Press Release Summary = Over the past few decades, a number of factors - including the expansion of higher education and changing lifestyle aspirations - have led to an increase in the proportion of consumers that fall into the AB and C1 socio-economic groupings. By 2000, almost half the population were in one or other of these groups.
Press Release Body = The ABC1 Consumer Market Assessments
Over the past few decades, a number of factors - including the expansion of higher education and changing lifestyle aspirations - have led to an increase in the proportion of consumers that fall into the AB and C1 socio-economic groupings. By 2000, almost half the population were in one or other of these groups.
There have been major shifts in emphasis within the retail clothing market, with the middle market being squeezed by the growing popularity of value and discount retailers at one end, and the spread of premium-priced designer fashions at the other end. Clothes-buying habits have become more egalitarian, making it more difficult to distinguish between ABC1 consumers and others.The research found, for example, that a substantial minority of ABC1 consumers use discount fashion stores to buy clothes for themselves and/or their families. Another recent development has been that a number of traditional upmarket British clothing brands have begun re-inventing themselves, adapting their products and their stores to fit in with contemporary tastes.
Premium products have become one of the most important growth areas within the food market, due to a number of factors which are of particular importance to ABC1 consumers, including concerns about food safety, greater sophistication in eating habits and busier lifestyles. According to the original research conducted for this report, ABC1s are considerably more likely than C2DEs to buy luxury supermarket food ranges - although overall, economy ranges are still slightly more popular with the ABC1 consumer than are premium ranges.
The housing market is one of the main drivers of the home furnishing and decorations sector, and has been resilient despite the economic downturn. There has been considerable marketing activity by retailers and manufacturers operating at the luxury end of the market, and the vogue for brand extensions among traditional British brands in all sectors, including clothing, has encompassed both furniture and home accessories. The research findings show that ABC1s are now more prepared than they were in 1999 to pay professionals to decorate their homes.
Following the loss of foreign visitors due to the global economic slowdown, and the terrorist attacks of 11th September 2001, the UK hotel and leisure industry has been making more efforts to persuade ABC1 consumers to take holidays at home. In respect of foreign travel, the research found that ABC1 consumers are now slightly more inclined than they were in 1999 to avoid tourist areas that they consider to be over-commercialised. However, they are now less likely than they were in 1999 to complain that the availability of cheap travel means that there are now only a few \'special\' places left to go on holiday.
2025
