FT NEWS

Men and women shop in very different ways, which should come as no surprise. People have needs, and in order to meet those needs, they will shop. Shopping is a daily activity for people all over the world, from low-cost goods to high-end products.

Most people believe that women spend more time shopping than men, who prefer to walk into a store, look for a specific thing they want, buy it as quickly as possible (unmindful of minor differences that lead to somewhat more expensive purchases), and then leave. Women, on the other hand, patiently search for the type of product in all available brands, compare the designs, check for any available offers (unmindful of the amount of time they spend selecting a product of their choice), bargain, and ultimately purchase the product to their complete satisfaction.

When online shopping was limited to computers, electrical products, music, and other similar items, it was a male-dominated world. Women grabbed the lead in internet shopping as the product category grew.

The majority of women prefer to purchase online on a desktop computer, while men prefer to shop on their smart phones. Men limit their search to specific things they are looking for at the moment of purchase, whereas women look for products different than what they are looking for. Both sexes consider price when making a decision, but men tend to compromise easily with quality over price, whereas women are more price sensitive and will make a purchase based on the best available offer.

Men prefer objective information (make, model, speed, etc.) above subjective information, but women are more comprehensive and evaluate both (customer feedback) and objective information. This doesn’t imply that males don't regard other people's perspectives and experiences; rather, their approach is different: Women would want to know the reasons and motivations behind why others purchased an item and whether their circumstance is comparable before considering it in their decision-making, whereas men use the experiences of others with a product they're interested in to build their own view.

Colors have a significant impact on both men and women. Bright colors are preferred by men, whereas soft colors are preferred by women. Shaded colors, or colors with black added to them, are preferred by men, whereas tinted colors, or colors with white added to them, are favored by women.

Men are more likely than women to provide comments on their purchases and product reviews. Single men are more likely to shop for alcoholic beverages, whilst single women prefer to buy for cosmetics and health care products. The list goes on and on.

Gender is a very important component among all the criteria, and it plays a critical part in purchase decisions. Males have a stronger external attention, whilst females have a stronger internal focus.

When it comes to psychological and physiological differences, males and females have plenty differences. When it comes to purchasing things or services, guys and females behave in completely different ways. Whereas women are more subjective and intuitive, males are more analytical and logical, basing their decisions on the purchases of others rather than trying it out for themselves. Further, where men tend to make purchases based on immediate needs women look at purchase as a long-term decision.