In current times, shopping has more functions than it used to have earlier. Though its main motive is to buy essential goods for your living, many people
shop
to reduce stress, as a hobby or as a status symbol. So, the stimulus behind shopping may depend on many factors like socio-economic status,
age
, gender, need and
advertisements
. In spite of
age
being
one
of the determinants, I disagree with the fact that it is more important than the other factors.
The most important factor that influences a
person
to go shopping is the needs or wants of the individual or people related to him/her.
For example
, everyone goes to the mall to buy basic necessities like food, clothes, health supplies and others. Irrespective of the
age
is 16 or 60, the
person
will have to go to the
shop
or buy it online. They will
shop
less if they have fewer mouths to feed and
shop
more if the number of dependents is more.
Secondly
, a
person
cannot purchase anything unless he/she has the monetary means to do so.
This
means that if
one
has more money,
one
will spend equally on luxury items and fundamental needs.
On the other hand
, a
person
with less financial stability will focus more on vital merchandise.
Advertisements
are the third important factor that appeals to our senses more than our actual needs, and we are compelled to buy the thing/s. On television or social media, the
advertisements
make us feel that we need their product, and as we go to the
shop
, the convincing power of the shopkeeper makes us
shop
more.
Finally
, it can be said that a girl or woman shops more than a man.
Although
it is more of a social conception than a scientific fact, it is widely accepted by both genders that
one
buys more than the other.
However
,
age
may affect the shopping pattern of a
person
to a certain extent.
For example
, the things that a 15-year-old girl/boy buys are different from a 35-year-old woman/man or a 55-year-old woman/man. These differences may vary because, in most cases, people continue to buy the same things to maintain the standard and comfort the product provides.
Similarly
, the number of goods bought may change as
age
increases, but it mostly depends on the needs of the
person
.
In conclusion, it can be stated that classifying buyers
according to
their shopping habits is an effective method. But, I would reinforce the fact that even if
age
determines a certain aspect of shopping, it does not affect or can compete with other factors like money, demand, gender and
advertisements
.