While consumers perceive Premium and Value differently, there is a strong interplay between them. High-quality, durability, and trustworthiness are core attributes for both. Premium products and services are differentiated by being exceptional, hand-crafted, and superior, while being worth the price is the leading differentiator for Value. Despite the interplay, each term connotes a distinct image. When asked to personify Premium and Value, consumers draw clear distinctions.
E-Collage™ helped uncover deeper understanding of consumers' visual, verbal and emotional associations with Premium and Value. Excitement is closely linked to both, however...
"Buying something premium can give people a feeling of standing out from the crowd." - Male, 20, China
"When purchasing a value product/service it makes me feel happy." - Female, 17, UK
When asked which categories come to mind for Premium and Value products, food, shoes/apparel and electronics straddled both.
Where products are sold influences perceptions
Consumers expect to find Value products in mass retailers, and Premium products in specialty stores.
Brands can be perceived as Premium or Value, while private label is only associated with Value. Key differentiators for Premium include a superior experience, a sense the purchase is worth it, because it is hand-crafted, beautiful, limited, prestigious or exceptional.
2200N; ~1000 US, ~400 UK, France, China
*eCollage is buzzback's patent-pending technique for eliciting emotions, plus visual and verbal associations.