This is the first time that Mintel has examined teenage shopping habits as a specific topic. Teenagers (for this report including 11-14s and 15-19s) are highly influential shoppers. They have growing amounts of money to spend on their appearance, leisure goods and electrical products like mobile phones. Gifts for friends are highly important to this group, influencing shopping patterns for items like cards, plush toys and gift style toiletries. Younger teenage consumers are emerging from the family cocoon, learning to make choices and beginning to manage their own money. They shop with friends and for many, shopping is a social activity forming a large part of their leisure time. By the time they reach the upper end of the age spectrum, most are very independent shoppers, with a strong sense of identity, style and value. Spending power is large throughout the age spectrum, although it grows as teenagers get older and take on part-time jobs or casual work like babysitting. From age 16 some are in full-time work, and spending power increases significantly, while others are students with loans and high living costs.

This is a fascinating and complex group of consumers. They have substantial spending power and retailers that hit the right mark with teenage shoppers can benefit significantly. This report examines where their money comes from, and what teenagers spend it on. It also looks at where they shop and their attitudes towards shopping, examining the key factors that motivate teenage shoppers.

For the purposes of this report, the term teenager incorporates all aged 11-19 years. This age band is referred to as teenagers, youngsters or teens throughout the report. Younger teenagers is usually a reference to 11-14s, while older teens usually refers to 15-19s. The tables have explicit age breaks in them, and do vary a little, depending on the size of samples available and on the sources used. Research used for this report concentrates mainly on shopping habits, attitudes towards shopping and ownership of various consumer goods. It also touches on leisure activities, particularly where they relate to sports.

Following these definitions, this report offers the user a fresh insight into:

Market factors/ Where the money comes from/ Where the money goes/ Shopping destinations/ Attitudes Towards Shops and Shopping/ Teenage Fashion/ Sports Clothing and Equipment/ Teenage Grooming/ Books, Stationery and Magazines/ In-home Entertainment/ Mobile Phones, Computers and The Internet- Future trends/ Five year forecasts

Other related reports include:

- Teenage Grooming Habits - UK, Market Intelligence, September 2002

- Teenage Magazines - UK, Market Intelligence, August 2002

- Teenage Leisure - UK, Leisure Intelligence, July 2002

- Pocket Money - UK, Market Intelligence, June 2002.

Definitions