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I help the C-Suite turn brands into cult favorites with Cult Branding strategies.

Experiences are more meaningful than things. Experiential purchases are long-lasting relative to the fleeting feelings that come from simply buying a new article of clothing or some other thing. Psychologists Leaf Van Boven and Thomas Gilovich offer three reasons why experiential purchases trump strictly material purchases: Experiential purchases are more open to positive reinterpretation. Our memories are very malleable over time. Even if your family trip to Disney World was marked by long lines and crying kids, over time your mind can edit out those setbacks and focus on the fun moments you had together. Experiential purchases are a more meaningful part of one’s identity. We define ourselves more by our experiences than by what we wear or drive. MINI doesn’t just sell cars, they sell the “MINI experience” through events like MINI Takes the States tours. Experiential purchases have greater social value. We enjoy sharing the stories of our experiences with friends and colleagues (especially on social networks, nowadays). Sharing these personal experiences helps foster social relationships, especially with like-minded individuals. Unlike material goods, experiential purchases don’t lose their luster or their “wearability” over time. Associated memories of these purchases can improve with age.

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