Decision-making Styles of Young-adult Consumers in the Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine decision making styles and to test the Sproles and Kendall’s (1986) CSI instrument (Consumer Style Inventory) among young-adult consumers in the Republic of Macedonia. It segments young-adult consumers by their decision-making styles and determines the differences among segments relative to their decision-making styles. The empirical analysis is based on data obtained from consumer survey. The data were analyzed using Cronbach alpha coefficients, exploratory factor analysis and k-means cluster analysis. Research results confirmed eight-factor model. Two homogeneous segments of consumers were identified: Economic consumers and Recreational consumers. Significant gender differences were found on four factors of consumer-decision making styles (brand consciousness, novelty-fashion consciousness, recreational-hedonistic consumer and habitual, brand-loyal consumer). Marketing strategies should be tailored to the specific characteristics of consumers in the Republic of Macedonia.