Premium Pricing – Definition, Strategy, Advantages
Pricing strategies vary from product to product and determine the market value. A company’s pricing strategy depends on many criteria to establish the product in the marketplace, including the target audiences of the product, their income levels, demographics, and the image of the product or business in the market. Sometimes companies decide to lower the cost and make a better market position, and sometimes, businesses use premium pricing strategies to establish an exclusive picture of a product. Irrespective of the reasoning behind this decision, it is safe to say that any company can use this strategy, including those that have set out to .
What is premium/prestige pricing?
Business pricing strategies are where the company’s prices for a product are higher than the market standard to increase perceived quality. Prestige pricing is a two-step process that will help you create a high-quality brand and establish an attractive reputation.
Why use premium pricing strategies?
There are various reasons that businesses may opt to use a premium pricing strategy to fix pricing. The most obvious link is regarding quality. Many of our purchasing decisions have been subconsciously influenced by the people. The premium pricing system is a simple but effective method of showing that you can understand by observing your own purchases..
When businesses use premium pricing
As premium prices impact a company’s reputation, you must meet particular prerequisites before applying the plan. Often brands begin using premium pricing when demand is growing. When your organization is loyal to a loyal customer base, you can price it higher, knowing you’re in control of the buyer base. Besides promoting a company’s brand loyalty, it also creates a good brand image on the internet. If a buyer is willing to pay this premium, they will have much more confidence that other consumers can afford to pay this premium. It helps increase your brand awareness.
Advantages of premium pricing Strategy
Premium prices used in appropriate circumstances can be extremely helpful in businesses. This company will no longer have to compete with similar brand names that exist in the market. The use of premium prices offers many advantages in addition.
Premium Pricing does not work for all products and services.
There is no universal way for a company to apply high-end prices to boost sales, as these prices do not apply to all products and service categories. Most of them sell conventional foods and products like shampoos and rice at high prices and make consumers think that such products are more valuable to consumers. This price is more appropriate for bags, shoes, clothing, mobile phones, watches, or cars. However, you don’t need to sell high-priced products that people buy daily. For example, people don’t want premiums for bottled water. Nevertheless, marketing does wonders.
Increased brand awareness
Pricing is an attractive feature for consumers. They consider it very highly since they believe that the greater the price, the greater its quality. Increasing the premium rates is essential to increase the visibility of your products. It may take longer to talk about your products. Take a social media sharing of a product that’s a cheaper item than a similar device or smartphone in which comparable products are less expensive. So the customer can promote your product unintentionally to friends or family, thus increasing your customer base despite the high price of your merchandise.
Competitive edge
The adoption of prepaid pricing enables a business to gain competitive advantages because most buyers judge the quality of products from their cost. The higher the prices, the higher the quality. Your product is considered a top-quality product if you use the correct marketing strategy to attract buyers. Initially, the iPhone X was equipped with features making it a high value, but today almost all smartphones are equipped with comparable features. Apple enjoys a competitive advantage by taking advantage of premium prices.
The high cost of marketing
Other disadvantages to premium pricing are the high costs of advertising. For businesses to promote their product to the public, they must invest in marketing. Marketers help companies to develop an attractive image of themselves in the market. People can only buy your product after seeing your name. Furthermore, firms must spend more money on research to get a premium price. This requires them to learn about their target audience’s preferences using premium pricing strategies. Those are huge expenses.
Limited customer base
When a manufacturer has a premium price for their product, you limit their client base. This will only help a wealthy client to purchase your products. Most people with low-income income won’t be interested in buying your goods. You exclude many customers who prefer purchasing at the average price. When choosing an advanced pricing strategy, you must focus on a high-end audience to ensure the visibility your business products have for your customers.
Designer clothes
Premium prices are a common trend within the apparel industry. Designers sell clothes for incredibly cheap prices. The high price of many goods and services gives an impression that it’s better. Most people can afford such upscale clothes for the price. Similar happens to shoes and bags brands. Many smaller clothing stores sell copies of designer merchandise at much cheaper prices.
Apple
Apple uses premium pricing strategies to achieve superiority in the market. Apple is an established market player. Apple products today are considered status symbols for many consumers. The iPhone is viewed more often by celebrities and wealthy persons. This is also because people can afford to purchase Apple products.
Increased profits
In this case, a premium price increases profits. A company selling products at low or lower prices could generate ten times the gain if you sold the entire unit. However, companies that use premium prices are forced to make more money through advertising. Make sure to add marketing expenses to the costs to avoid losses on sales.
Rivalry
It’s easy to lose competitors when a product has an attractive price range. Alternative products could damage your business. Furthermore, these people can spread rumors about your product that affect your image. Therefore, premium pricing strategies are no good pricing options for companies with multiple competitors.
Premium pricing stays with the product for its entire life
Is it wrong that a business product can have a high price? Well, let’s put it this way. If it is not successful, it will be sold at the lowest possible price. If you decrease your product’s prices your clients will feel you are manipulated by them.