Emotional connection outlasts price comparison in business!

[savetheFORUM]

People do not always want the cheapest product. Sometimes, they pay for a better lifestyle. Getting better brands does not only mean we are spending way more money but it also means that we have a decent lifestyle and do not want to harm that image by using local products. Once we get used to these brands, it is really very difficult to go back to local products. These brands does not only provide that premium feel but the products are often much superior which is another reason why people do not hesitate to pay the premium price.

Selling cheap products is not that difficult task and I think almost anyone with just the basic understanding of digital marketing can start selling any cheap or trending products. Building a brand is something that takes guts and only a handful of us succeed.

[hafiztalha]

True, price is a very important thing but that is not the main reason customers are loyal to the brand. If a customer develops trust and start having emotional connection with the certain business, then they start paying more and they believe they are getting something beyond the physical product. But quality cannot be replaced with the emotional branding. If the product of a company starts disappointing their customers despite having strong image, the loyalty of the customers disappear with the passage of time.
A business cannot compete only on price it is very dangerous. Because there are a lot of businesses that are willing to pay the lower prices, but if a customer is loyal to your brand and they trust and identify with it then you are not only selling a product but also building trust and relationships that your competitors find difficult to copy.

[Russlenat]

People do not always want the cheapest product. Sometimes, they pay for a better lifestyle. Getting better brands does not only mean we are spending way more money but it also means that we have a decent lifestyle and do not want to harm that image by using local products. Once we get used to these brands, it is really very difficult to go back to local products. These brands does not only provide that premium feel but the products are often much superior which is another reason why people do not hesitate to pay the premium price.

Selling cheap products is not that difficult task and I think almost anyone with just the basic understanding of digital marketing can start selling any cheap or trending products. Building a brand is something that takes guts and only a handful of us succeed.

I guess it only falls to individual preferences in life. I personally want a cheaper option but with a good quality, that way I can still save but gain the same high quality. Sometimes, it is not about living in a decent and comfortable lifestyle. But it is fitting your current financial status and live a lifestyle that won't cost you too high, otherwise you'll be piling up debts, and eventually live that hard and miserable life.

But just to make it clear, luxury isn't bad, it just don't fit to everyone.

[yhiaali3]

I completely agree with you. Yes, people remain loyal to brands that evoke certain feelings in them and that they are accustomed to or that have become popular, even with cheaper options available.

In this regard, I remember Intel and AMD processors, as I used to work in the computer field. People prefer Intel processors much more because they have become world-famous, even though they are expensive and some types of AMD processors outperform them in performance and are much cheaper. The reason is simply that people do not want to change their habits or the products they are used to.

[henmark]

Some individuals in historical times have attempted to portray themselves as wealthy, and people continue to do so. If you investigate the psychological elements of people who only use branded items, you will notice the same thing: they utilise a variety of well-known brand products to demonstrate their wealth. There may be a few individuals who utilise manufactured goods out of need.

Making benefit of this, branding distributors offer their brand value alongside the price of others, and clients must pay both the brand product price and the reputation of the business.

Branded products are now a mean to tell others how wealthy we are. I have seen a few friends who would not remember the name of that shoe but they have already memorised the prices. The first chance they get, they will purchase the most expensive one because others in that group know these products only because of the price.

So, I think what we expect from these brands really depends on the environment we are in. Celebrities used branded products too but they would hardly show their products off. Only the ones who pay for the feel would not use these brands to show their wealth but would actually prefer comfort and ease of use. Only those who want others to know about their wealth would showcase their branded products.

[Porfirii]

People do not always want the cheapest product. Sometimes, they pay for a better lifestyle. Getting better brands does not only mean we are spending way more money but it also means that we have a decent lifestyle and do not want to harm that image by using local products. Once we get used to these brands, it is really very difficult to go back to local products. These brands does not only provide that premium feel but the products are often much superior which is another reason why people do not hesitate to pay the premium price.

-snip-

Yesterday I heard to a radio commercial using the rhetoric of anti-rhetoric: in it, a voice-over announced in a very aggressive way the latest model of an invented high-end sneaker, to end up calling on the listener to stop being a failure by acquiring them. The tone was ironic but the message came to translate what many luxury brands actually communicate.

Price is definitely a determining factor for perceived value. If something is expensive, the mind automatically associates that it is also good; And the more expensive, the better. This association has to be minimally sustained with good quality, but lately we are seeing high-end brands produce low-quality products once they have been established. But at that point it usually matters little, because as you said, the consumer is looking for something else beyond a good product itself.

[EluguHcman]

Some individuals in historical times have attempted to portray themselves as wealthy, and people continue to do so. If you investigate the psychological elements of people who only use branded items, you will notice the same thing: they utilise a variety of well-known brand products to demonstrate their wealth. There may be a few individuals who utilise manufactured goods out of need.

Making benefit of this, branding distributors offer their brand value alongside the price of others, and clients must pay both the brand product price and the reputation of the businquot

In the image below is a Nigerian social influencer identified as HushPuppi, he has also claimed to be an ambassador in one of the most expensive brands (Gucci) and had always been flaunting the product to showcase his wealth.

He had been fond of living luxurious lifestyle which some celebrities could not even afford.
I learnt his patronage with the Gucci products made him more relevant and influential.

News also goes that he is so addicted on the Gucci products to the extent that he proposes designs from the manufacturers and they produces it for him in the model he prefers. We also know that it takes a high level of riches or wealth to posses such influence in the brands that even some average fears to afford due to how expensive the product is.

[tabas]

Companies today knows the impact of having a brand name that's popular name. And they are no longer selling only a product physically but also emotionally. That's why with luxury brands, even with the pandemic, there's not a lot of drop of their sales and even more people would like to spend more money on those because no one knows until we're alive. So, it's a YOLO thing mentality that has been spread that even before we pass this world, at least they're able to spend it on those things and able to own it. They're great marketers and know how to catch our emotions.

[Queen uloma]

You’re very correct, price isn’t the major reason why people choose a brand. Most times it’s trust, feeling, quality and status that a brand gives that matter most. If customers are connected to your brand and believe that they have value from it, they can still choose you when there’s a cheaper alternative.

 For me, business isn’t suppose to only focus on being cheap, because someone else can always reduce their prices more than you. What you should do is to build trust and give people a good experience.

[Zlantann]

In the image below is a Nigerian social influencer identified as HushPuppi, he has also claimed to be an ambassador in one of the most expensive brands (Gucci) and had always been flaunting the product to showcase his wealth.

He had been fond of living luxurious lifestyle which some celebrities could not even afford.
I learnt his patronage with the Gucci products made him more relevant and influential.

News also goes that he is so addicted on the Gucci products to the extent that he proposes designs from the manufacturers and they produces it for him in the model he prefers. We also know that it takes a high level of riches or wealth to posses such influence in the brands that even some average fears to afford due to how expensive the product is.

This is a case of a criminal showcasing his wealth on social media. He chose Gucci because it's a luxury brand that could showcase him as being rich. It could also be an emotional attachment, since scammers like him wear multiple luxury brands. He is cooling off in a United States prison after he was sentenced by District Judge Otis D. Wright II to 135 months in federal prison.

Some poor people are emotional attarched to some products. Some people are willing to starve because they are saving to buy the latest Iphone. Some finaicailly struggling people are loyal to some brands that they can take loans to get them.

[mirakal]

You’re very correct, price isn’t the major reason why people choose a brand. Most times it’s trust, feeling, quality and status that a brand gives that matter most. If customers are connected to your brand and believe that they have value from it, they can still choose you when there’s a cheaper alternative.

 For me, business isn’t suppose to only focus on being cheap, because someone else can always reduce their prices more than you. What you should do is to build trust and give people a good experience.

And we all know, cheap prices mostly comes with cheap quality. So I don't think people will be buying the offer, they will still look for premium brands that will satisfy their longings as customers. No brand is expensive to them as long as it satisfy their taste and makes them feel good every time they use or wear it.

Having a good business is beyond baseline quality and trust.  Customers should feel that they are also part of the business and can relate on it, because that's the only way that business owners will create lasting human connection and build trust and loyalty between the customers.

[G_Besar]

You’re very correct, price isn’t the major reason why people choose a brand. Most times it’s trust, feeling, quality and status that a brand gives that matter most. If customers are connected to your brand and believe that they have value from it, they can still choose you when there’s a cheaper alternative.

 For me, business isn’t suppose to only focus on being cheap, because someone else can always reduce their prices more than you. What you should do is to build trust and give people a good experience.

What you're saying could be a very good idea for any product seller or product manufacturer. The reason many people are willing to use a particular product at a higher price is because of its quality, functionality, and comfort in daily use over a longer period. This means that price doesn't always determine whether people will use a product if the level of comfort and functionality aren't better than a slightly more expensive product. So, in this case, I quite agree with your idea, because it's essentially the main factor in attracting buyers and users of a product once it's marketed to the public.

[Akaenyi]

If a brand is able to sustain high quality and mantain reputation over many years their loyal customers wouldn't really compare price from similar brands before buying their product, as far as they can afford the price they wouldn't mind to buy at a higher price. I don't really consider price so to say when I'm buying a product that gives me the value that I want, unless the price becomes so high that I can no longer afford that I will consider if another brand is cheaper, when I can afford the brand that I prefer I will switch back to it.

There are also products that are manufactured exclusively for the very rich, it's not like similar products in the market cannot give outputs or satisfaction but they are just to show class so that if you can afford the brand it means that you are very rich so clearly such products are not for everybody.

[Crakryptvest]

There's a satisfied feeling you get you using the brand of your choice and before you can have that feeling, the product must be quality enough to meet up with your taste. Coming up with new innovation when running a business is good, because it will make your customers feel that you can give them that comfort and quality they need when using your product.

The originality of a product, defines it's quality, therefore, if we must rate a brand or product, it must match up with our expectations, you're right about people being innovation while doing their business, some business owners do not understand that there is what is been called concept, which is what helps a business to grow, with my understanding, people using a particular product expect nothing less than quality, which is why they easily identify when a product is losing it's quality, therefore, business runners should do everything to maintain the quality of their product to kept their customers.

[Davidloki]

Well that is basic marketing. You try to develop a need for your service or product by psychological means. But that alone means nothing if your product is not worth it and cults only last so long. In fact, hoping to create a cult-like following is like creating a meme that is popular around the world with hundreds of millions and maybe even billions of people. How often does that happen? It is not something easy to re-create.

There is always something special about introducing the importance of a product to the target audience and marketing it to a point that it cannot be rejected by anybody. Many businesses do not understand the importance of marketing, its not just about production but also decentralization too. When a product is introduced in a way that seems pleasing and enticing, there is no way it's not making profits. Some businesses use current social media trends to maximize their engagements and that's also a good business strategy.

[Leahized]

There is always something special about introducing the importance of a product to the target audience and marketing it to a point that it cannot be rejected by anybody. Many businesses do not understand the importance of marketing, its not just about production but also decentralization too. When a product is introduced in a way that seems pleasing and enticing, there is no way it's not making profits. Some businesses use current social media trends to maximize their engagements and that's also a good business strategy.

Is this marketing strategy very easy to implement? That's questionable. I'm thinking, if someone could do it very easily, then businesses wouldn't be calculating losses. Yes, these strategies are quite effective, but in reality only 1% of individuals succeed. Because in marketing, everyone is walking this path and the management of product presentation is the same. Therefore, the presentation of GKC is quite reasonable.

However, the key to a businessmen popularity is ensuring the right product and fair pricing. This continuously attracts customers. So, there is not always a need to present the product through marketing as an alternative.

[Taricoins]

Well that is basic marketing. You try to develop a need for your service or product by psychological means. But that alone means nothing if your product is not worth it and cults only last so long. In fact, hoping to create a cult-like following is like creating a meme that is popular around the world with hundreds of millions and maybe even billions of people. How often does that happen? It is not something easy to re-create.

There is always something special about introducing the importance of a product to the target audience and marketing it to a point that it cannot be rejected by anybody. Many businesses do not understand the importance of marketing, its not just about production but also decentralization too. When a product is introduced in a way that seems pleasing and enticing, there is no way it's not making profits. Some businesses use current social media trends to maximize their engagements and that's also a good business strategy.

I think current business has shifted trends from quality to branding, it is now the ideas that getting something from this particular brand is better than getting quality product, example is that Balenciaga's tape bracelet sold for about $4000, that's the current society, so I agree with the OP when he says that emotional connection outlasts the prace comparison. Goods are simply the satisfaction one get for consuming them.

[Antotena]

Companies today knows the impact of having a brand name that's popular name. And they are no longer selling only a product physically but also emotionally. That's why with luxury brands, even with the pandemic, there's not a lot of drop of their sales and even more people would like to spend more money on those because no one knows until we're alive. So, it's a YOLO thing mentality that has been spread that even before we pass this world, at least they're able to spend it on those things and able to own it. They're great marketers and know how to catch our emotions.

Have you thought about this, why these brand names are not use by top richest people. I don't mean to undermine young hustlers that are rose from nothing to something but they are most with this behavior of people using brands that are expensive just to get cheap scores and validation from people when they don't even care about their existence, the brands makes money from them without giving anything in return, just name and that's it.

I see people buy expensive rollex watch in my country and when we check, the Rolex watch are even fake, the ones from the Rolex company is very expensive than the less expensive one but that one cost is also high and I'm like why buy something that expensive when you are even buying a fake one. Why not buy a fine watch to use and forget about brands. When you talk to them about this, they see you like you are as less privilege person.

[slapper]

I mostly agree. But not completely.

This POV is assuming emotional connection is developed and then it sticks. Like a wall. However, this does not happen in practice. In fact, as a cautionary tale, Nike is the perfect example of this right now. Nike. "Just Do It". Thirty years of that emotional machine running full speed. But they were still knocked on their ass by Hoka and On. These were only barely a decade ago in the mainstream culture. Nike got dropped from the S&P 100 this September. That is not a small thing.



Emotional connection has to be renewed continuously. Because the consumer does not consciously stop feeling loyal. They slowly begin to experience something else, something else for someone else. Hoka did not compete on price. On Running is not cheaper. They played on another emotional plane, of comfort and joy of moving. As if running is identity rather than war against yourself.

Yes, as much as anything else the post says, about price competition being a trap. 100% correct! But emotional branding can also become a trap when you start treating past feeling as a guarantee of future loyalty.
In 2024, Jaguar re-branded and wiped out all their emotions in one night. It genuinely takes effort to keep this alive. It is not passive.

[ndutndut]

You have a valid point, most business owners don’t know this, and those who discovered this secret on time end up flourishing in their business. People will pay any amount for what they derive satisfaction from. I’m an example of that, I don’t compromise when it comes to my satisfaction products or items I’m spend my money on. I don’t mind paying whatever price just to make sure I feel same way whenever I use such products. There are some products I have been using since I was a teenager that I’m still using today. I just can’t change it because I don’t trust another product to give me same satisfaction. Building what people can rely on is the first step in getting your customers to connect to your product emotionally.

From your story, it can be concluded that you can't replace the product because they have already given you satisfaction.  

So, it can be said that while every business competition often focuses on price and quality, what usually really determines a business's sustainability is customer happiness and satisfaction just like what you're experiencing now. When a product is able to build an emotional and mental connection with customers they don't just buy the product, but feel connected to the values and story carried by each product.

So this creates much stronger loyalty, like what happens with you rather than just a transaction. Eventually, every customer will keep coming back and buying the product and this is also what makes a business succeed because they manage to keep their products in demand. This doesn’t only apply to expensive products it also happens with cheaper ones. By creating a customer experience where people feel well taken care of, it builds trust and maintains an emotional connection, which in turn indirectly forms a community that supports their products in the long run just like what you’re experiencing now.