Options List
As technology advances, our habits, lifestyles, expectations from life, and experiences are also changing and evolving. Every new product becomes a bit more personal and more accessible.
There’s no need to look too far back. Think of the 1980s and the products of that era, like cars. When you went to a dealership back then to buy a car, the number of models was very limited, and the color options were even more limited. If you had asked, "What's on the options list for this car?" you would probably have been thrown out of the dealership with a "take it or leave it" attitude.
Now, the situation is quite the opposite. As consumers, we now say "take it or leave it," researching the same product through different channels and buying what suits us from wherever it suits us best.
This is because we are now interested in a product as long as it evokes different feelings in us and is special to us.
One of the best examples of this is the smartphone industry. When the first smartphones came out, they were seen as a revolution. They had room for development over the years, and as they developed, people started lining up for each new model. Have you noticed? The lines have gotten much shorter. Users are now avoiding paying significant amounts for small changes.
Instead, they choose to spend their money on other things that excite them. We call this "experience."
Think of children. No matter how expensive the toys you buy, what matters to them is not how expensive the toys are but how interesting they find them. That's why they often turn to pots, pans, ovens, faucets, and other fascinating household items their parents forbid them to play with, just for new experiences.
A booming generation is coming. Research on young people shows that new generation representatives choose to spend their money on discovering new worlds and experiencing new things rather than owning property or vehicles.
If social media applications had been discovered 35 years ago, the number of photos taken in front of newly purchased cars would probably have been higher than those taken during vacations or enjoyable times with friends.
The world is changing. It's changing much faster than its rotation speed. Maybe it’s time to emphasize the experiences products provide to consumers rather than their technical features.
Every bakery makes Black Forest cake. What matters is showing your guests that you prepare the "most special" Black Forest cake in town and making them feel special when selling that cake.
Who knows, maybe you could make that beautiful cake even more special by preparing an options list…
