Describing a business or marketing approach that prioritizes the needs and perspectives of the seller (the company) over those of the buyer (the customer). This can manifest as a focus on product features, production efficiency, and maximizing profits, often with less emphasis on customer satisfaction, individual needs, or user experience. A seller-oriented approach can sometimes lead to a lack of product innovation to cater to a market need and a perceived lack of empathy in communication or advertising.
Seller-oriented meaning with examples
- The company's seller-oriented approach meant new product development was slow, focusing primarily on what was easiest and cheapest to produce. They prioritized manufacturing efficiency, which left customer input and desires largely ignored, resulting in product designs that became less user-friendly over time. Marketing emphasized technical specifications, but overlooked the actual benefits.
- Due to their seller-oriented strategy, the business often missed opportunities to enhance the customer journey. This resulted in generic responses that didn't address specific inquiries or concerns and impersonal product promotions. Furthermore, this created a lack of interest to improve post-sales customer service.
- The historical example of Ford's Model T, with its limited color choices, exemplifies a seller-oriented mindset where production efficiency dictated consumer options. This strategy assumed that customers would accept whatever was offered because it was the only offering.
- Early online retailers, before the dominance of customer reviews, often leaned towards a seller-oriented system, focusing on transaction speed rather than ease of browsing and understanding product benefits. As a result, consumer perception was negatively influenced.