Gen Y Loves Brands

Gen Yer’s have grown up in a world surrounded by brand names, so is it any wonder why they are so obsessed with choosing the right one for them? Although some say, brands “are created by marketers just to get more money,” according to a Teen + Brands study by Viacom’s The N channel, 46% remain loyal to the brands they are really fond of.

After testing 47 brands, the test discovered that Apple’s ipod is “absolutely essential to teens”. Other brands that teens seemed to identify to define themselves were American Eagle Outfitters, Axe, Baby Phat, Facebook, Google, Hollister Co., MTV, MySpace, Vans and YouTube. 29% reported that having the right brands make them feel cooler. Interestingly, 19% of self proclaimed brand loyalists say they would leave their favorite brand if something better came along. Another one in four claim they would abandon the brand if it became too popular. The study also found that brand names are most important in relation to computers (64%), shoes (56%), MP3 players (55%), cell phone service (54%) and clothes (53%).