Final answer:
The category of luxury consumers that uses luxury items to demonstrate their success and engage in conspicuous consumption is known as the 'Working Wealthy'. These individuals purchase high-end items to signal their economic power and social status, and this behavior is deeply rooted in a culture that values material acquisition as a measure of happiness and success.
Step-by-step explanation:
SRI Consulting Business Intelligence classifies luxury consumers into distinct categories. The specific category of consumers who use luxury items to demonstrate their success to others and engage in conspicuous consumption is known as the 'Working Wealthy'. This term refers to individuals who exhibit their affluence through the purchase of high-end items—such as luxury vehicles, designer clothing, and extravagant real estate—that serve as social statements beyond their functional purpose.
The practice of conspicuous consumption is not just about owning luxury items for their utility; rather, it symbolizes a person's economic power and social status in a visible way. For the 'Working Wealthy', obtaining and using luxury goods is a way to visibly flaunt wealth, signaling to others their high status and success. This kind of consumption behavior is often influenced by a culture that prizes acquisition and pleasure as indications of happiness and success in industrial societies.
Furthermore, conspicuous consumption is reinforced by societal trends and marketing strategies that promote the idea that certain products can elevate one's social standing. This phenomenon, known as commodity fetishism, emphasizes that owning desired commodities grants one membership in a more prestigious social class. However, it's crucial to note that these consumption choices may also lead to stereotypes and do not necessarily reflect the actual class behavior, as class traits and distinctions have become more blurred in recent times.