Consumer buying behaviour in retail refers to the process through which consumers identify their needs, search for information, evaluate alternatives, purchase products or services, and assess their satisfaction after purchase. It is an important area of Retail Operations and Store Management because retailers need to understand why customers enter a store, what influences their product choices, how they make purchase decisions, and what encourages them to return. Consumer behaviour varies according to the product category, income, age, lifestyle, personality, shopping occasion and retail environment. The consumer buying process generally begins with need recognition. A consumer identifies a problem or feels a need for a particular product. For example, a customer may realise that their mobile phone is outdated and decide to purchase a new smartphone. The next stage is information search. Consumers may collect information from advertisements, websites, social media, product reviews, friends, family members, salespersons and previous experience. In retail stores, product displays, labels, demonstrations and salesperson recommendations can also provide information. After gathering information, consumers evaluate available alternatives. They compare products on the basis of price, quality, features, brand reputation, design, warranty, availability and other relevant attributes. The importance given to each factor depends on the product category. A consumer purchasing groceries may focus strongly on price and freshness, whereas a consumer purchasing a laptop may give greater importance to technical specifications, performance and warranty. The next stage is the purchase decision. The consumer selects a product, brand, retailer and quantity and completes the transaction. However, the final decision can still be influenced by factors such as discounts, stock availability, payment facilities, salesperson behaviour and store atmosphere. After purchasing the product, the consumer evaluates the experience. If the product performs as expected, the consumer experiences satisfaction and may repurchase it or recommend it to others. If the product fails to meet expectations, dissatisfaction may result in complaints, returns, negative reviews or switching to another brand. Several factors influence consumer decision-making within a product category. One of the most important factors is price. Consumers compare prices among brands and retailers before making a purchase. Price-sensitive consumers may prefer economy brands, discounts, promotional offers and private labels.