Released on = April 16, 2007, 5:04 am

Press Release Author = Bharat Book Bureau

Industry = Marketing

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.

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