Selected characteristics of Slovak consumers purchasing behaviour[Vybrané charakteristiky nákupného správania slovenských spotrebiteľov]

Objective of the paper is to point out selected patterns of Slovak consumers based on analysis of buying behaviour. Results of presented survey of consumer buying patterns and preferences have pointed out key characteristics of buying behaviour of Slovak consumers. We're able to confirm that new business companies as hypermarket and supermarket became main place for food shopping. Totally 72% of respondents indicated them as the type of store where they spend largest share of food expenses. The self-service shop, traditional business units, is still the shopping place for 14% of respondents. The most important factors influencing selection of the type of store are closeness and location of the store, assortment and product quality, store personnel and price level. More than half of the respondents consider opening times the key service for choosing the place for shopping. 49.6% of respondents is using car to do shopping, 35.5% of respondents walk. 32.5% of respondents is using advertising leaflets to plan what to buy. 14.6% of respondents answered that even though receiving leaflets, they don't read them. 31.3% of respondents are holders of loyalty cards. Most visited retail chain is Tesco.Currently building of large-scale business formats slowed down and retail chains try to get closer towards customer not only by reducing floor space but above all by locating the stores in the centre of cities with lower population.