Wealthiest 10% of Americans Name Top Quality Brands for 8 Products in New Survey

The seventh in a continuing series of twice-yearly surveys by The American Affluence Research Center (AARC) reveals the brands considered to have the highest quality, regardless of price, by the wealthiest 10% of Americans, the 11 million households representing about half of all consumer income and spending, a third of the total US economy, and 70% of the personal wealth of Americans.

Just released, the AARC report, The Luxury Market: Spring 2005 Survey of Affluent Americans, shows the affluent named Rolex, Cartier, and Tag Heuer as the top three brands for quality, regardless of price, for lady's fine watches. For lady's fine jewelry, Tiffany, Cartier, and David Yurman were the top three brands. For man's fine watches, Rolex, Tag Heuer, and Seiko were the top three brands.

For automobiles, Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus were at the top. For major home appliances, the affluent named General Electric, Sub-Zero, and Viking most frequently. In home entertainment equipment, Sony was dominant and no came close. In the cruise line category, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Princess were named more often than the luxury brands.

Some slight differences in the rankings were evident by gender, age, and level of wealth. These differences tended to favor the less frequently named brands.

The one category where men and women differed most significantly was in lady's designer/couture apparel. The women named Ralph Lauren, Armani, and Jones of New York as their top three brands. The men placed St. Johns and Chanel at the top of their list.

This information is based on a national survey of 346 men and women in the wealthiest 10% of American households. The survey participants have an average income of $369,000 and an average net worth of $2.7 million.

Ron Kurtz is a principal of The American Affluence Research Center and The Management Resource Group. Both companies provide marketing research and strategic planning services to prominent clients in the travel and hospitality industries, especially those targeting the affluent market.

Prior to founding MRG in 1989, Ron's experience included over 20 years in senior management positions in the airline, hotel, and tour business. As the founding President of Sea Goddess Cruises, he created the product category of small deluxe ships for the very affluent. He also served as the chief marketing officer of four cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises.

Ron has been a key contributor to 6 start ups and 11 turnarounds of substantial businesses. He earned his MBA at Harvard Business School.

For further information: http://www.affluenceresearch.org and http://www.mrgconsultants.com

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:25:52 GMT

Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads - New York Times


ABC News
Comcast to Place a Cap on Internet Downloads
New York Times - 3 hours ago
By BRIAN STELTER Comcast, one of the country’s largest Internet providers, said this week that it would place limits on customers’ broadband usage.
Comcast's Answer to ... InternetNews.com
Critics Question Comcast Broadband Caps PC World
CNET News - Wall Street Journal - ZDNet - InformationWeek
all 386 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:08:14 GMT

Obama campaign buoyed by convention - Los Angeles Times


ABC News
Obama campaign buoyed by convention
Los Angeles Times - 5 hours ago
He sees an unusually strong jump in support after the carefully choreographed event in Denver. By Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer DENVER -- Amy Pearl is the sort of Democrat who made the Barack Obama campaign nervous.
Look out, Palin The Hillary factor . . . Chicago Sun-Times
Hillary supporters aren't bitter; they're concerned Chicago Tribune
The Associated Press - CNN - Philadelphia Inquirer - New York Daily News
all 8,528 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:00:48 GMT

Hurricane Gustav Strengthens, Accelerates, Heads for Cuba, Gulf - Bloomberg


BBC News
Hurricane Gustav Strengthens, Accelerates, Heads for Cuba, Gulf
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Patrick Donahue and Robin Stringer Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Gustav strengthened and picked up speed as it headed toward western Cuba and the US Gulf Coast cities ravaged by Katrina and Rita in 2005, after lashing the Cayman Islands with ...
Video: Gustav Follows Katrina's Path CBS
Some leave Gulf Coast ahead of likely evacuations The Associated Press
Reuters - Minneapolis Star Tribune - New York Times - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
all 6,069 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:40:06 GMT

US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1) - Bloomberg


ABC News
US Oil, Gas Producers, Pipelines Brace for Gustav (Update1)
Bloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Margot Habiby Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc plan to finish shutting oil and gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and Enbridge Energy Partners LP will close pipelines as Hurricane Gustav gains strength and moves ...
More volatility seen with hurricane, payrolls Reuters
Airlines bounce as oil gives up early gains MarketWatch
Forbes - DesMoinesRegister.com - CNNMoney.com - guardian.co.uk
all 3,463 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:21:02 GMT

Sign of the times - BBC News


San Diego Union Tribune
Sign of the times
BBC News - 1 hour ago
As Russia and the West warn of a new Cold War after the Georgian conflict, the BBC's Humphrey Hawksley in Moscow tries to imagine what it would look like.
European Union to Hold Urgent Meeting on Russia Voice of America
last straw" for Russia Reuters
New York Times - Financial Times - Wall Street Journal - Jerusalem Post
all 333 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:10:28 GMT

S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia - United Press International


BBC News
S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia
United Press International - 1 hour ago
TSKHINVALI, Georgia, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- South Ossetia says it will become part of Russia and host Russian military bases under a new agreement.
Video: UN does have double standards RussiaToday
Kremlin announces that South Ossetia will Times Online
The Associated Press - AFP - Civil Georgia - New York Times
all 6,104 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:01:52 GMT

Experts: Silver lining for ‘viable’ Mitt Romney - Boston Herald

Experts: Silver lining for ‘viable’ Mitt Romney
Boston Herald - 8 hours ago
By Edward Mason Mitt Romney - once a top contender to be John McCain’s running mate - may have suffered a bruised ego when he was passed over for the little known Gov.
It's not Pawlenty, it's Palin Worthington Daily Globe
Pawlenty, after the pick, another day at fair Minneapolis Star Tribune
Post-Bulletin - Washington Post - Grand Forks Herald - CNN
all 2,700 news articles

Publ.Date : Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:13:29 GMT

RSS Software
Website Traffic Promotion


PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Value Proposition Writing - Brand Identity Guru

Your Value Proposition, or as I usually call it, your... Read More

Articles: The Perfect Branding Tool

If you own a web-based business, you're probably aware of... Read More

Branding Your Products Is Important

I was chatting with a couple of friends, all of... Read More

Branding Services - Brand Identity Guru

Branding Services is a tactic that marketing executives and managers... Read More

Business Case Study Automotive Detailing Franchise Company

How do automotive detailing companies start? What makes them work... Read More

The Aim of the Name

Large corporations spend lavish amounts seeking names for their products... Read More

How Brand as an Intellectual Property has Led to Corporate Globalisation?

IntroductionGlobalisation is referred to as a set of profound material... Read More

What is Private Franchising? It is Nothing Someone Made It Up

The Federal Trade Commission has an obligation to the general... Read More

Brand Identity - Corporate Identity and Brand Value

Companies work hard building the strength of their brands -... Read More

Too Dull? Too Sharp?

You work hard getting the right cover message and words... Read More

Notable News - The Branding Myth

How many times have you heard of seen advertising for... Read More

FTC Reviews The Franchise Rule

After more than a decade since the last attempt to... Read More

Brand Name Identity in the Oil Business

I submit to you that Brand Name Identity in the... Read More

Fast Forwarding Your Business

If you think only big corporate names need to think... Read More

Effective Branding...Whats in a Name!

Ask any marketing executive and they will tell you that... Read More

The Importance of Branding - Can It Really Make a Difference?

As consumers, we don't really think about the importance of... Read More

Branding Guru - Brand Identity Guru

Branding TodayHave you ever had a good brand experience? How... Read More

9 Keys to an Effective Logo

The right logo, with the right characteristics, will boost your... Read More

Branding Advertising Agency

Branding used to be a fancy business word, but it... Read More

Getting Started in the Mail Order Business. How Much Does It Cost?

INTRODUCTION To get any business started successfully takes many ingredients.... Read More

Santa - The Brand

Every Christmas Eve, a burglar named Santa busts into homes... Read More

How Will Your Visitors Remember You And Your Business? Brand Yourself From The Crowd...

Big and Yellow 'M' reminds you McDonalds... 'DELL' with oblique... Read More

10 Secrets for Free Media Placement

Why pay a high priced PR agent when you can... Read More

The Big Uneasy: Clearing the Clouds of Guess

People often come to me to assist them with developing... Read More

Putting You and Your Company in Position to Own Your Market

Americans have always liked their coffee hot. But then Starbucks... Read More