Research and analysis

IPO counterfeit goods research (Wave 3) - Part 4 - Segmentation

Published 3 February 2023

Segmentation

A segmentation was conducted on the 29% of the total sample that had knowingly purchased a counterfeit product to identify distinct groups of consumers. The basis for this was data from the first phase of the research derived from variables including the frequency of how often they purchase counterfeits as well as categories their purchases were in.

Three segments were identified which exhibited differences in terms of their purchasing behaviours and demographics:

  • light counterfeit purchasers (11% of total sample): Light counterfeit purchasers tend to be older (36% 55+). They are not as interested in trends around new products and tend to believe what is said about the harmful consequence of counterfeits. Light counterfeit purchasers were the least likely to report an increase in counterfeit purchasing since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic (8%). They were, however, also the most likely to have made their first counterfeit purchase since the start of the pandemic (18%).

  • moderate counterfeit purchasers (11% of total sample): Moderate counterfeit purchasers are relatively evenly split across both gender and age groups. They have a spread of motivations as to why they purchase fake products, but their attitudes show that they are more likely to thoroughly research their purchases. Moderate counterfeit purchasers are more interested in trends around products than light purchasers.

  • heavy counterfeit purchasers (7% of total sample): Heavy counterfeit purchasers are the youngest segment (majority under 35) and skew male. They are the most likely to be parents or guardians (66%). They claim to be at the forefront of trends around new products and buy counterfeit goods across a range of categories. Attitudinally, they have the least regard for their purchases being harmful. Half (49%) of heavy counterfeit purchasers reported an increase in the frequency of their purchases since the outbreak of Covid-19.

Light counterfeit purchasers

</strong>Profile</strong>

Percentage %
Of counterfeit purchasers 38%
Of the total sample 11%

Gender

Percentage %
Female 51%
Male 49%

Age

Percentage %
18-24 13%
25-34 18%
35-44 18%
45-54 16%
55+ 36%

Purchasing behaviour

Change in frequency of counterfeit purchase since outbreak of COVID-19

Percentage %
Increased 8%
Decreased 19%
Remained the same 18%
Hadn’t purchased them prior to COVID-19 56%

Behaviour and consequences

Percentage %
Buying a “fake” or “replica” product it is usually a spontaneous decision 53%
I don’t believe in what is said about the harmful consequences of “fake” or “replica” products 19%
Before purchasing a “fake” or “replica” product I do research online 42%

Purchased counterfeit categories

Percentage %
01 - Clothing, footwear and accessories 18%
02 - Sports 9%
03 - Beauty and hygiene 5%
04 - Electricals 4%
05 - Toys 4%
06 - Alcohol 1%

Consumer type

Percentage %
People often ask me about new products 53%
I am usually among the first of my friends to try new products 44%

Moderate counterfeit purchasers

Profile

Percentage %
Of counterfeit purchasers 37%
Of the total sample 11%

Gender

Percentage %
Female 51%
Male 48%

Age

Percentage %
18-24 18%
25-34 26%
35-44 20%
45-54 13%
55+ 22%

Purchasing behaviour

Change in frequency of counterfeit purchase since outbreak of COVID-19

Percentage %
Increased 24%
Decreased 15%
Remained the same 55%
Hadn’t purchased them prior to COVID-19 7%

Behaviour and consequences

Percentage %
Buying a “fake” or “replica” product it is usually a spontaneous decision 60%
I don’t believe in what is said about the harmful consequences of “fake” or “replica” products 32%
Before purchasing a “fake” or “replica” product I do research online 51%

Purchased counterfeit categories

Percentage %
01 - Clothing, footwear and accessories 52%
02 - Sports 39%
03 - Electricals 23%
04 - Beauty and hygiene 19%
05 - Toys 18%
06 - Alcohol 13%

Consumer type

Percentage %
People often ask me about new products 63%
I am usually among the first of my friends to try new products 54%

Heavy counterfeit purchasers

Profile

Percentage %
Of counterfeit purchasers 24%
Of the total sample 7%

Gender

Percentage %
Female 44%
Male 56%

Age

Percentage %
18-24 24%
25-34 40%
35-44 17%
45-54 11%
55+ 8%

Purchasing behaviour

Change in frequency of counterfeit purchase since outbreak of COVID-19

Percentage %
Increased 49%
Decreased 11%
Remained the same 3%
Hadn’t purchased them prior to COVID-19 38%

Behaviour and consequences

Behaviour and consequences Percentage %
Buying a “fake” or “replica” product it is usually a spontaneous decision 62%
I don’t believe in what is said about the harmful consequences of “fake” or “replica” products 48%
Before purchasing a “fake” or “replica” product I do research online 55%

Purchased counterfeit categories

Percentage %
01 - Clothing, footwear and accessories 84%
02 - Sports 73%
03 - Toys 69%
04 - Beauty and hygiene 68%
05 - Electricals 64%
06 - Alcohol 63%

Consumer type

Percentage %
People often ask me about new products 73%
I am usually among the first of my friends to try new products 71%