Issue # 29April 2015
March 2014.

Voice of Thai consumers from INTAGE (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

is INTAGE Thailand’s regular publishing to our valued clients to inspire them with insightful
information about the current issues or topics of interest in the market place.

Theory of being in the SPOTLIGHT:“Beautiful, Handsome…Fabulous”!
Men and women have a somewhat different perspective on what it means to be “goodlooking.” Men define good looking as being healthy while women see having good body
shape and healthy skin as a sign of beauty. Furthermore, when we look deeply into
perspectives based on gender and age, we can see that the trigger that makes both men
and women strive to be good looking are surprisingly varied.
INTAGE (Thailand) Co., Ltd. conducted study among men and women in
4 different sample age groups: 15-18 year-olds, 19-22 year-olds, 23-26 yearolds, and 27-35 year-olds who live in Bangkok. The total sample size for thisstudy was 240 respondents. Results reveal that both genders in every age
group want to be good looking in order to increase their self-confidence andto not appear tired or aged. Noteworthy findings include the fact that mostmen think that being good looking can enhance their job opportunities andattract the opposite gender while most women think that it can enhance social
acceptance (peer opportunities).

One interesting result comes from female aged 15-18. They not only wish to be accepted by people
around them (peer opportunities) but they are also influenced by their favorite idols/celebrities thus
looking after themselves in order to look more like those stars. Consequently, what this group normallydoes is to stay in good shape, whiten their skin, endeavor to have a V-shaped face and/or a prominent
nose, and have supermodel legs. The research shows that idols/celebrities are the most influential
factor that impacts this young group.
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Copyright 2015. INTAGE (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

What do “good looking” people do to take care of themselves?
The ways of maintaining beauty in each gender and age
group are somewhat similar in terms of external care. Most
prefer to exercise, pay attention to personal hygiene, andput focus on how to dress. These actions enhance external
appearance. On the other hand, when it comes to internalcare, there are differences between age groups andgender: The age groups from First-jobbers to 35-year-old
women put more emphasis on personal hygiene and skinnourishing products, while men choose to exercise themost.

“Plastic surgery” is a shortcut to glamor for today’s women…
In addition to conventional ways of enhancing one’s beauty, many people also consider spending
money on plastic surgery. It was assumed that plastic surgery was a trend among the First-jobber
group and older, since they have increased spending power.

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However, this study revealed that the highest numbers of females who have undergone aplastic surgery procedure are high school students and university students. This finding
stands despite the fact that the physical growth of this group is still not complete, they still have afresh and bright skin complexion and are still naturally young. The interesting question is: what makes
this group of females turn to plastic surgery at this very young age? According to this study, the answerappears to lie in the desire of this group for a quick change in their appearance in order to lookoutstanding. They strive to stand out from the crowd, and to create an eye-magnet effect on people
around them. Their true aim is to create opportunities for themselves; for instance, finding their way
into the entertainment industry by receiving an invitation from a popular modeling agency.
The insights outlined above can help marketers decide which marketing strategies should be appliedin their product and service rollout in order to effectively respond to consumers’ needs in different age
groups and genders. Furthermore, marketers can take note that the potential for growth in the beauty
market begins with high-school aged consumers. This target group is still in the growing stage andappears to maintain a continual demand for beauty along the journey from youth to adult. A brandthat can win the hearts of this young group at an early age will have a higher chance to grow withthese consumers along the way.

In summary, this research reveals to us that perception is more important than fact. It clearlyshows that the influence of communications can impact the formation of perceptions and build value
among teenage groups. The look and appearance of their favorite idol becomes their definition of“beautiful” or “handsome” which they feel can open up to them better opportunities in their lives.

is INTAGE (Thailand)’s regular publishing to our valued clients to inspire them with insightful information
about the current issues or topics of interest in the market place.
For previous issues of
http://www.intage-thailand.com

please write to: contact@th.intage.com

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Copyright 2015. INTAGE (Thailand) Co., Ltd.