Refer to the scenario below to answer the following questions.
The Attic Trunk began in 1979 as an upscale dress shop in Forest Ridge’s fashionable
shopping district, catering to a wealthy, mature clientele. Many other specialty shops
lined the main avenue over the next few years. But as Forest Ridge began to attract an
affluent, younger, and more demographically diverse population, the once-popular
shopping district was increasingly perceived as stodgy and snobby. By the late 1980s,
many of these specialty shops suffered financially. Most shops attracted only tourists
who enjoyed browsing through the displays of alligator belts and shoes, piles of scented
soaps, and useless flowered parasols, often laughing at the ridiculously high prices.
Owners of The Attic Trunk had noticed the shifts in population and buying behavior of
the typical shopper by the late 1980s. In fact, the owners had observed that the
once-fashionable shopping district in Forest Ridge no longer attracted a “typical
shopper.” The wealthy, mature clientele had been partially replaced with affluent
families with children, a mix of Asian and African Americans as well as Caucasians.
Specialty items at The Attic Trunk gradually disappeared, replaced by brand-name
apparel, colognes, and jewelry. Other owners followed suit in the early 1990s, bringing
restaurants, an outdoor cafe, and a day spa to the main avenue in Forest Ridge.
Which of the following is the strongest reason that the owners of The Attic Trunk might
NOT want to completely discount the mature consumers as a still-viable target market?
A. Mature consumers wield considerable influence over purchases made by their
children and grandchildren.
B. Mature consumers are the fastest-growing and wealthiest demographic segment in
the United States.
C. Mature consumers are spending an increasing percentage of their income on
specialty items such as those originally sold by The Attic Trunk.
D. Mature consumers are interested in shopping where younger families shop in an
effort to look as young as they feel.
E. Mature consumers are less willing to shop around and change brands than younger
consumers are, so they will likely remain loyal to The Attic Trunk.
Many marketers use the premise that people’s possessions contribute to and reflect their