An aplication to identify the characteristics that distincts impulse buyers from non-impulse buyers during recession times

Impulse buying has long been considered a significant form of consumer buying action in the world. Yet today, 60 years after the first studies in this area, researchers continue to have difficulties operationalizing the concept. With this study, the importance and nature of the impulse buying and impulse buyers to the today's retailers will be pointed out. To do that, this study aims to identify the distinctive characteristics of impulse buyers in today's Turkey. In this study, two types of shoppers identified based on their in-store or pre- shopping decision making. Impulse buyers are defined in terms of preferences for the in-store buying decisions. This study examines the shopping life styles, general shopping behavior and demographics of the shoppers. The findings provide a profile of impulse buyers, who accounts for 32 percent of the total sample. This profile provides important insights. Keywords: Economic Crisis, Consumer Behavior, Impulse Buying, Discriminant Analysis.