Market for Ready-Made Kids' Meals in America - Essay Example

Once these functional standards and values are identified and incorporated into products, the symbolic, aesthetic, and cultural dimensions, which are more related to product visibility and symbolism, become important. They are reflected in consumer purchases of good books, records, paintings, flowers, the application of better color sense, good style and design in the home, and a general upgrading of quality (Lyons 87). These seem to indicate a "better life" and appreciation for aesthetics. From a social-cultural perceptive, ready-Made" Kids' Meals become very popular among all social groups.

During the last five years, more and more African-Americans and Mexican consumers join the market. also, low price and easy cooking attract low social classes and working families. During the last five years, consumers become generally more concerned with the intrinsic value or functionality of products. Now, however, they seem to be guided more by extrinsic qualities -- package, color, design, style, form, branding, and image (Gourmet Dinner Service 2008). The main problem for marketers is that tastes are not stable.

Consumers are flexible, adaptive, and sensitive to change. They are mobiles in geographic and social terms and are optimistic about future income. Psychologically American consumers are geared to expect change. They anticipate and expect changes in automobiles, homes, refrigerators, and clothing very readily. They do not purchase items to last a lifetime, and products with long-lasting functional features do not necessarily represent either the best value or taste. Consumers are willing to discard products to satisfy psychological and sociological needs before the item has been totally consumed.

Consumers want items that are currently attractive, but styled and designed to go out of fashion while the functional utility is still embodied in the product. They wish to be "up to date" (Miller 155). American consumers are confronted with a taste dilemma. They have a host of alternative methods for satisfying different tastes. They are faced continuously with the need to choose from among a wide variety of new products, services, books, movies, and television programs. Some alternatives meet the most discriminating standards; most do not.

Consumers seem to feel that there are a right and a wrong with regard to taste, and if they try hard enough, they can cultivate and achieve "the taste." They are concerned about expressing personalities through their taste but want to do so within the boundaries of good taste.