The Paradox of Perceived Wealth and Consumer Choices

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer welcomes Hunter Thurman, president of Alpha-Diver, for an engaging discussion on the intersection of neuroscience, market research, and consumer behavior. Hunter shares his journey from traditional market research to founding Alpha-Diver, a firm that leverages behavioral science to uncover the deeper motivations behind consumer actions. With a focus on the BEV 50 report, Hunter reveals fascinating insights into how pricing perceptions differ between high-interest, exploratory brands like Poppy and Olipop and routine staples like Coke and Pepsi.

Hunter explains how consumers' concerns about price are often inversely related to the actual cost per ounce, challenging the conventional wisdom that price directly dictates consumer behavior. This episode delves into the psychological factors that influence purchasing decisions, emphasizing that the perceived cost and social context often outweigh the actual price. Hunter and Melina discuss strategies for brands to navigate these complexities, whether they are market leaders looking to maintain their dominance or new entrants aiming to carve out a niche.

In this episode:

• Explore the unexpected relationship between price and consumer perception.
• Understand the importance of social context in influencing purchasing decisions.
• Learn about the different psychological drivers for routine and exploratory brands.
• Discover actionable strategies for both established and emerging brands to thrive in a competitive market.
• Gain insights into how to leverage behavioral science to better understand and predict consumer behavior.

00:00:00 - Introduction Melina introduces Hunter Thurman and the focus of today's episode on pricing insights from the BEV 50 report.

00:04:30 - Hunter's Background Hunter shares his journey from traditional market research to founding Alpha-Diver and applying behavioral science to understand consumer behavior.

00:10:15 - The BEV 50 Report Hunter discusses the BEV 50 report and the surprising findings about consumer perceptions of price and value.

00:15:45 - Price Perception vs. Actual Cost Hunter explains how consumers often perceive lower-priced routine brands as more expensive compared to higher-priced exploratory brands.

00:25:00 - Psychological Drivers The conversation shifts to the psychological factors that drive consumer behavior and how brands can leverage these insights.

00:30:20 - Strategies for Market Leaders Hunter provides actionable advice for established brands to navigate pricing challenges and maintain consumer interest.

00:35:50 - Strategies for Emerging Brands Hunter shares tips for new brands looking to enter the market and differentiate themselves.

00:45:00 - The Promised Land Hunter describes the "promised land" for brands that successfully balance routine use with high consumer interest.

00:50:30 -  Conclusion What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show. 

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Connect with Hunter:

• LinkedIn 

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Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books. 

Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:

• The Truth About Pricing, by Melina Palmer
• The Power of Scarcity, by Mindy Weinstein
• Influence, by Robert Cialdini
• The Psychology of Price, by Leigh Caldwell
• Semiotics In Retail, by Rachel Lawes

Top Recommended Next Episode: Sigi Hale Interview (ep 335)

Already Heard That One? Try These: 

• Quality Vs Value (ep 357)
• The Truth About Pricing (ep 356)
• How to Stack and Bundle Products and Services (ep 84)
• How to raise your prices (ep 354)
• Pain of Paying (ep 240)

Other Important Links: 

• Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter
• Alpha-Diver Website