Lars Perner - Consumer Behavior and Marketing Wisdom

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Lars Perner, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Clinical Marketing Department of Marketing, Marshall School of Business University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089-0443 Phone: (213) 740-7127 Cell: (760) 412-0154 perner@marshall.usc.edu http://www.LarsPerner.com http://www.ConsumerPsychologist.com Blog: http://delightfulreflections.blogspot.com As an Assistant Professor of Clinical Marketing at the Marshall School of Business, I currently teach Marketing Fundamentals (BUAD 307) , our introductory marketing "core" course at the undergraduate level. My other teaching specializations are consumer behavior and international marketing . My current research focuses on consumer behavior , non-profit fundraising, and "win-win" deals. I also maintain an interest in the autism spectrum . Delivering customer value. The central idea behind marketing is the idea that a firm or other entity will create something of value to one or more customers who, in turn, are willing to pay enough (or contribute other forms of value) to make the venture worthwhile considering opportunity costs. Value can be created in a number of different ways. Some firms manufacture basic products (e.g., bricks) but provide relatively little value above that. Other firms make products whose tangible value is supplemented by services (e.g., a computer manufacturer provides a computer loaded with software and provides a warranty, technical support, and software updates). It is not necessary for a firm to physically handle a product to add value—e.g., online airline reservation systems add value by (1) compiling information about available flight connections and fares, (2) allowing the customer to buy a ticket, (3) forwarding billing information to the airline, and (4) forwarding reservation information to the customer. It should be noted that value must be examined from the point of view of the customer. Some customer segments value certain product attributes more than others. A very expensive product—relative to others in the category—may, in fact, represent great value to a particular customer segment because the benefits received are seen as even greater than the sacrifice made (usually in terms of money). Some segments have very unique and specific desires, and may value what—to some individuals—may seem a “lower quality” item—very highly. Some forms of customer value. The marketing process involves ways that value can be created for the customer. Form utility involves the idea that the product is made available to the consumer in some form that is more useful than any commodities that are used to create it. A customer buys a chair, for example, rather than the wood and other components used to create the chair. Thus, the customer benefits from the specialization that allows the manufacturer to more efficiently create a chair than the customer could do himself or herself. Place utility refers to the idea that a product made available to the customer at a preferred location is worth more than one at the place of manufacture.

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