Abstract:
The purpose of this research were to study : 1) the behavior of rice consurners in Nakhonsithammarat province. 2) factors related to behavior of rice consumers in Nakhonsithammarat province. Data were collected by interviewing 400 rice consumers.
The results of the study showed that consumers bought 5 kilograms of rice once a week. People influencing the purchase decision behavior of consumers were all members in their families excluding their spouses.
For product sector, the results of the study showed that most consumers liked rice from Lep-nok brand, the second favor was a mix between 30 percent Jasmin rice and other rice and the last was 100 percent Jasmin rice. Most consumers bought rice by considering the nutritions of rice (properties of rice cooking). Moreover, most consumers did not specify the rice brands. They chose the brand that was easy to buy. A cause in specify the rice brand, most consumer favor Hong Tong brand because of its well-known brand and it was easy to buy.
For price sector, it is found that although the price of the chosen rice increased, the consumers still bought rice at the same amount. The most influential factor of choosing the price to buy rice was its quality.
For distribution sector, it is found that the most popular place to buy rice was a grocery. The most influential factor of choosing the place to buy rice was convenience.
For promotion sector, it is found that the methods of promotion which influence consumers to buy rice were television commercials, discount and free samples. According to consumers opinions, methods of promotion should include product exhibitions, public relations and lucky draws.
The findings of the study also indicated that the consumers economic status and social factors had statistically significant correlation with the rice consumer behavior in Nakhonsithammarat province at the level 0.05.