FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DEMAND OF BEAUTY SOAP AMONG FEMALE CONSUMERS IN THE GREATER COLOMBO REGION

Abstract

The usage of beauty soap among Sri Lankan consumers had been declining since 2003 to 2009, while globally accepted & fully localized brands were recording a negative growth in terms of the usage. Purpose of this study is to explore how the marketing mix & demographical factors influence the brand preference & purchasing behavior of beauty soap among the female consumers in the greater Colombo region. Sample consisted of 91 female consumers in greater Colombo region. Data were gathered by administrating questionnaires. The independent variables are 4Ps, Age, Income Level, Education, Marital status, Occupation, skin type, social factors, substitute products & dependent variable is the brand preference. Analysis was done using the Chi-square method at the significant level of 0.05. The results indicated that there were statistical relationships between price, product, education, occupation and band preference and there was no statistical relationship between place, promotion, age, income level, marital status, skin type, social factors, and substitute product with the brand preference. Thus the price, product, education & occupation are only having a statistical relationship with the brand preference of female consumers in the greater Colombo region.