|
|
 |
|
Viewing report
|
|
|
|
Men and Women's Buying Habits Market Assessment 2008
Key Note Publications Ltd, July 2008, Pages: 162
This Market Assessment report is the fifth edition examining the main differences between men and women's buying habits. The report continues to reveal shifts in typical buying behaviour and activity by both sexes, as the balance of economic power between them converges. The report examines the buying behaviour of both men and women across six separate and disparate market segments: food and drink; toiletries, cosmetics and fragrances; clothing and footwear; magazines; the brown goods market; and cars.
Although the cost of food and drink has begun to increase over recent months, the heavy price-cutting tactics of the major supermarkets have managed to maintain prices across many sectors. How long this will continue remains to be seen and it seems inevitable that the price of goods within UK supermarkets will rise as manufacturers, distributors and retailers all face escalating costs, which will ultimately be passed onto the consumer. In nearly three-quarters of all households in the UK, women do the majority of grocery shopping and are in charge of the budget for food and drink. Their higher propensity to seek out promotions and offers in store may help drive the sales of more value-based offerings.
Women remain the main users and purchasers of goods within the cosmetics and toiletries sector, with around eight in ten women stating that they buy the majority of cosmetic and toiletry goods in their household. The men's toiletry market, while still in relative infancy, is experiencing some growth, especially within the skincare sector. Although it is not estimated that men's buying of toiletry goods will match that of women's in the near future, there is a growing trend among men, especially those within the younger age brackets, to purchase more goods related to physical appearance. Well-known brand names among female toiletry goods are increasingly attempting to launch into the male arena.
The cost of clothing in the UK, as a relative cost to other goods on the high street, has been declining for a number of years. Since the introduction of cheap fashion imports from China and the Far East, lower-cost clothing has flooded the high street and consumers have increased their overall purchasing of garments. This is especially true among female consumers, who are now buying substantially more many clothes than they did a year ago. The popularity of discount clothing has increased sharply over recent years, with stores such as Primark enjoying phenomenal success on the high street through their skill of replicating catwalk trends within little time and at a minimal price. Many of these low-cost clothing outlets are now looking to the male market as a means of extending their business. However, while the low prices within discount clothing stores has proved very popular amongst consumers, recent exposés of unethical trading and the use of child labour may have an impact on their popularity and success in the future.
Media-buying habits are also considered within this report — specifically, with regard to magazines, both as a product that polarises buying behaviour between men and women and also in respect of the types of editorial and advertising offered by each genre. Celebrities continue to be a key focus within the UK women's magazine market and thus have a significant influence on newsstand sales. Shopping is also another important driver of sales, with many of the current issues featuring strong shopping-related coverlines to attract readers.
The UK brown goods market, as identified for the purpose of this report, concentrates mainly on the sale of audiovisual electrical equipment within the UK. The market is currently characterised by a high degree of price cutting and deflation, as consolidation on the high street continues and as new low-cost entrants in the form of supermarkets and online stores emerge. Men have traditionally been viewed as the main purchaser of electrical goods; however, over recent years, expenditure within this category by women has increased. Retailers must now adopt different strategies in order to target the valuable female consumer as, at present, many women still admit to feeling alienated within this marketplace. The emergence of major supermarkets expanding into this sector may increase the accessibility of brown goods to female consumers.
The car market in the UK is currently revealing a slight decline in terms of sales volume, both within the new- and used-car categories. This trend is forecast to continue for the coming 12 months. According to the Department for Transport's (DfT's) National Travel Survey 2006 (published 30th August 2007), more than eight in ten men hold a driving licence, compared with only 63% of women. In terms of car-purchasing considerations, men and women were almost equally likely to vote reliability, price and comfort as the three main deciding factors.
Currently, the UK economy is experiencing a rather uncertain period, with many experts predicting an economic slowdown or, at worst, a possible recession. Global economic factors, such as the `credit crunch' in the US and rising oil and energy prices, are all having their impact on trading conditions in the UK. As a consequence, consumer confidence remains in the balance, with many analysts predicting declining levels of consumer expenditure and a tough year ahead on the high street. Reports in the media abound as to falls in the UK housing market and increases in the costs of borrowing, all of which are factors that will further stretch the UK consumer's spending power.
Key demographic trends within the UK will also have an impact on current and future buying habits across both sexes. Women, for example, are continuing to enter the workplace at a greater rate and, while many may still be employed within more lower-paid, part-time positions, there is an increasing representation of women within more senior, well-paid roles. Thus, the general wealth of women is continuing to grow, albeit at a slower rate than that of their male counterparts. The rise in the proportion of one-person households within the younger segments of society will also have an impact on retail sales; many of these households are composed of single men, with a high disposable income, who are an attractive target audience for a variety of sectors. General buying habits of both men and women are further investigated throughout this report. New theories of shopping-related differences between men and women are examined, along with the analyses of exclusive research. Although some stereotypical assumptions are confirmed, others appear to be less biased towards either sex and more demographically focused.
Product samples
A sample for this product is available. Please Login/Register to download this sample.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Men and Women's Buying Habits Market Assessment 2005
Men's Toiletries & Fragrances Market Assessment 2008
Home Shopping Market Report 2008
Men's Toiletries - UK - March 2008
Greetings Cards Market Report Plus 2008
Women, Sex and Shopping - The Future Retail Market in the UK
Home Shopping in Europe 2007
Men's Toiletries - Italy - March 2008
Trends in Food Shopping Market Assessment 2008
UK Remote Shopping 2009
Shopping Centres Market Assessment 2008
Women Over 45 Market Assessment 2007
|
|
|
|
