Question

What is the difference between symbolic and functional consumer needs? Give an example for each

Answer 1

Q - What is the difference between symbolic and functional consumer needs? Give an example for each?

Answer - BCM brand concept management defines consumer needs as symbolic and functional needs. In consumer functional needs satisfy practical and immediate needs. where as symbolic consumer needs satisfy needs as self expression, prestige. consumer needs depends on consumers behavior because some consumer are rational and try to maximize their utility and in other hand some consumer choice product according to subjective and personal criteria such as taste,pride,desire for adventure, desire for expressing themselves.

For Example - In sport shoes category there is not significant different between Nike and Converse.But the assumption was " Nike is a symbolic consumers needs and converse is a functional consumer needs. but it is also possible that one product that have include in both functional and symbolic consumer needs because some consumer focused on the perstige of the product but some consumer focused on their personality.