Aim/purpose - The main aim of the paper is to fill in the gap in the existing literature as well as to propose a set of specific family enterprises' (FE) attributes concerning certain socioeconomic conditions in Poland. The objectives of the article are interrelated with two theses. H1 assumes that in current literature there is a little attention paid to the demand side of the market, particularly to the individual consumers (including young buyers) and their attitudes toward FEs. H2 indicates that the perception of Polish FEs changes considerably reflecting the international trends. Design/methodology/approach - The authors studied a consolidated profound review of recent international and Polish publications on FEs. The expert interviews and in-depth individual interviews were conducted. Both empirical studies brought a preliminary insight into overall consumer perception of the FEs in Poland. Findings - For several years Polish buyers have been dynamically changing their mindset, breaking the stereotype of FEs' owners. Nowadays, tradition and quality are two attributes which are associated closely with Polish FEs. Customers indicate that FEs are trustworthy, responsible, solid and dependable. They also highlight the ethnocentric attitude toward these companies - Polishness. All these attributes are evidently appreciated. FEs are correlated with traditional industries and products, especially with groceries, cosmetics, clothes, shoes, jewelry, furniture, windows and doors. Research implications/limitations - The identity of FEs is not always communicated properly. Consumers often cannot ascertain a provenance of their offer as many FEs do not emphasize their family identity. Additionally, on the Polish market, consumers are occasionally misled considering the family ownership of a business. Originality/value/contribution - The studies indicate a set of attributes typical of Polish FEs underpinning their strong identity which should be explicitly conveyed to the public, with special regard to young consumers.