1Client Service, The Nielson Company Korea 2Department of Consumer and Family Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University
Corresponding Author:
Kee Ok Kim ,Tel: +82-2-760-0510, Email: kokim@skku.edu
Received: February 6, 2012; Revised: February 10, 2012 Accepted: September 21, 2012.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to understand consumer values derived from products by the contemporary consumers, as the meaning of a product is extended from the functional utilities to the mediums of fulfilling consumer values. Consumer values have been researched from the marketers’ perspectives and, thus, the scales to measure consumer values tend to be too abstract and not always reflective of the consumers’ perspectives. Holbrook’s typology of consumer values is utilized and the products are classified into four groups according to the product characteristic of the utilitarian versus hedonic, and the consumption spaces of the indoor and outdoor. The findings are as follows. First, the values of efficiency, excellence, ethics, and spirituality are more likely derived from utilitarian products, while the value of play is more likely derived from the hedonic products. Second, the values of efficiency, excellence, and ethics are more likely derived from the indoor products, and values of playfulness, esthetics, status, and respect are more likely derived from the outdoor products. Third, the most frequently mentioned values are the efficiency, playfulness, and status. Fourth, the list of products answered as being representative for four types of products are short to include obvious products such as TV, mobile phone, computer, car, refrigerator, and MP3 player. Both the utilitarian and hedonic values are derived from TV, computer, and mobile phone, while the utilitarian value from refrigerator and car, and the hedonic value from MP3 player, digital camera, and game consoles. The results imply that consumer values should be carefully understood and reflected in developing new products in order to successfully fulfill consumers’ underlying needs and requirements.
PDF Links
Full text via DOI
Download Citation 
Supplement 
