Includes bibliographical references (p. [203]-234) and index.

"Consumed is a forward-thinking look at how shoppers--and consumption--have changed, now and for the foreseeable future, and how businesses must rethink their strategies in order to thrive in this new economic landscape. A worldwide study by the authors found the following: - More than a quarter of respondents believe their lives would be better if they owned fewer things. - 55 percent of Americans surveyed say they're deriving a sense of satisfaction from reducing their purchases during the down-turn, and seven in ten global respondents say they feel good about reducing the amount of waste they create. - Nearly half of the American respondents have no intention of going back to their old shopping patterns, even when the economy rebounds. Brand experts Andrew Benett and Ann O'Reilly advise businesses on current and pending shifts in consumer behavior and what they must do to lead in this new economy"--