Question: Explain the cultural, social, and personal characteristics that affect people when they choose a restaurant to celebrate their birthdays.
Answer:
Marketers are always trying to keep up with buying behaviors. Consumer buyer behavior refers to buying behaviors of individuals and households who buy goods and services for personal consumption (Kotler, 2008, pg. 131). For example, trying to decide what restaurant to pick to celebrate a birthday at. Different factors can affect this decision such as; cultural, social, and personal characteristic factors.
A person’s culture is what helps to shape a person and is what forms a person to make their everyday decisions. Culture is the set of values, perceptions, wants, and behaviors learned by members of society from families and other important institutions (Kotler, 2008, pg. 131). For example, if the person wants to throw a birthday party for their child and their friends they might pick a restaurant such as Chuck-e-Cheese or Peter Piper Pizza. We perceive these places to be kid friendly because that’s what the restaurants advertise themselves to be.
A consumer’s buying behavior is also influenced by social factors, such as the consumer’s small groups, family, and social roles and status (Kotler, 2008, pg.134). A person’s family status can play a big role in deciding what restaurant to pick. For example, if there is a teenager who wants to have their sweet sixteen at a certain place, they have to look to their parents to help them decide what is affordable. The American social classes are; upper class, middle class, working class, and lower class. If the teenager’s parents are in the lower class they might have to pick a restaurant that would be cheaper than what an upper class family could provide. Lower class is considered to be the working poor, and upper class is where Americans are wealthier.
A buyer’s decisions are also influenced by personal factors, such as the