{"id":63905,"date":"2025-03-25T10:43:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T14:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=63905"},"modified":"2025-07-17T06:30:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T10:30:54","slug":"how-values-guide-consumer-buying-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-values-guide-consumer-buying-decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"How Values Guide Consumer Buying Decisions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After moving to a new community, Annalise hunts for a new financial institution. She has many options. Of course, she considers the fees and returns she might get. She also weighs other factors the banks and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/case-studies\/all-in-credit-union\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credit unions<\/a> tout as making them distinct. Yet, when it comes down to it, the differentiating factor for her, is which institution best reflects her own beliefs and values. Annalise exemplifies the values-driven consumer growing more common in the marketplace.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>On February 28, 2025, consumers nationwide participated in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/2025\/02\/28\/feb-28-economic-blackout-protest-2025-what-to-know\/80727498007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">24-hour economic blackout<\/a> to take a stand against large brands retracting their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/evolution-of-dei-belonging-inclusive-workplace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)<\/a> efforts. Earlier in the month, consumers boycotted Target, and plans were in the works to boycott Amazon, Nestle and Walmart for seven days in the coming weeks. These exemplify values-driven consumer behavior at a massive scale.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Yet, individual consumers increasingly make purchase decisions on a daily basis that reflect what matters most to them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>What matters to the purpose-driven consumer<\/h2>\n<p>Different consumers will have different priorities, but some commonalities are clear. For example, in PWC\u2019s latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwc.com\/gx\/en\/issues\/c-suite-insights\/voice-of-the-consumer-survey.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Voice of the Consumer Survey<\/a>, 46% of their 20,000 respondents across 31 countries sought to reduce their environmental impact by buying more sustainable products. Some 43% also indicated they make more considered purchases to reveal their consumption. As the global consultancy observed, \u201cthe expectation that companies will do the right thing for the environment is now seen as table stakes.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>EY similarly identified a growing consumer population focused on sustainability. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ey.com\/en_be\/insights\/digital-transformation\/gaining-consumer-insights-unleashing-the-power-of-purpose-driven-change\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2023 report<\/a> on its research, the firm found 68% of consumers expected companies to invest in sustainably produced products and services. EY further observed, \u201cconsumers now view a company&#8217;s behavior as equally important as the products it offers.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Sustainability isn\u2019t the only factor values-driven consumers consider. The national boycotts already mentioned demonstrate buying behavior dictated by political view and perspectives on diversity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>With such a wide array of options available, consumers are able now to <a href=\"https:\/\/plma.com\/article\/who-are-values-oriented-consumers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">consider a range of factors<\/a> including:<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether products are good for the planet<\/li>\n<li>Whether companies are good to their people and contribute to their communities<\/li>\n<li>Whether the brand is responsible and trustworthy<\/li>\n<li>Whether the purchase is good for health (personal and community)<\/li>\n<li>Whether the product treats animals well<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Of course, this doesn\u2019t preclude the consumer from valuing affordability at well. With worries over inflation rising, the values-oriented consumer still does weigh cost in many cases.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>The power of value-driven consumption<\/h2>\n<p>Purpose-driven spending is not a fad, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/blogs\/the-power-of-the-values-based-consumer-and-of-authentic-brand-values\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to Forrester<\/a>, which has been discussing the trend since 2017. In 2020, the consultancy observed, \u201ccompanies that put their values into action grow faster than other companies.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/blogs\/the-what-why-and-how-of-values-driven-marketing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2023 follow-up<\/a> Forrester principal analyst Xiaofeng Wang noted, values-motivated consumers can be found globally. \u201cIn APAC, nearly half or more consumers (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/surveys\/forresters-consumer-benchmark-survey-2022\/SUS20088\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">46% in Australia, 72% in metro China, and 74% in metro India<\/a>) regularly purchase from brands or companies that align with their personal values.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Yes, the trend is more prevalent among high-income and Generation Z consumers. Yet, bringing intentionality to buying behavior isn\u2019t exclusive to these groups.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>One reason? The Internet has empowered a much better informed consumer. Researching a brand\u2019s values or product labels or company certifications is easier today. Plus, individuals have convenient access to social media, online reviews, and news coverage to learn more about what companies or organizations align with their social and environmental values.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Purchasing is personal for values-driven consumers<\/h2>\n<p>Consumers like Annalise cast a wider net when making purchasing decisions, according to 2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturallynetwork.org\/naturally-network-blog\/valuesbasedconsumer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">research by SPINS<\/a>. Compared to their counterparts, 65% of these shoppers were \u201cextremely or very adventurous\u201d when it came to trying new brands and products.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Additionally, the 49% of shoppers they characterized as \u201cvalues-oriented\u201d also found other ways to gain a deeper understanding of their options:<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>74% always or usually look at ingredients prior to purchasing a product<\/li>\n<li>75% always or usually pay attention to labels on the packaging for food and beverage<\/li>\n<li>73% are influenced by product certification when purchasing a product<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>What this trend means for your organization<\/h2>\n<p>With consumers increasingly making their buying decisions based on personal values such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/sustainability-sogostudy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">environmental sustainability<\/a>, social justice, animal welfare, or ethical labor practices, organizations must demonstrate their commitment to responsible practices.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Often this is done through mission, vision, and values. By integrating these throughout your organizational culture and all aspects of your business, you can appeal to both internal and external stakeholders with authenticity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Note that key word \u2014 authenticity. It\u2019s up to you to transparently communicate your values and efforts to good, but you also need to do so in a trustworthy way. If consumers don\u2019t trust your efforts, or see your marketing and other communications around these efforts as \u201cgreenwashing\u201d or a cynical attempt to grow your market share, your purpose-led branding will backfire.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/eroding-brand-trust\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Breaching consumer trust<\/a> can have wide-reaching and long-lasting impacts. Abandoning your business values and mission can also negatively impact your recruiting and retention efforts. We\u2019ll explore that phenomenon in more detail in the final article in this series.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>In the meantime, it\u2019s important to recognize that willingness among consumers to use their dollars to support their values and beliefs has reverberations for organizations, brands and their products. Proceed with purpose, as your customers are increasingly doing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>Want to better understand customer trust in your brand?<\/strong> Build a better understanding of your customers\u2019 priorities. \u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/request-a-demo\/?utm_source=internal&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=intext_RAD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Connect with us to learn how Sogolytics can help. <\/a><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n  \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-values-guide-consumer-buying-decisions\/\"\n  },\n  \"headline\": \"How Values Guide Consumer Buying Decisions\",\n  \"description\": \"In a world where consumers expect a lot out of the brands they support, how do values impact customers' decisions about where to spend their money?\",\n  \"image\": \"https:\/\/cdn.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-1700222492.jpg\",  \n  \"author\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"Sogolytics\",\n    \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/author\/sogosurvey\/\"\n  },  \n  \"publisher\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"Sogolytics\",\n    \"logo\": {\n      \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.sogolytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sogolytics-bgW.svg\"\n    }\n  },\n  \"datePublished\": \"2025-04-09\",\n  \"dateModified\": \"2025-07-15\"\n}\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is a values-driven consumer?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"A values-driven consumer is someone who makes purchase decisions based not only on product quality or price, but also on whether a brand aligns with their personal beliefs\u2014such as sustainability, diversity, ethical labor practices, and transparency.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Why are more consumers making values-based purchasing decisions?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Consumers today are better informed and more socially conscious. With access to brand information online, including reviews and certifications, they are empowered to support companies that reflect their personal values.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What influences values-driven buying behavior?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Key influences include environmental sustainability, social justice, DEI commitments, animal welfare, ethical labor practices, product certifications, and brand transparency. Affordability remains important, but it\u2019s weighed alongside these values.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How can businesses appeal to values-driven consumers?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Organizations can appeal to values-driven consumers by clearly communicating their mission, vision, and values, committing to sustainable and ethical practices, and building trust through authenticity\u2014not greenwashing or performative efforts.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What are the risks of not aligning with consumer values?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Failing to align with consumer values or breaching trust can lead to brand boycotts, reputational damage, loss of customer loyalty, and even impact recruiting and retention. Consumers today expect companies to act with purpose and integrity.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After moving to a new community, Annalise hunts for a new financial institution. She has many options. Of course, she considers the fees and returns she might get. She also weighs other factors the banks and credit unions tout as making them distinct. Yet, when it comes down to it, the differentiating factor for her, is which institution best reflects her own beliefs and values. Annalise exemplifies the values-driven consumer growing more common in the marketplace. On February 28, 2025, consumers nationwide participated in a 24-hour economic blackout to take a stand against large brands retracting their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Earlier in the month, consumers boycotted Target, and plans were in the works to boycott Amazon, Nestle and Walmart for seven days in the coming weeks. These exemplify values-driven consumer behavior at a massive scale. Yet, individual consumers increasingly make purchase decisions on a daily basis that reflect what matters most to them. What matters to the purpose-driven consumer Different consumers will have different priorities, but some commonalities are clear. For example, in PWC\u2019s latest Voice of the Consumer Survey, 46% of their 20,000 respondents across 31 countries sought to reduce their environmental impact by buying more sustainable products. Some 43% also indicated they make more considered purchases to reveal their consumption. As the global consultancy observed, \u201cthe expectation that companies will do the right thing for the environment is now seen as table stakes.\u201d EY similarly identified a growing consumer population focused on sustainability. In a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":64047,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[204,75],"tags":[799,616,684,579],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.7.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Values Guide Consumer Buying Decisions - Sogolytics Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a world where consumers expect a lot out of the brands they support, how do values impact customers&#039; decisions about where to spend their money?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-values-guide-consumer-buying-decisions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Values Guide Consumer Buying Decisions - 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