Figure 57: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – Online, by target clusters, March 2013
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- Figure 58: Key attributes sought in work clothes, by target clusters, March 2013
- Figure 59: Agreement with attitudes to work clothes, by target clusters, March 2013
- Cluster demographics table
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- Figure 60: Target clusters, by demographics, March 2013
- Cluster methodology
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Appendix – Other Useful Consumer Tables
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- Primary workplace environment and dress code
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- Figure 61: Primary workplace environment and presence of dress code, by primary workplace environment, March 2013
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- Figure 62: Presence of dress code, by primary workplace environment, March 2013
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- Figure 63: Presence of dress code, by primary workplace environment, March 2013
- Types of workwear worn most often
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- Figure 64: Types of clothing most often worn to work, by employment, March 2013
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- Figure 65: Types of clothing most often worn to work, by generations, March 2013
- Type of workwear also worn
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- Figure 66: Types of clothing also worn to work, by gender and age, March 2013
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- Figure 67: Types of clothing also worn to work, by household income, March 2013
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- Figure 68: Types of clothing also worn to work, by generation, March 2013
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- Figure 69: Types of clothing also worn to work, by age and household income, March 2013
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- Figure 70: Types of clothing also worn to work, by primary workplace environment, March 2013
- Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online
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- Figure 71: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online, by generation, March 2013
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- Figure 72: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store or online, by self-description of work wardrobe, March 2013
- Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store
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- Figure 73: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store, by gender and age, March 2013
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- Figure 74: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – In-store, by household income, March 2013
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- Figure 75: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – in-store, by generation, March 2013
- Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – Online
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- Figure 76: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – Online, by gender and age, March 2013
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- Figure 77: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – Online, by household income, March 2013
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- Figure 78: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – Online, by Hispanic origin, March 2013
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- Figure 79: Types of retailers shopped for work clothes – Online, by generation, March 2013
- Attitudes toward apparel
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- Figure 80: Attitudes/opinions toward apparel, by gender and age, October 2011-November 2012
Appendix – Trade Associations
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