A Study on Spending Patterns and Buying Motives of Indian Gold Consumers

Purpose - The objective of this research is to be acquainted with the spending patterns and buying motives of Indian gold consumers along with the opinions of gold traders. Research design, data, and methodology - The study administers a structured questionnaire survey with 450 consumers and conducts personal interviews with 60 gold businesspersons in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, a leading gold consuming state in the entire country. Using Analysis of Variance, the collected data was analyzed and the hypotheses were tested. Results - Results indicate that 85 percent of Indian gold consumers are purchasing gold in the form of ornaments and jewellery as against 10 percent invested in gold coins/bars. Another 5 percent consumers is investing in gold by choosing either gold traded mutual funds or gold schemes introduced by corporate gold traders. Conclusions - Majority of the Indian gold consumers are considering occasions and festivities while buying gold and then giving preference to price as against least preference to recommendations of brand ambassadors.