66.7 pct interviewees buy Chinese old brands for nostalgia: survey

BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Two thirds of people surveyed said they bought products produced by old Chinese brands for nostalgia's sake, as the public is showing growing interest in such products.

About 67.6 percent of interviewees said sentiment influenced their purchases of old brands, according to the survey, which was conducted among 2,005 people and published in Tuesday's edition of "China Youth Daily."

Up to 72 percent of people agreed that they bought the products because they were known for their quality, while 59.7 percent of people said they did so because they were affordable.

Ma Donglai, 38, a university lecturer in north China's Hebei Province, said that he trusted old brands, and he hoped they could stand the test of time.

The old brands he favored included beverage brand Jianlibao, the bicycle brands Flying Pigeon and Forever, cosmetics brand Pechoin and shoe brand Warrior.

"Using such products evoke feelings of nostalgia and are a way to ensure cultural inheritance," said Ma.

"I buy stuff based on the price-to-performance ratio and will not buy something just because it is an old brand," said Yang Ping, an employee of a communication firm based in Shanghai.

Yang suggested two examples: Japan's Uniqlo and Sweden's IKEA, which are old brands but cater for targeted customers and keep abreast of the times.

In the survey, 55.1 percent of people said some old Chinese brands had been replaced by new products. The other two main reasons behind the disappearance of old brands were outmoded ideas and ill company management.