Brands dealing with a new normal

Maybe the logic of replacing the bullseye logo with the new up & up brand can be questioned, but there’s no denying the impeccable timing of Target’s heightened emphasis on private brands based on new research from the Private Label Manufacturers Association. According to a new PLMA study, 91% of shoppers say they will continue to buy store brand products after the recession ends, and half of those surveyed said they wished stores carried more store brands. The survey of 800 shoppers also found that 90% agreed that store brand products are just as good or better than national brands. That such revelations come from a study by the organization dedicated to promoting private brands is hardly surprising, but that doesn’t mean the data should be dismissed. For example, about 30% of those surveyed said they are buying more store brands than they were a year ago.