Affluent Asians spending on status

Goods and experiences which provide “a sense of status, exclusivity and uniqueness” are key considerations when shopping for luxury items for Asia Pacific’s elite, according to the Visa Affluent Study 2015.

In other words, affluent Asians are prepared to spend on status.

According to the study, a significant percentage of Asia Pacific affluents describe themselves as “status seekers”, with more than one third of the affluent in China (38 per cent), Hong Kong (36 per cent) and Korea and Japan (31 per cent each) are motivated to purchase luxury goods to display their social standing. Affluent in India (29 per cent) and in Singapore (27 per cent) also report taking pleasure in the attention that luxury goods attract.

“What drives Asia Pacific’s affluent in making luxury purchase decisions varies across the region, but the common factor is the search for unique products and services that give a sense of status and exclusivity,” said Ruben Salazar, VP, products with Visa Asia Pacific.

“While quality remains important for most consumers, Asia Pacific’s affluent are continuously looking to go beyond quality guarantee to find that special product or experience that stands out from the crowd and that gives a sense of self-satisfaction.”

Only the affluent from Indonesia and Australia described themselves as being more driven by other considerations, with almost a quarter of Indonesian affluent (23 per cent) surveyed also valuing quality alongside social status (24 per cent) and exclusivity (28 per cent).

Some 500 respondents from each of Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea were interviewed online and in face-to-face surveys for the study. Respondents have an average household income of US$73,000 per annum and are aged between 18 and 55 years old.