What Are Consumer Goods?
Consumer goods are products bought for consumption by the average consumer. Alternatively called final goods, consumer goods are the end result of production and manufacturing and are what a consumer will see stocked on the store shelf. Clothing, food, and jewelry are all examples of consumer goods. Basic or raw materials, such as copper, are not considered consumer goods because they must be transformed into usable products.
- Consumer goods, or final goods, are goods sold to consumers for their own use or enjoyment and not as means for further economic production activity.
- From an economic standpoint, consumer goods can be classified as durable (useful for longer than 3 years), nondurable (useful for less than 3 years), or pure services (consumed instantaneously as they are produced).
- For marketing purposes, consumer goods can be grouped into different categories based on consumer behavior, how consumers shop for them, and how frequently consumers shop for them.
Understanding Consumer Goods
Consumer goods are goods sold to consumers for use in the home or school or for recreational or personal use. There are three main types of consumer goods: durable goods, nondurable goods, and services.
Durable goods are consumer goods that have a long-life span (e.g. 3+ years) and are used over time. Examples include bicycles and refrigerators. Nondurable goods are consumed in less than three years and have short lifespans. Examples of nondurable goods include food and drinks. Services include auto repairs and haircuts.
Consumer goods are also called finals good, or end product, because they are the ultimate output of a productive process that occurs over time. Entrepreneurs and businesses combine capital goods (such as machinery in a factory), labor from workers, and raw materials (such as land and basic metals), to produce consumer goods for sale. Goods that are used in these production processes, but not themselves sold to consumers are known as producer goods.
The Consumer Product Safety Act was written in 1972 to oversee the sale of most common consumer goods. The act created the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a group of five appointed officials who oversee the safety of products and issue recalls of existing products.
Marketing of Consumer Goods
Convenience goods are those that are regularly consumed and are readily available for purchase. These goods are mostly sold by wholesalers and retailers and include items such as milk and tobacco products. Convenience goods can be further segmented into staple convenience goods (fulfilling basic customer necessities) and impulse convenience goods (non-priority goods, such as cigarettes).
Shopping goods are those in which a purchase requires more thought and planning than with convenience goods. Shopping goods are more expensive and have more durability and longer lifespans than convenience goods. Shopping goods include furniture and televisions.
Specialty consumer goods are rare and often considered luxurious. The purchase of specialty goods is reserved for shoppers with the financial means to conduct the purchase. Marketing efforts are geared to a niche market, usually the upper class. These products include furs and fine jewelry.
Unsought consumer goods are readily available but are purchased by a few members of the available market. These items are not usually purchased repeatedly and usually serve specific needs, such as life insurance.
Fast-Moving Consumer Goods
One of the largest consumer goods groups is called fast-moving consumer goods. This segment includes nondurable goods like food and drinks that move rapidly through the chain from producers to distributors and retailer then on to consumers. Companies and retailers like this segment as it contains the fastest-moving consumer goods from stores, offering high shelf-space-turnover opportunities.
From a marketing standpoint, consumer goods can be grouped into four categories: convenience, shopping, specialty, and unsought goods. These categories are based on consumer buying patterns.
Consumer Goods ETFs
The largest consumer goods ETF is the iShares U.S. Consumer Goods ETF (IYK). This ETF, founded in 2000, has 111 stock holdings and $448.79 million in assets under management (AUM) as of April 2019. The fund tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Goods Index, also created in 2000. Top holdings are Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Philip Morris, PepsiCo, and Altria Group.
Beyond the U.S. Consumer Goods Index, several of the largest companies are missing. The largest consumer goods company in the world as of April 2019 is Nestle, with brands like Gerber, Toll House, Stouffer’s, Lean Cuisine, and Purina.
Privately Traded Consumer Goods
The index also does not include privately traded consumer goods companies. Two of the largest private consumer goods companies are Mars and SC Johnson. Mars is famous for its candy and gum brands, whereas SC Johnson is a consumer goods company focused on the home with brands like OFF, Pledge, Raid, Ziploc, and Windex.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Types of Consumer Goods?
There are three main types of consumer goods: durable goods, nondurable goods, and services. Durable goods are consumer goods that have a long-life span (e.g. 3+ years) and are used over time. Examples include bicycles and refrigerators. Nondurable goods are consumed in less than three years and have short lifespans. Examples of nondurable goods include food and drinks. Services include auto repairs and haircuts.
How Does a Marketer Classify Consumer Goods?
Based on consumer buying patterns, marketers group consumer goods into four categories - convenience, shopping, specialty, and unsought goods. Convenience goods are those that are regularly consumed and readily available for purchase, such as milk and tobacco products. Shopping goods, such as furniture, require more thought and planning and are more expensive and durable than convenience goods. Specialty consumer goods, like fine jewelry, are often considered luxurious and the purchase of these is reserved for an elite class of shoppers with the financial means to conduct the purchase. Finally, unsought consumer goods are readily available but are purchased by a few members of the available market.
What's the Difference Between Capital and Consumers Goods?
Capital goods, such as buildings, machinery, equipment, vehicles, and tools, are physical assets that a company uses in the production process to manufacture products and services that consumers will later use. Capital goods are not finished goods, instead, they are used to make finished goods. Consumer goods are those used by consumers and have no future productive use. A point to note is that the same physical good could be either a consumer or capital good, depending on how the good is used.