What Is Price Image And How Does It Contribute To The Perception Of Your Brand?

Customer perception of your brand comprises many factors, including store layout, colour schemes, website design, shopping experience, customer service, and yes, your prices. Price image is often the biggest barrier for customers, and that applies to both ends of the pricing spectrum. In times when both business and personal finances are under strain, it is important to align yourself with your customers' price expectations where possible.

What does price image mean?

Price image refers to consumers' perception of your prices, relative to your competition and the market. However, this image may not actually be based on the reality of your prices, but instead the psychological reaction to them in the minds of potential customers.

“[W]hereas price perception typically involves comparing a specific price with a reference price, price image does not require specific item prices and/or reference prices as inputs. Thus, consumers with limited price knowledge might be able to form an expectation of the general price level of a retailer solely on the basis of environmental cues, even before examining price tags.”- Hamilton & Chernev, Journal of Marketing [1]

If customers perceive your prices as being too high, they may not even consider entering your store or going to your website as they believe they will not be able to afford the products. Conversely, if your prices are too low, many customers may perceive your products or service as being of low quality, and therefore opt to pay more elsewhere to receive a better experience. Price image contributes to your overall brand image, which determines your success as a business.

How important is brand image?

Brand image is key to sustaining a successful business. Loyal repeat customers don’t just buy a product or service solely based on the function of that purchase. They are often also buying into your company’s ethos, shopping experience and unique selling points that set you apart from close competitors. Everything your brand does publicly contributes to your brand image, including social media activity, customer service, store layout and price.

Brand image and pricing strategy go hand in hand. If you have a premium pricing structure, combined with an exceptional in-store experience, then your customer base will perceive your brand as luxurious and high quality. Having a positive price image is especially important for supermarkets as they usually offer a large range of products, making for a more time-consuming shopping experience. The large number of items being purchased at one time makes identifying and comparing individual prices more difficult, so the overall price image of the supermarket is more relevant to customers [2].

How to develop a pricing strategy that suits your brand

So we have now explored how your price is perceived by potential customers. But how can you start pricing your products or services in a way that is profitable and competitive, but also contributes to a positive brand image? You need to take the following aspects of your business into account.

Customer demographics

You need to know who your target market is before you set your prices. Wealthy customers will likely be willing to pay more for a high-quality product or service, but less-well-off customers may be happy to accept a worse service or lower quality item if they can pay less for it.

Store layout

The layout of your store can have an influence on your price image. Large, messy stores may be perceived as disorganised and therefore offering cheaper products, while small, minimalist boutiques will be perceived as exclusive and therefore more expensive.

Level of service

How much time does your store take to provide customers with advice, offers and loyalty schemes? If you spend a lot of time and money on improving the customer experience, then customers are more likely to accept higher prices.

Business costs

You need to make sure that all of your business costs are accounted for, while also making a profit. Consider not only the cost of manufacturing a product but also the cost of the packaging, shipping costs, production time and staff wages.

Focus on key items

Customers may make their assumptions about your prices based on just a few key items. You may be able to offer competitive pricing on these items to attract new, bargain-hunting customers while keeping prices higher across the rest of your range.

Point of sale materials to influence your price image

Whether you want to be seen as a high-end retailer, a budget discounter, or somewhere in between - we have the perfect POS signage for you.

Sale inserts

Bright red sale signs offer a surefire way to let people know that your business is cutting prices. When used sparingly, they can indicate that luxury, top-end retailers are having a sale for a limited time only. When they are used in all areas of the shop, this indicates that you are a discounter and have low prices all year round.

If you are aiming to present your brand as an average high street store, then using sale signage in a section at the back of your store, alongside window signage, can help you find the perfect balance for your price image.

Shelf data strips, talkers and wobblers

Strips, talkers and wobblers are point of sale materials that sit on or below your shelf edge to display prices and promotions. They are commonly seen in supermarkets or large shops where long shelving units need to be broken up with signage to help customers find what they are looking for.

Talkers and wobblers stick out from the shelf edge to attract attention to special offers and sales. You could create an inexpensive price image if you use these types of signs a lot in your stores, which is ideal for budget discounters. Shelf data strips are more subtle and are usually used to display prices in mid-range high street stores.

Price tags and flexible wallets

The type of tag you use can have a big influence on your brand’s price image. Rustic paper or cardboard tags, such as our Manilla tags, can emit a sense of luxury, while plastic price tags and stickers are seen as the low-budget standard on the high street, especially when combined with other signage.

Flexible wallets are often used as price tags for big-ticket items, such as household appliances and furniture. Their larger format also makes them great for displaying important product information, such as specifications, related products and competitor prices.

As a general rule, your price image is seen as more expensive when you use less signage to advertise your prices. Low-budget discounters will typically use a lot of their shelf and aisle space advertising their low prices to encourage more high-volume sales, while high-end retailers tend to focus on aspirational imagery to sell their products or service.

Acrylic blocks

If you want to create a luxury point of sale display, then you can't go wrong with an acrylic magnetic photo block. They can be used to display high-resolution graphics, poster inserts or simple messages to complement your key items. They are simple, classy and can be used in both portrait and landscape orientations to suit the environment.

If you’ve enjoyed this guide, you may also like our guides to customer personas and creating a luxury shopping experience.

Alysha Bennett

Alysha is a copywriter at UK POS, with experience working in B2B and B2C companies, as well as with charities. She has been researching consumer and retail trends to assist retailers in implementing effective point of sale materials into their own businesses for eight years.

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