A major retail clothing chain hopes to improve its earnings with heavy promotion of their logo-branded merchandise during the holiday season. The promotion costs will decrease its profit margin in the short term, but because the brand has high status appeal the corporate office believes that customers will want to show off their affiliation. Over the long term, the chain anticipates that the new buyers drawn by the promotion will become repeat customers.
In evaluating the plan’s chances of success, it would be most useful to know which of the following?