Introduction

Target types, also known as target audience, is basically the ideal audience that our product is geared towards. They can be anyone and any specified group of people. Target types have certain traits, interests, values, goals, and much more. They also have their own class/income and also different age groups.

In this part of my blog, I’ll be discussing my chosen target types in detail.

And if you're new to my blog, welcome! To learn more about it, please refer to my very first post, which can be found here!

My Targets

The Collector

Is between ages 20-30s, a student or entry-level worker.
Loves collecting cute things (figurines, plushies, stickers, enamel pins, mugs, etc)
Has an appreciation for art or is an artist
Likes anime or cartoons, such as Pokemon, Steven Universe, MLP, or animated movies from Disney, Pixar, Illumination, or Dreamworks
Has a relatively good paying job, if not, perhaps retail
Is likely a student or a entry-level worker
Maybe likes video games or has played video games
Spends a lot of time on social media or online communities or forums
Enjoys going to conventions or shopping at places like Hot Topic, Box Lunch, Barnes & Noble, or Attic Salt

The Collector is your average anime fan, or someone who really loves cute things. They’re sometimes a hobby or freelance artist, or someone who works part-time. They also have a bit of disposable income to create a collection of things they like. The Collector is also a very friendly person and has several friends that like the same things that they do, and they also use social media. The Collector also cares about their friends, their academics, and trying to feed themselves while juggling between classes or their busy work schedules.

The Parent

About Early 30s to 40s, a working adult.
Likes shopping, DIY projects, sports, listening to podcasts, and exercising
Most likely owns a mini-van or a car with more than 2 seats
Loves Starbucks or coffee shops
Thinks baby clothes are cute
Always wants their children to be happy or smile
Wants to make gifts extra special
Loves Christmas
Keeps a photo album of their kids as they are growing up

The parent is a hard worker but also very family oriented. They try their best to attend their child’s important life events, or even sporting events. They also do their best to take care of their child and consider the things that they like. They also like to hang up their child’s drawings on the fridge, or perhaps bought them a bunch of coloring supplies. The parent also enjoys doing leisure activities with their children when they get the chance, such as watching Disney or family-friendly movies, doing crafts, playing yard sports.

The Child

About 3-6 years old, toddler, preschool student or daycare attendee.
Loves soft things and blankets
Likes Disney movies, especially Frozen
Likes sparkly stuff, sequins, or colorful things
Loves Build-a-Bear, or has a teddy bear
Loves fuzzy things
Likes sweet foods, like cereal or chocolate or cake

The child is someone who is literally a child. They are full of life, curious, and love colorful things. They’re also very hands-on and like to play with their toys. They’re also imaginative and give names to all of their stuffed animals. They care about themselves and are usually kind of doing their own thing. They also care about watching their favorite TV show or movie often and occasionally playing the same song on repeat.

According to Statista, in a survey of 1,002 participants, aging from 18 years or older, 55% are likely to gift children for Christmas and 52% are likely to gift their spouses or partners.

The Cool Grandparent

50s-mid 60s, close to retirement age or a “seasoned veteran” in their workplace
Obviously loves their grandchildren
Loves DIY crafts or sewing clothes or building miniature things
Likes watching TV or reading the comic section in newspapers
Likes to look at ads or clip coupons
Likes to visit Hallmark for gifts or cards
Makes special gifts for children or grandchildren
Likes baking or cooking
Has pictures of their grandkids around their house
Has a phone

The Grandparent really enjoys seeing their family, especially during holidays or when they come to visit. They enjoy spending quality time with their grandchildren, and also get to know them too (what their favorite color is, what movies or shows they like, etc). The grandparent isn’t exactly the most tech savvy. But in today’s world, they’re most likely to have a device on them, or perhaps a working TV. The grandparents care about their family and being a positive outlet of support to their children, taking care of their health, the news, and also maybe collecting a few knick knacks from time-to-time.

The Boyfriend

Is about 18-26 years old, college student or entry-level worker
Occasionally forgets anniversaries or important dates
Loves to surprise their partner or give them something special
Wants to go above and beyond with their gifts
Has a decent paying job
Has a smartphone or computer/laptop
Uses social media sometimes
Maybe they like comics, TV shows, anime, or video games
Has an action figure or figuring on their shelf or desk

The Boyfriend is someone who really loves their spouse, and they also like to make their partner feel special and loved. They’re likely to go out and spend a few hours finding the best possible gift for their partner. They also like to go on coffee dates, take a stroll in a park, or chill at home and watch a TV show. The boyfriend may also be into pop culture as well and immersing themselves in media during their free time. They also may enjoy leisure activities such as binge-watching TV shows or playing the most popular video games. The boyfriend is likely to have a small collection somewhere in their room.

That's it, folks!

Thanks for reading this post! It's a little lengthy, but research and having a target audience for your project makes things a lot easier. I'd say the hardest part of this assignment was defining who is my target audience. Since plushies are usually geared towards the younger audience, I wanted to be more diverse and include adults!

See you in the next post!

Works Cited

Clement, J. “Most Searched for Kids-Related Products in the United States between May 2019 and June 2020, by Average Monthly Searches.” Statista, 14 Aug. 2020, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/statistics/1153859/most-searched-kids-products-in-the-us/.

Clement, J. “Fastest-Growing Kids-Related Products in the United States as of June 2020, by Year-on-Year Search Growth.” Statista, 14 Aug. 2020, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/statistics/1154048/fastest-yoy-search-growth-kids-products-in-the-us/.

Statista Research Department. “From Which of These Manufacturers/Brands of Dolls and Stuffed Animals Does Your Child or Your Children Own Toys?” Statista, 6 Jan. 2020, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/forecasts/862842/popular-brands-of-dolls-and-stuffed-animals-in-the-us.

O'Connell, Liam. “Toys Retail Sales Revenue in the United States from 2013 to 2019 (in Billion U.S. Dollars).” Statista, 19 Feb. 2020, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/statistics/195054/total-revenue-of-us-toys-and-games-market-since-2005/.

Toy Industry Association. “U.S. Sales Data.” The Toy Association, www.toyassociation.org/ta/research/data/u-s-sales-data/toys/research-and-data/data/us-sales-data.aspx.

Clement, J. “Most Searched for Kids-Related Products in the United States between May 2019 and June 2020, by Average Monthly Searches.” Statista, 14 Aug. 2020, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/statistics/1153859/most-searched-kids-products-in-the-us/.

Clement, J. “Fastest-Growing Kids-Related Products in the United States as of June 2020, by Year-on-Year Search Growth.” Statista, 14 Aug. 2020, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/statistics/1154048/fastest-yoy-search-growth-kids-products-in-the-us/.

Statista Research Department. “From Which of These Manufacturers/Brands of Dolls and Stuffed Animals Does Your Child or Your Children Own Toys?” Statista, 6 Jan. 2020, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/forecasts/862842/popular-brands-of-dolls-and-stuffed-animals-in-the-us.

O'Connell, Liam. “Toys Retail Sales Revenue in the United States from 2013 to 2019 (in Billion U.S. Dollars).” Statista, 19 Feb. 2020, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/statistics/195054/total-revenue-of-us-toys-and-games-market-since-2005/.

Toy Industry Association. “U.S. Sales Data.” The Toy Association, www.toyassociation.org/ta/research/data/u-s-sales-data/toys/research-and-data/data/us-sales-data.aspx.

Statista Research Department. “Who Are You Going to Give a Christmas Gift to This Year?” Statista, 25 Nov. 2019, www-statista-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/statistics/644103/christmas-gifts-favorite-recipients-among-us-consumers/.

Capstone

Target Types