Consumers purchase different products and services to meet their goals. Their goals can range depending on the day or the hour. For instance one person’s goal can be to nail a job interview or it can be to look “cool” in front of some new friends. These two situations can change what a person is willing to purchase despite their attitude towards a product.
Someone interviewing for a job may purchase a business suit at the store. Even if they may hate wearing business clothes they will be more likely to purchase them to meet their goal of receiving a job offer. On the other hand someone who wants to look “cool” in front of their friends that night might purchase a trendy new outfit. These competing goals can lead to different purchase decisions regardless of their personal preference.
There are also many influences over consumers that affect how they will meet their goals. Some of the influencers over consumers include cultural influences and family and friend influences. Cultural influences depend on how someone was raised and where. For instance, in China the color white represents mourning; this cultural norm can cause someone to buy an all-white outfit when a family or friend passes. In the USA this view is the opposite, the social norm is to wear all black to a funeral.
Family and friends can also change the purchasing behavior of a consumer. Consumer’s two main reference groups include family and friends. Depending on which group someone is trying to fit into will affect the purchase decision. For instance, if you are planning on being around your family you may feel more comfortable buying a pair of sweats to wear, but if you are going to be with friends you know you will be looked down upon for wearing them and will not purchase them.
Your goals and other social influences can affect your purchasing behavior. It is important as a marketer to realize this and understand that consumers are not necessarily predictable. This is because their attitudes do not always align with goals and others in their reference groups leading to an out of ordinary purchase.
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