here's an article i chanced upon about women's buying behaviours and i thought it' be nice to share!
thts precisely the reason why guys find it challenging & time-consuming to shop with their girlfriends/getting a perfect gift without any hints.
and its very true that we're 'word of mouth' marketers, just the nicer term of 'bitchy'.

WHAT WOMEN WANTS
We speak differently, we vote differently and we relate to each other in vastly different ways.

Turns out men and women shop differently, as well. And when businesses better understand what makes women buy, they can dramatically improve their bottom line, even in a struggling economy. Women account for more than 80 percent of buying decisions.

The role of women in retail has become more pronounced than ever now that they can share their experiences with hundreds of friends through social media.

That’s where Delia Passi comes in. Through her company, WomenCertified, Passi trains businesses large and small to understand what makes women smile when they go shopping. If women are happy, their male counterparts are likely to be, as well.

The former publisher of Working Woman and Working Mother magazines and the author of "Winning the Toughest Customer, The Essential Guide to Selling to Women," Passi considers herself a consumer advocate for women.

In 2008, Passi conducted a study with the Wharton School of Business titled "He Buys, She Shops: A Study of Gender Differences in the Retail Experience." From that work, she learned that women are far more loyal customers than men — so long as their expectations are met. Far more than men, women want assistance when it is needed, along with warmth, politeness and courtesy.

Passi spoke recently about what distinguishes women from men in their retail decisions.

Q. How do women shop differently from men?

A. We have not changed for tens of thousands of years, since we developed our DNA. Men are still the hunters, and women are still the gatherers. What does that mean?

For men, shopping is, "How quickly can I get what I need so that I can get home to the football game?" For women, shopping is the football game. Women take a more direct approach to their buying process. Men see, they think and they act. Women see, think and think some more.

They have to feel good about it and then act. In simple terms, women take 30 to 40 percent longer to make a purchasing decision, depending on what they’re buying.

How long does it take the average man to purchase a white shirt? The average is three minutes. For women, add an hour for every minute. Three hours in the mall, not to find a white shirt, but to find the perfect white shirt.

Q. Why is it important to companies that women have a good experience, other than just the pure purchase?

A. Women are natural viral marketers — word-of-mouth marketers. If we are happy with a shopping experience, we tell all our family and friends. If we are unhappy with our shopping experience, we can tell the world. Today, social media has elevated the need — not for an adequate customer experience, but for companies to provide an excellent customer experience. Mediocrity is not acceptable anymore.

When you meet the needs of women, you exceed those of men. This has been proven by our study. So, if you have women as your benchmark, you will make all customers happy.

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/executive_knows_what_women_sho.html