Retail Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Retail Marketing - Essay Example Marketing dictates the ability of a retail company to grow. The concern of this paper is to investigate the retail marketing of A&F by evaluating the following areas merchandise range and assortment, marketing communication, store layout, design and visual merchandising, customer, and retail mix among other aspects that have led to the growth of the retail company. Merchandise Range and Assortment A&F began its clothing retail by concentrating on clothes for age range 18 to 22, today the trend has changed and the retail company has brought a wide range of merchandise products in its stores (Funding Universe. 2012:1). The stores in Warwick United Kingdom do not only address the needs of the above age range, but also have brought products for other age ranges. The company retail history reveals that the merchandise stores of the company started with attires geared for sporting adventures, and fishing adventures. The company credits its merchandise ideas to the early ventures in all sta ffs required for sporting for the above age range. The focus of the retail company today promotes the American wear, which includes underwear, jackets, swimming shorts, vintage polos, and T-shirts (Funding Universe, 2012:1). Other assortments include shirts and sweaters, pajamas, scarves, belts and other assortments, which are styled with the American fashion. A&F has recognised the need to create stylish apparels, which can attract the young age as well as the middle and old age (Hephaestus Books, 2011:120). The assortment for women and men come in different styles. For instance, shirts have various sleeves techniques; some are short, long, curling, or sleeveless. The range also caters for women needs by capturing the stylish pattern demanded by women in response to fashion trend. The retail company has noted difference in response characteristics, which influences its merchandise range (Funding Universe. 2012:1). For example, assortment for belts provides a wide range of styles, w hich depend on colour, mood that the intended consumer wishes to portray in the society. Sports gear reflects that the society is in the sports moods while swim costumes illustrate swimming mood. For examples, some belts are slim with big buckles while others have stylish buckles, which suit the diverse needs of the consumer. It is important to note the customer behaviour for the targeted merchandise planning. Market analysts believe that merchandise assortment must target a given target population if the retail business intends to succeed (Dunne, et.al. 2010:129). A&F have applied the same argument to locate is stores targeting specific consumers. Beauty is a factor of concern for the store because the target age bracket 18 to 22 has many expectations in life. The dream of their world differs from the views of the old age. For examples, dressing crazy or the American wear fashion speaks of the great adventures that the age range seeks to display in the society. Shapes are crucial t o the merchandising range for this store. The retail has provision for slender or slim to heavy built bodies. Some people like free fitting apparel while others like tight fitting clothes. The brand category offered in the store does not only favour the immediate age but also targets to influence other range. For example, the idea of brand variety offers a wide opportunity for the consumers to choose. A single, brand limits consumers from choosing the products, which the stores has. Studies have