Understanding the Consumer brings together marketing theory and practice in a truly consumer-centric approach. It challenges the lip service usually paid to this concept and demonstrates that a fundamental understanding of the consumer is critical to the future of effective marketing.

Drawing on cutting-edge developments in the literature it reconceptualizes how consumers respond and act in the marketplace with particular attention to:

- relationships with suppliers, products and brands

- their innovative, creative and resistant behaviour

- the complexity and unpredictability of their consumption behaviour

- their increasing need to get closer to production.

The book challenges existing functionally driven marketing thinking and shows how a more holistic approach to the marketplace will drive better theory and practice. It combines a jargon-free approach to the subject with an illustration of the relevant theory using practical, topical examples from the marketplace as well as drawing on other business related disciplines including sociology and economics to support its arguments.

This highly-practical and engaging textbook balances cutting-edge research with insights from today's marketing professionals making it the ideal guide for anyone studying consumer behaviour. Industry-leading consumer experts offer a glimpse of what it's like to be a marketer, and how integral consumer behaviour theory is to their everyday roles - for example, explaining how WWF is using behavioural science to help humanity's fight against climate change, and how social media algorithms are pushing the creation of increasingly emotive content. In addition, the case studies and consumer insights features have been extensively revised and now cover topics such as consumer engagement during a pandemic, big brand support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and textile waste in the fashion industry. This third edition reflects the very latest research with a new chapter on sustainable and ethical consumption, and updated coverage of digital consumption and online consumer behaviour. An enhanced Research Insights feature now includes new critical thinking questions to help readers develop their analytical mindset. The new enhanced e-book offers an even more flexible and engaging way to learn. It features carefully-curated resources that are designed to stimulate, assess, and consolidate learning, including practitioner videos, multiple-choice questions, and a flashcard glossary. This book is accompanied by the following teaching support resources for adopting lecturers: PowerPoint presentations Instructor's manual Bank of case studies Learning activities Examination questions

Understanding the Consumer brings together marketing theory and practice in a truly consumer-centric approach. It challenges the lip service usually paid to this concept and demonstrates that a fundamental understanding of the consumer is critical to the future of effective marketing.

Drawing on cutting-edge developments in the literature it reconceptualizes how consumers respond and act in the marketplace with particular attention to:

- relationships with suppliers, products and brands

- their innovative, creative and resistant behaviour

- the complexity and unpredictability of their consumption behaviour

- their increasing need to get closer to production.

The book challenges existing functionally driven marketing thinking and shows how a more holistic approach to the marketplace will drive better theory and practice. It combines a jargon-free approach to the subject with an illustration of the relevant theory using practical, topical examples from the marketplace as well as drawing on other business related disciplines including sociology and economics to support its arguments.