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Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.
Published: Oct. 1, 2007 - 225 Pages
Table of Contents
- Issues in the Market
- Who are we? - Comfort Seeker or Goal Driven?
- Mintel research
- Mintel-commissioned research
- Report Synopsis
- Lifestage and Special Groups
- Abbreviations
- Insights and Opportunities
- Targeting the Anxious Comfort Seekers
- Careering towards confidence
- Consolidated financial advice
- Home help
- Free fun
- Targeting the Goal Driven
- Investing in work
- Careering towards autonomy
- Guided risk
- ‘Homing’ in on investments
- Play hard
- Targeting the Contented Comfort Seekers
- Linked investments
- Financial downsizing
- Home pride
- Educated fun
- Travelling together
- Targeting the Altruistic Adventurers
- Work escapologists
- Family first
- Flexible living
- Adventurous adrenaline rush
- Lifestyle Sector in Brief
- In or out of the comfort zone?
- Figure 1: In or out of the comfort zone - an overview of society and comfort level groups, 2007
- When it comes to finance, most like to stay in the comfort zone
- Home is a comfort zone - but can also be the focus for ambitions
- Good health is comforting if you have it, but may need strict goals to achieve it
- Cars and technology - status symbols for some, daunting for others
- Leisure can be fine outside the comfort zone
-
holidays and travel even more so
- How far from the comfort zone in future? It depends where you are in life
- Everyone needs their own comfort zone
- Who’s Innovating?
- Financial innovations
- Targeting youth to ensure a lucrative future
- Charging for banking services
- Helping customers to save
- Safe as houses?
- Home innovations
- The home bistro
- Free technology attracts new consumers
- Comfort Innovations
- ‘Healthy Alcohol’
- Leisure innovations
- In-home entertainment
- IPTV meets Xbox
-
and HDTV
- An alternative reality
- Broadening the parameters of ‘experiences’
- Sector Environment
- Macro-Economic Factors Influencing the Comfort Zone
- The divorce rate
- Figure 2: Marriage and divorce trends in the UK, 1996-2012
- Employment trends
- Figure 3: Employment trends, by gender, 1991-2012
- Interest rate trends
- Figure 4: Interest rates and variable mortgage rates, July 2006-August 2007
- Housing trends
- Figure 5: Rising property ownership trends, 1991-2012
- Attitudes and Priorities
- Key Points Summary
- Marketing messages
- Consumer groups
- Figure 6: Comfort level groups, 2006
- Group 1. Anxious Comfort Seekers (26% of the sample)
- Group 2. Goal Driven (22% of the sample)
- Group 3. Contented Comfort Seekers (26% of the sample)
- Group 4. Altruistic Adventurers (26% of the sample)
- Demographic analysis
- Anxious Comfort Seekers
- Goal-Driven
- Contented Comfort Seekers
- Altruistic Adventurers
- Comfort level groups and life events
- Figure 7: Comfort level groups - by summary of recent or planned life events, 2006
- Anxious Comfort Seekers
- Goal Driven
- Contented Comfort Seekers
- Altruistic Adventurers
- Attitudes to life
- Figure 8: Summary of attitudes to life, 2007
- Are they happy?
-
very - if a Contented Comfort Seeker
- Ready for change?
-
only if able, rather than just willing
- Held back by children
- Able but not necessarily willing
- Life can move faster than plans
- Goals
-
and impulses
- Seize the day?
- Yes for the Goal Driven and Altruistic Adventurers
- The importance of education
- Older and more cautious - responsibility takes hold
- Regrets
-
and sacrifices
- Keep on trying?
- Yes for the Goal Driven and Altruistic Adventurers
- Knowing when to give up
- Risk, adventure and challenge
- Not for the Contented Comfort Seekers
- Financial risks are another ball game
-
and some risks are inevitably unavoidable
- A ‘calculated’ risk
- A high degree of personal risk is common
- Surprisingly risky for the older, more ‘sedate’
- Holidays - coupled with a keen sense of adventure
- Adventure can be without risk
- Adventure in the more ‘mundane’ areas
- Of course, ‘adventure’ is not for everyone
-
particularly related to lifestage and past experience
- Actively seeking challenge
- Chasing Success: Careers and Qualifications
- Key Points Summary
- Marketing messages
- Working all hours?
- Figure 9: Average hours spent working on an average working day - by comfort level groups, 2006
- Attitudes towards work, career and success
- Figure 10: Agreement of attitudes to work, career and success - by comfort level groups, 2006
- Respect and responsibility
- The fine balance between being respected and being liked
- The importance of respect outside the workplace
-
parental?
-
and from grown-up children
- Following instructions
- The marriage of money and responsibility
- Self employment and the search for autonomy
- The distinction between of not wanting responsibility and being told what to do
- Young ‘alpha females’
- Family or career?
- The inevitability of sacrifice
- Some regrets - and missing out?
- Mothers still put family first
- Figure 11: Summary of focus group findings on respect, responsibility and choosing career over family, 2007
- Career plans and comfort zones
- ‘I look on the work I do as a career rather than just a job’
- ‘I want to get to the very top in my career’
- ‘I would like to set up my own business one day’
- Contented Career Seekers
- Altruistic career paths
- Anxious Career Paths
- Career Driven
- Money-minded: Ambition versus Security in Money Matters
- Key Points Summary
- Marketing messages
- Attitudes towards finance
- Figure 12: Agreement of attitudes towards lifestyle and money, 2006
- ‘I am perfectly happy with my standard of living’
- Older adults are the most contented financially
-
but those with children have the greatest financial concerns
- ‘How I spend my time is more important than the money I make’
- ‘Money is the best measure of success’
- Money management
- Figure 13: Agreement of attitudes towards money management, 2006
- ‘I am very good at managing money’
- ‘I usually consult a professional financial adviser before deciding on financial matters’
- Investment, credit and debt
- Figure 14: Agreement of attitudes towards spending and saving, 2006
- ‘I look for profitable ways to invest my money’
- ‘Owning stocks and shares is too risky an investment for me’
- ‘I don’t like the idea of being in debt’
- ‘With a credit card I can buy things I couldn’t normally afford’
- Financial products owned
- Figure 15: Financial products owned - by comfort level group, 2006
- Finance and the comfort zone
- A ‘calculated risk’
- Back to square one?
- Those with definite Goals
- The fruits of financial risk
- The golden age of contentment
- The financially anxious
- Ambition and the Home: Showcase or Cocoon?
- Key Points Summary
- Marketing messages
- ‘Somewhere to come back to’: home and the comfort zone
- Figure 16: ‘I like spending a lot of my free time at home’, agreement/disagreement, 2006
- Home as a financial comfort
- Home - essential for a sense of security (even for non-home-owners)
- Ambitions begin at home?
- A home goal
- Quality not quantity for the altruistic
- Contented home comfort
- Anxious home seekers
- The look of the place
- Figure 17: Average hours spent each day on household chores - by gender and comfort level group, 2006
- Vast majority are clean and tidy
- Figure 18: Attitudes about being house proud, agreement/disagreement - by comfort level group, 2006
- Health Targets: Super fit, Risk-taker or Moderation in All Things?
- Key Points Summary
- Marketing messages
- Health and the comfort zone
- Older adults see good health as a source of comfort
- Stringent health goals
- Comfortably healthy - taking it in their stride
- Anxious health seekers
- Strict health targets
- Health - for fun
- Smoking and drinking
- Figure 19: Smoking behaviour - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 20: Frequent drinkers (those who drink at least two or three times a week), in-home and out - by comfort level group, 2006
- Attitudes towards health
- Figure 21: Agreement with attitudes towards health - by comfort level group, 2006
- ‘Because of my busy lifestyle I don’t take care of myself as well as I could’
- ‘Most of the time I'm trying to lose weight’
- ‘I always think of the calories in what I eat’
- ‘I always look for the light/diet versions of food and drink’
- ‘I always check the nutritional content of food’
- ‘I do some form of sport or exercise at least once a week’
- Fast-Lane Living: Cars and Technology
- Key Points Summary
- Marketing messages
- Cars, technology and the comfort zone
- Fast and Driven
- ‘Dream car’ for the altruistic types
- Contented Comfort Seekers
- Anxious Comfort Seekers
- Attitudes towards technology
- ‘I try to keep up with developments in technology’
- Figure 22: ‘I like to keep up with latest developments in technology’, those definitely agreeing - by gender and comfort level group, 2006
- Ownership of technology
- Figure 23: Ownership of new technology, 2006
- Attitudes towards cars
- ‘My car should catch people’s attention’
- Figure 24: ‘My car should catch people’s attention’, those agreeing - by gender and comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 25: Car number ownership - by comfort level group, 2006
- Car ownership
- Switching Off: The Adrenaline Rush Versus Relaxation in Leisure Time
- Key points summary
- Marketing messages
- Leisure time and the comfort zone
- Risk and excitement needed for an ‘ordinary’ life
- Leisure goals
- Altruistic Adrenaline Seekers
- Comfortable Leisure Seekers
- Financial anxiety about leisure activities
- Attitudes towards leisure time
- Figure 26: Attitudes towards leisure time, strong agreement/disagreement - by comfort level group, 2006
- ‘I prefer to spend a quiet evening at home rather than go out’
- Figure 27: ‘I prefer to spend a quiet evening at home rather than go out, definitely agreeing - by gender and comfort level group, 2006
- ‘I consider myself interested in the arts’
- Figure 28: ‘I consider myself interested in the arts’, definitely agreeing - by gender and comfort level group, 2006
- ‘I enjoy splashing out on a meal in a restaurant’
- Figure 29: ‘I enjoy splashing out on a meal in a restaurant’,those definitely agreeing - by gender and comfort level group, 2006
- Comfort eaters?
- Figure 30: Attitudes towards food - by comfort level group, 2006
- Going Far: Holidays, Travel and Ambition
- Key Points Summary
- Marketing messages
- Travel and the comfort zone
- Travelling - from the mundane to the exciting
- Holiday goals
- Younger
- and Older
- The altruistic holiday
- Seeking just comfort and relaxation
- Anxious and avoidant
- Holiday habits
- Figure 31: Number of holidays taken in the last 12 months - by comfort level group, 2006
- Different kinds of holiday for different kinds of people
- Figure 32: Types of holiday taken (last holiday/last but one holiday) - by comfort level group, 2006
- Attitudes towards holidays
- Figure 33: Agreement of attitudes towards holidays - by comfort level group, 2006
- ‘I prefer to take holidays off the beaten track’
- ‘I like to go back to familiar places for holidays’
- ‘I like to go somewhere different on holiday every time’
- Ambitions for the Future
- Key Points Summary
- Attitudes towards the future
- Figure 34: Agreement that ‘I like to enjoy life and don’t worry about the future’ - by gender and comfort level group, 2006
- ‘I like to enjoy life and don’t worry about the future’
- Future plans
- Figure 35: Summary of plans over the next 12 months - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 36: Top three plans over the next 12 months - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 37: Plans for the future - by lifestage, 2007
- Older men
- Older women
- Family men
- Family women
- Pre-/no family men and women
- Where is the comfort zone?
- Having it both ways
- It all depends
- Some things are riskier than others
- People think differently
- The future is
more comfort seeking?
- Comfort Level Groups
- Figure 38: Comfort level group - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- The demographic scenario
- Figure 39: Comfort level group forecast - assuming a static scenario, 2007 and 2012
- Figure 40: Comfort level group neutral forecast- percentage change during 2007-12
- The rise and fall of comfort seeking?
- The less likely scenario
- Figure 41: Comfort level group forecast - assuming a positive scenario, 2007 and 2012
- Figure 42: Comfort level group positive Forecast - percentage change during 2007-12
- The more likely scenario
- Figure 43: Comfort level group forecast - assuming a negative scenario, 2007 and 2012
- Figure 44: Comfort level group forecast - assuming a negative scenario - percentage changes during 2007-12
- Other macro-economic factors affecting the future
- Appendix
- Sector environment
- Figure 45: Marriage and divorce trends in the UK, 1996-2012
- Figure 46: Trends in employment and unemployment, 1991-2012
- Figure 47: Trends in employment and unemployment - by gender 1991-2012
- Figure 48: Trends in employment and unemployment, 1991-2012
- Figure 49: The rise of owner-occupation, 1991-2012
- Attitudes and priorities
- Figure 50: Comfort level group - by lifestage and demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 51: Comfort level group - by recent or planned life events, 2006
- Figure 52: Attitudes to life - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 53: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I am very happy with my life as it is’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 54: Agreement/disagreement that ‘There’s little i can do to change my life’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 55: Agreement/disagreement that ‘You should seize opportunities in life when they arise’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 56: Agreement/disagreement that ‘If at first you do not succeed, you must keep on trying’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 57: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like taking risks’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 58: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I have a keen sense of adventure’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 59: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like to pursue a life of challenge, novelty and change’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Chasing success: careers and qualifications
- Figure 60: Average hours spent working on an average working day - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 61: Average hours spent working on an average working day - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 62: Average hours spent working on an average working day - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 63: Attitudes to work, career and success - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 64: Agreement/disagreement that ‘It’s important my family thinks I'm doing well’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 65: Agreement/disagreement that ‘It’s important to me to feel respected by my peers’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 66: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I don’t want responsibility, I'd rather be told what to do’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 67: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I am willing to sacrifice time with my family in order to get ahead’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 68: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I look on the work i do as a career rather than just a job’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 69: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I look on the work I do as a career rather than just a job’ - men by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 70: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I look on the work I do as a career rather than just a job’ - women by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 71: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I want to get to the very top in my career’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 72: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I want to get to the very top in my career’ - men by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 73: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I want to get to the very top in my career’ - women by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 74: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I would like to set up my own business one day’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Money-minded: Ambition versus security in money matters
- Figure 75: Attitudes to finance - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 76: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I am perfectly happy with my standard of living’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 77: Agreement/disagreement that ‘How I spend my time is more important than the money i make’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 78: Agreement/disagreement that ‘Money is the best measure of success’ - by demographic sub-group, 2006
- Figure 79: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I am very good at managing money’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 80: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I usually consult a professional financial adviser before deciding on financial matters’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 81: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I look for profitable ways to invest my money’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 82: Agreement/disagreement that ‘Owning stocks and shares is too risky an investment for me’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 83: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I don’t like the idea of being in debt’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 84: Agreement/disagreement that ‘With a credit card I can buy things I couldn’t normally afford’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 85: financial products owned - by comfort level group, 2006
- Ambition and the home: showcase or cocoon?
- Figure 86: Average hours spent each day on household chores - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 89: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I’m always looking for new ideas to improve my home’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 90: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I change the decorations at home as often as i can’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Health Targets: Super fit, Risk-taker or Moderation in all things?
- Figure 91: Agreement/disagreement that ‘Because of my busy lifestyle i don’t take care of myself as well as i could’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 92: Agreement/disagreement that ‘Because of my busy lifestyle, I don’t take care of myself as well as I could’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 93: Agreement/disagreement that ‘Because of my busy lifestyle, I don’t take care of myself as well as I should’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 94: Smoking behaviour - by comfort level group and gender, 2006
- Figure 95: Drinking behaviour - by comfort level group and gender, 2006
- Figure 96: Agreement/disagreement that ‘Most of the time I'm trying to lose weight’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 97: Agreement/disagreement that ‘Most of the time I'm trying to lose weight’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 98: Agreement/disagreement that ‘Most of the time I'm trying to lose weight’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 99: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always think of the calories in what I eat’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 100: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always think of the calories in what I eat’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 101: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always think of the calories in what I eat’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 102: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always check the nutritional content of food’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 103: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always check the nutritional content of food’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 104: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always check the nutritional content of food’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 105: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always look for the light/diet versions of food and drink’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 106: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always look for the light/diet versions of food and drink’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 107: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I always look for the light/diet versions of food and drink’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 108: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I do some form of sport or exercise at least once a week’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 109: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I do some form of sport or exercise at least once a week’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 110: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I do some form of sport or exercise at least once a week’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Fast-Lane Living: Cars and Technology
- Figure 111: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I try to keep up with developments in technology’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 112: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I try to keep up with developments in technology’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 113: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I try to keep up with developments in technology’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 114: Selected new technology items have in home - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 115: Agreement/disagreement that ‘My car should catch people’s attention’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 116: Agreement/disagreement that ‘My car should catch people’s attention’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 117: Agreement/disagreement that ‘My car should catch people’s attention’- women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 118: Number of cars in household - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 119: Type of car owned - by comfort level group, 2006
- Switching Off: The Adrenaline Rush Versus Relaxation in Leisure Time
- Figure 120: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I prefer to spend a quiet evening at home rather than go out’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 121: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I prefer to spend a quiet evening at home rather than go out’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 122: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I prefer to spend a quiet evening at home rather than go out’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 60: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I consider myself interested in the arts’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 123: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I consider myself interested in the arts’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 124: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I consider myself interested in the arts’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 125: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I enjoy splashing out on a meal in a restaurant’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 126: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I enjoy splashing out on a meal in a restaurant’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 127: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I enjoy splashing out of a meal in a restaurant’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 128: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like to try out new food products’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 129: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I enjoy eating foreign food’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 130: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like to try new recipes’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Going Far: Holidays, Travel and Ambition
- Figure 131: number of holidays taken in past 12 months - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 132: Type of holiday taken (last and/or last but one) - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 133: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I prefer to take holidays off the beaten track’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 134: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like to go back to familiar places for holidays’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 135: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like to go somewhere different on holiday every time’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Ambitions for the future
- Figure 136: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like to enjoy life and don’t worry about the future’ - by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 137: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like to enjoy life and don’t worry about the future’ - men by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 138: Agreement/disagreement that ‘I like to enjoy life and don’t worry about the future’ - women by comfort level group, 2006
- Figure 139: Plans over the next 12 months - by life event and comfort level group, 2006
AbstractThis report focuses on the future goals and motivations of consumers, and tries to pinpoint the differences between those who are spurred on by strong goals and ambitions, and those who prefer to remain within their comfort zone, steering clear of risk if possible.
It is important to understand the motivations and lifestyles of both of these consumer types, as the marketing messages needed to attract each group will often need to be very different.
Goal driven: Which areas tend to be affected by ambition and the desire to win? Are they only happy if they can negotiate the best deal, tackle extreme sports, sit in the overtaking lane, and be winners in the eyes of their family and friends?
Comfort seekers: In which areas are they most likely to crave stability and certainty? In which areas (if any) would they be prepared to take risks - and if so, what are the ‘tipping points’ that would make them back away from change?
What is it that makes someone goal-driven or a comfort-seeker? Do consumers change and progress through different lifestages, or are they inherently ambitious or comfort zoners?
How does ‘membership’ of these groups impact on people’s lifestyles in terms of their leisure, holidays, finances, shopping behaviour, and the products that they buy?
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