Target Tops 2011 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study as Value Retail Brand of the Year

NEW YORK, April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Target Stores have the strongest consumer brand equity among retail brands, and was named as the 2011 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Value Retail Brand of the Year. Brands of the Year were also announced in the Athletic Footwear (New Balance); and Cosmetics (Bobbi Brown) categories. Overall, awards are given in each of 46 different categories.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/harrisinteractive/44746/  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110407/MM78875 )

This is the second consecutive year Target has led the way in the Value Retail category, with the gap between runner-up Wal-Mart increasing.  In a segment where retailers are attempting to drive business by combining cool brand names with reasonable prices, Target seems to be hitting the mark and building its brand equity.

"In difficult economic times, consumers look for value." said Jeni Lee Chapman, Executive Vice President of Brand and Communications Consulting at Harris Interactive. "Target is seen as a retailer with strong brand equity especially when compared to its competition. As consumers consolidate where they choose to spend their paychecks, those retailers with the highest brand equity are going to obtain greater share of that spending."

In the ultra-competitive Athletic Footwear category, New Balance, relatively small compared to its competition, ranked highest among athletic and casual footwear, followed by Sperry, Nike, and ASICS.  As footwear giants Nike and Adidas wage advertising and market share battles, smaller brands are winning over consumers.

"As consumers search for value across segments, smaller brands are taking advantage of this and emerging on top," said Chapman. "New Balance is delivering on consumer desire for well made products at a reasonable cost for the everyday athlete."

In the Cosmetics category, Bobbi Brown is the Brand of the Year,  Sephora and Rimmel are ranked second and third in the Cosmetics category.

Methodology

The EquiTrend® study evaluates measures including: Equity, Consumer Connection, Commitment, Brand Behavior, Brand Advocacy, and Trust. The keystone to the program is Equity, which provides an understanding of a brand's overall strength and is determined by a calculation of Familiarity, Quality, and Purchase Consideration.

This year's Harris Poll EquiTrend® study was conducted online among 25,099 U.S. consumers ages 15 and over between January 11 and 27, 2011. A total of 1,273 brands were rated in 53 separate categories.  Each respondent was asked to rate a total of 60 randomly selected brands.  Each brand received approximately 1,000 ratings. Data were weighted to be representative of the entire U.S. population of consumers ages 15 and over on the basis of age sex, education, race/ethnicity, region, and income, and data from respondents ages 18 and over were also weighted for their propensity to be online.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The EquiTrend® study results disclosed in this release may not be used for advertising, marketing or promotional purposes without the prior written consent of Harris Interactive.

Product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

For a complete listing of all the brands covered in the study, contact Dagney Cassella at 212-539-9600 or [email protected].

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

Press Contact:

Corporate Communications
Harris Interactive
212-539-9600
[email protected]

SOURCE Harris Interactive