Million-dollar question: are you offering customized products? If not, you’re probably missing the mark on what your customers are actually looking for. Product customization is part of the future of e-commerce. Shoppers require more from online businesses and mass production won’t do it anymore.
In fact, it’s not just that they will be more likely to buy the product, they actually are more willing to spend a few extra bucks too. A Deloitte study found that 20% of customers will pay more for a personalized or customized product.
So why do consumers want customized products? We’ll cover five such reasons in this article and also tell you a bit about how you should approach your product customization.
5 reasons why customers love customized products
Reason #1: Your clients are not all the same
You can create an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). You can create buyer personas. At the end of the day, your customer is a unique person and not some preconception of what you think they are. Each client who fits the “18-30 yeard old” demographic has their own identity, taste, and needs.
You can’t appeal to everyone with a single product, but by offering options, you can give your audience more choices, empowering them in their buying journey.
Reason #2: It’s made just for them
Customization also helps consumers realize: “This product was made just for me”. Shoppers love personalized experiences, 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase a brand that provides personalized experiences.
The same goes for personalized products. Your customers will find value in the exclusiveness of the product, which can also lead to an increase in customer satisfaction and brand trust. This will inevitably be a positive contribution to your brand’s reputation.
Reason #3: Custom products give your customers more control
A study by the University of Texas showed that customers love personalization because of the perception of choice. This in turn delivers a “perceived decrease in information overload due to the connotation that the information displayed in a customized online environment is tailored to one’s needs.”
They may still have to work within the parameters of the customization options you offer, but it will give them more control over how they interact with your company, website, and products.
Reason #4: It shows you care
A good customer experience comes from having a deep understanding of your product and how it impacts your audience’s life. Your audience is made of individuals with particular tastes and needs. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to create something that pleases every single person the same way.
By offering personalization options, you’re showing your audience that you care about them as an individual. Whether you offer different sizes, colors, or other options, you meet their needs and personal tastes.
Reason #5: It creates a stronger relationship with your brand
E-commerce is no longer the second option. It’s the number one choice of most of the younger generations. Rapport-building in online businesses is difficult, it’s difficult to gain a customer’s loyalty.
Face-to-face interaction has to be replaced by a sense of care. A positive presence in the buyer’s life. If you customize your product you’ll be giving your clients a sense of understanding of their needs, which helps build a solid relationship.
What are other potential benefits of having customized products?
Very good question. So we’ve established that product customization can help you build rapport with your clients, but what other benefits can you collect from it?
In addition to being able to charge a higher price for customized products and selling more, there are several benefits to note that can elevate your brand.
For example:
- More engagement in your website (for the Marketing aficionados)
- Fewer returns, since the client is creating a variation of your product that checks all the boxes
- More insights into what your audience wants or are looking for (you may even be able to create new products or experiences based on this data)
3D Product Configurator – The best and easiest way to achieve quality customized products
Offering customized products is a complex thing. You have to dedicate resources to figuring out how you can provide your customers with the best experience they can have.
A 3D product customizer is a great solution since you’ll be able to give your clients a full view of what they are purchasing. Offering augmented reality solutions is also a good strategy, as it will help customers see your product from all directions and even allow them to “try it on”.
For example, if you’re selling a couch, AR can help your clients visualize it in their own home to make sure it fits into the space or the already existing decor, all before they make the purchase. Not only can this lead to an increase in sales, but it can also lead to a decrease in returns.
As of 2020, only 1% of retailers used AR to enhance shopping, so the potential to stand out while providing a solid customer experience is immense.
We know it sounds tricky but a 3D Configurator that is allied to AR technology will make things easier for you since it doesn’t require coding. It can be easily integrated into your website and adapted to different languages, markets, and even products. The scalability potential is enormous.
If you’re curious about how this kind of technology can be used on your website, gives us a shout. Expivi’s 3D configuration platform is easy to use and will help you create the coolest customized products.