Social classes:
Social classes are defined as groups more or less homogenous and ranked against each other according to a form of social hierarchy. Even if it’s very large groups, we usually find similar values, lifestyles, interests and behaviors in individuals belonging to the same social class.
We often assume three general categories among social classes : lower class, middle class and upper class.
People from different social classes tend to have different desires and consumption patterns. Disparities resulting from the difference in their purchasing power, but not only. According to some researchers, behavior and buying habits would also be a way of identification and belonging to its social class.
Beyond a common foundation to the whole population and taking into account that many counterexample naturally exist, they usually do not always buy the same products, do not choose the same kind of vacation, do not always watch the same TV shows, do not always read the same magazines, do not have the same hobbies and do not always go in the same types of retailers and stores.
For example, consumers from the middle class and upper class generally consume more balanced and healthy food products than those from the lower class.
They don’t go in the same stores either. If some retailers are, of course, patronized by everyone, some are more specifically targeted to upper classes such as The Fresh Market, Whole Foods Market, Barneys New York or Nordstrom. While others, such as discount supermarkets, attract more consumers from the lower class.
Some studies have also suggested that the social perception of a brand or a retailer is playing a role in the behavior and purchasing decisions of consumers.
In addition, the consumer buying behavior may also change according to social class. A consumer from the lower class will be more focused on price. While a shopper from the upper class will be more attracted to elements such as quality, innovation, features, or even the “social benefit” that he can obtain from the product.
Cultural trends:
Cultural trends or “Bandwagon effect” are defined as trends widely followed by people and which are amplified by their mere popularity and by conformity or compliance with social pressure. The more people follow a trend, the more others will want to follow it.
They affect behavior and shopping habits of consumers and may be related to the release of new products or become a source of innovation for brands.
By social pressure, desire to conformity or belonging to a group, desire to “follow fashion trends” or simply due to the high visibility provided by media, consumers will be influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by these trends.
For example, Facebook has become a cultural trend. The social network has widely grew to the point of becoming a must have, especially among young people.
It is the same with the growth of the tablet market. Tablets such as iPad or Galaxy Tab have become a global cultural trend leading many consumers to buy one. Even if they had never specially felt the need before.
For a brand, create a new cultural trend from scratch is not easy. Apple did it with the tablets with its iPad. But this is an exception. However, brands must remain attentive to the new trends and “bandwagon effects”. Whether to accompany it (create a page on Facebook) or to take part in the newly created market (create its own tablet).
II. Social factors
Social factors are among the factors influencing consumer behavior significantly. They fall into three categories: reference groups, family and social roles and status.
Reference groups and membership groups :
The membership groups of an individual are social groups to which he belongs and which will influence him. The membership groups are usually related to its social origin, age, place of residence, work, hobbies, leisure, etc..
The influence level may vary depending on individuals and groups. But is generally observed common consumption trends among the members of a same group.
The understanding of the specific features (mindset, values, lifestyle, etc..) of each group allows brands to better target their advertising message.
More generally, reference groups are defined as those that provide to the individual some points of comparison more or less direct about his behavior, lifestyle, desires or consumer habits. They influence the image that the individual has of himself as well as his behavior. Whether it is a membership group or a non-membership group.
Because the individual can also be influenced by a group to which he doesn’t belong yet but wishes to be part of. This is called an aspirational group. This group will have a direct influence on the consumer who, wishing to belong to this group and look like its members, will try to buy the same products.
For example, even if he doesn’t need it yet, a surfing beginner may want to buy “advanced” brands or products used by experienced surfers (aspirational gr