New Evidence That the "Lipstick Effect" Is at Work in This Recession, According to Unity Marketing

STEVENS, PA--(Marketwire - August 12, 2009) - There is powerful new evidence of the 'lipstick effect' found in the latest research into the luxury market conducted by Unity Marketing. The 'lipstick effect,' a concept popularized by Leonard Lauder, chairman of Estee Lauder, states that during times of economic uncertainty, women will splurge on affordable luxuries such as lipstick as a substitute for more expensive items like clothing and jewelry.

With the 'lipstick effect' in full force in 2008, six of the top ten fastest growing luxuries purchased by affluent consumers for their personal use and enjoyment were in the beauty products space, as measured by the average amount spent on their purchases. That includes the fastest-growing product of all: face care, cleansers, toners and moisturizers, which posted growth of 34 percent in share of affluent consumer's average spending from 2007 to 2008.

To learn more click this link to download the list of the personal luxury market's biggest winners and losers:

http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_luxury/luxury/Personal_Luxury_Report_2009/Personal_Luxury_Biggest_Winners___Losers_2008.php

New "Just the Facts, Ma'am" Report on the Beauty Products Market Published

These are among the important highlights of the luxury beauty products market detailed in a new report from Unity Marketing, titled "Luxury Beauty Snapshot Report 2009." This succinct trend report gives the marketer "just the facts, ma'am" in order to help them assess opportunities and shifts in the beauty products affluent consumers are buying, how much they are spending and trends in where they are making their purchases. It includes details, facts and figures taken from Unity Marketing's "Luxury Report 2009: The Ultimate Guide to the Luxury Consumer Market," which is based upon quarterly surveys among 1,000-1,200 affluent consumers (incomes $100,000 and above) conducted throughout 2007 and 2008.

To learn more about the beauty snapshot report, click here:

http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_beautyspa/beauty/.php

Contained in this new concise snapshot report are these essential facts and figures that can give direction to luxury marketers' business and strategic plans.

-- What beauty products are of most interest to affluent consumers and how these items are trending year-over-year both in terms of purchase incidence and spending. -- Which demographic segments of affluent consumers are increasing their spending, and which are still cutting back on luxury beauty product purchases. -- Which retailers are the hot destinations for beauty products shopping, and which are still struggling to get into the game. -- Which of more than 30 beauty brands resonate most strongly with the affluent consumer, especially among the ultra-affluent segment (HHI $250,000) who are the most loyal customers for the leading luxury brands. -- What marketing messages affluent consumers find most attractive in the beauty sector.

"This report is written specifically for marketers that want the most up-to-date and salient facts to help them understand the trends in the current market and ways they can address their challenges. Unlike Unity Marketing's in-depth market research reports, this snapshot report gives the marketer the most important consumer data that will bring dimension to business planning. It doesn't overwhelm the busy executive with a lot of excess baggage they don't need, but presents them with the facts and figures to make decisions," explains Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing and author of "Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience."

New Snapshot Reports Published in other Luxury Product Categories

In addition to the snapshot report on beauty, Unity Marketing has just released a library of short, but sweet reports with key facts and figures on the following sectors in the luxury market. Each of these succinct trend reports presents the busy marketer with "just the facts, ma'am" in order to help them assess opportunities and shifts in the luxury market for their products:

-- Luxury Automobiles http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_luxury/luxury/Lux_Auto_Snapshot_Report_2009.php -- Luxury Clothing & Apparel http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_apparel/apparel/Luxury_Snapshot_Report_7-29-09.php -- Luxury Fashion Accessories http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_apparel/apparel/Luxury_Fashion_Accessories_8-2-09.php -- Luxury Jewelry http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_jewelry/jewelry/Luxury_Jewelry_Snapshot_Report_2009.php -- Luxury Watches http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_jewelry/jewelry/Luxury_Watch_Snapshot_Report_2009.php -- Luxury Wine & Spirits http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/cms_luxury/luxury/Lux_Wine___Spirits_Snapshot_Report_2009.php

Data contained in each report is compiled from facts and figures in Unity Marketing's "Luxury Report 2009: The Ultimate Guide to the Luxury Consumer Market," which is based upon quarterly surveys among 1,000-1,200 affluent consumers (incomes $100,000 and above) conducted throughout 2007 and 2008.

For media: Danziger available for interviews. Charts, tables and graphs detailing major findings in the report also available.

About Pam Danziger and Unity Marketing

Pamela N. Danziger is an internationally recognized expert specializing in consumer insights, especially for marketers and retailers that sell luxury goods and experiences to the masses or the 'classes.' She is president of Unity Marketing, a marketing consulting firm she founded in 1992.

Advising such clients as PPR, Diageo, Google, Waterford-Wedgwood, Lenox, Swarovski, GM, Orient-Express Hotels, Italian Trade Commission, Marie Claire magazine, The World Gold Council, and The Conference Board, Pam taps consumer psychology to help clients navigate the changing consumer marketplace.

Follow Pam on www.twitter.com/PamDanziger

In recognition of her ground-breaking work in the luxury consumer market, Pam received the Global Luxury Award presented by Harper's Bazaar for top luxury industry achievers in 2007.

Her latest book is "Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Customer Experience," published by Kaplan Publishing in October 2006. Her other books include "Let Them Eat Cake: Marketing Luxury to the Masses -- as well as the Classes," (Dearborn Trade Publishing, $27, hardcover) and "Why People Buy Things They Don't Need: Understanding and Predicting Consumer Behavior" (Chicago: Dearborn Trade Publishing, 2004).