Dayton Hudson's three retailing divisions help shield the company from swings in the economy because they draw consumers from different income levels.
Western luxury brands entering the Chinese market want to advertise in popular magazines and on Web sites that draw consumers.
"They are a good way to draw consumers that may not be traditionally shopping at a discounter," she said.
The countries want to assure that a low-tax nation does not have a market advantage that draws consumers from its high-tax neighbors.
But a joint venture between two market research and consulting companies offers perspectives on which products seem to draw consumers or repel them.
Its ability to bounce back appears to be further testimony to the power of a well-known name to draw consumers to the web.
California vintners say kosher wines are indistinguishable from others and draw non-Jewish consumers.
Other companies with famous brands hope their names will draw consumers.
Ms. Roddick has also managed to produce high-quality products at relatively low prices, drawing young consumers to her store.
Instead of banking on science, still other cosmetics companies are using eye-catching packaging and a little gimmickry to draw consumers to their products.