Running Head:The impact of Culture on consumer behavior
The impact of culture on consumer behavior
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Table of Contents Abstract: 3 Introduction: 4 General cultural differences: 4 Culture other than Own: 5 Own Culture: 5 Cultural differences in marketing and consumer behavior: 6 Consumption: 6 Motives for Consumption: 8 Implications of cultural differences on marketers: 8 Discussion: 8 Examples of behaviors: 9 Conclusion: 9 References: 11 Appendix 1: 12 Survey Form: 12
Abstract:
The role of culture and consumer behavior in shaping marketing strategies is explored in the research. The research design includes a secondary literature review as well as primary research using a survey sample size of 30 individuals. The research provides a significant account of the factors influencing cultures, differences between UAE and UK culture. The motives of consumption are also investigated through review of secondary literature and analysis of survey results. The relevance of consumer behaviors with regards to strategy formulation for marketing is also discussed. Finally it is concluded that corporations develop their marketing strategies according to the cultures and target market attributes.
Introduction:
The culture plays a significant role in development of attitudes and behaviors for purchase and consumption trends. The consumer market trends are chaining in emerging markets. China and Middle East are
1. When selecting a UPL the Commander must take into consideration which of the following qualifications? The commander appoints an officer or non-commisned officer ( e-5 r above) on orders as the UPL
This semester having to track all of my buying has been very helpful and eye opening. I was able to break down all of my buying into 8 categories; clothes, food (groceries), food (restaurants), entertainment, gas, gym, miscellaneous, and school. I was able to conclude that most of my purchases were paid with a debit card with the exception of my school payments. Most of my purchases were in store with the exception of a few purchases online. The majority of my purchases were wants and not necessities, and after doing this project throughout the semester I have a lot of unnecessary buying. This paper is a reflection of all of my buying.
The impact of national cultures on marketing practices has been such that it brought about the creation of an academic field, with as a lead-researcher, Geert. Hofstede, on whose writings I have based my analysis.
Consumer culture can be defined as a free enterprise in which its main focal point is on selling the consumer goods while spending the consumer money. An individual’s way of purchasing merchandise that reflects their anatomy and appearance. Meanwhile media enables an easier portrayal of consumer culture by exemplifying an America based on consumerism since the dawn of the industrialization. Along comes conspicuous consumption, the act of purchasing the luxury lifestyle to portray a euphoria of one’s being. Many embellish this lifestyle to elicit a better view of class. In American society, consumer culture has three major effects; the overspending of the masses, America’s overexposure to advertising, and the systemization of class caused by
In my opinion, I feel that consumers can get too much of a product. American culture of consumerism appears to be quite addictive. Shopping can become a drug for some. For example, with every new clearance rack at any given department store or buying multiple items because you think there is a big savings when using coupons. Consumers become fueled with the need to fill a void within their daily lives. In recent years I have notice the change of coupon use compared to many years ago has become very addictive for some to the point that it is not saving money. Don’t get me wrong, I consider myself to be one who loves discounts and a good savings. I often hear people say you can never have too much of one product especially if you purchased it
Culture, ethnic backgrounds, and religious beliefs can sometimes affect your food choices. These factors can affect you positively or negatively. From a young age these factors are already affecting us and our food choices. When we grow up, we must make our own decisions and quite a few things have helped us choose.
This is also a form of exercised power, where society is unconsciously controlled by the market economy and its social norms. Consumer culture incorporates these ideals through symbolic images of the body that are associated with social power in which portrays youth, attractive looks, health and physical fitness of the body as the central key to successful life (Gillespie 1997, p.71). The ideal of the perfect physical body not only drives individuals to continually consume beauty products and undergo cosmetic surgery, but also enforces gender norms and ideals of femininity and masculinity. For a woman to be considerate real and beautiful she must look in certain way and the same concept applies to men. Although, for men this idea of self-awareness
In a 1990 book review, he praises Grant McCracken’s book, Culture and Consumption: New Approaches to the Symbolic Character of Consumer Goods and Activities, for how it stresses the importance of material good studies on their symbolic representation of social relations (Shackel, 1990, pg. 80). I emphasize this review because he repeats these sentiments in his works surrounding Annapolis in the early 1990’s and onward in relation to consumer goods. For example, in his 1993 book Personal Discipline and Material Culture, he cites McCracken’s idea of consumer goods being a part of how people symbolized their social status (Shackel, 1993, pg. 15).
While the US consumer culture has many different goods that encapsulate its uniqueness, nothing quite represents the US than its trash. You are probably asking yourself at this point how a country’s waste can have any importance at all in its consumer culture. Waste is one output every company, no matter its size, must be concerned with. With the ever present climate problems our society faces, proper disposal of waste is a necessity. Luckily for companies in the US, they have found a way to capitalize through strategic marketing and planned obsolescence. Yet, unfortunately for consumers, they are often taken advantage of without knowledge of the occurrence. The true American view on consumerism, where products are bought with a short-term
Cultures are varying among different parts of the globe. People with different cultures have different characteristics and viewpoints on the subjects due to diverse understanding and method of learning. During the past few decades, the international trade grows in a very rapid rate due to the advantages that it provides; “increased sales, operational efficiencies, exposure to new technologies and broader consumer choices” (Heslin). Therefore, when considering the culture aspect to current business world, it is crucial for business to understand the culture aspect because of the tremendous growth of international business as well as utilize the international market to its maximum
The rise of brand culture has targeted and influenced the consumer’s thoughts and behavior while purchasing any kind of product in today’s market. There have been numerous studies that clarify how culture does influence the consumption of brands towards consumers. It’s evident that consumers who classify themselves as cultural are likely to be ‘ brand loyal’. By saying this the iPhone plays a strategic role in manipulating consumers into buying the brand. Consumers who love the company behind the iPhone ‘Apple’ have a strong bond with it as the phone itself offers Icloud, IOS, style, design and reliability that no other brand can provide them. That’s one significant reason why consumers purchase and stick to Apple’s products. Not only does it provide trust to its consumers but it also includes upgrading the phones to new versions over years. Once a customer sticks with Apple in general they tend to stay with them for a long time.
The progress of humanity and human beings can be attributed to one important factor and that is the strong capability of human beings to understand and adapt to cultural differences. Respecting cultural differences has brought the human beings close together and has tied them in a strong bond. The conquering of the cultural differences has also introduced us to a new terminology, global economy, which is a global system of production, distribution and consumption. The world has become a singular unit because the pace of economic development has accelerated due to an increase in marketing not only at a local level, but also at a global level. Global
Understanding consumer buying behavior entails marketing, relationships, and consumer behavior. Consumer behavior comprises all the consumer decisions and activities connected with the choosing, buying, using and disposing of goods and services. Marketers must pay very close attention to consumer behavior that occurs before the purchase and after the particular product has been used. Studying consumer habits is one of the steps in marketing search and analysis. In addition to other basic principles of consumer buying habits, marketers also need to study the decision and actions of real people. Until recent history the study of consumer behavior was focused on generalized consumer decisions. With
As we all know that every country has its own rules and regulations. Here we will discuss and compare two different countries which have their own marketing strategies. These countries are Pakistan and KSA. Both of these countries are different in many perspectives. Their culture is different, strategic decisions are different, most importantly, there is a huge cultural difference in both of these countries.
China as the Eastern Dragon is a country, which has the long history over 5,000 years and rich culture that will have the tremendous affect to consumers’ buyer behavior (Luo, 2009). People define the culture into different varieties such as the language, history and religion as well that all have the indispensible relationship to Chinese consumers’ buyer behavior (Huntington, 1996).