Factors of Influencing Consumer Perceptions - Essay Example

Consumer choices, tastes, and preferences vary from one individual to another. At the same time, the decision made by a consumer to buy a product is subject to the influence of diverse and dynamic factors. One of these factors is the country where certain products are produced. The country of origin of any given product influences consumer perception in a number of ways. To start with, patriotism is critical to account for. There are consumers who do not want to purchase products made in foreign countries. However, it is evident that domestic companies set up industries in foreign countries to exploit cheap labor, low operational costs, and tax breaks. Target countries could be developed or emerging economies. In this respect, product quality is critical to consumer tastes and preferences. Any country or economy can make high-quality or low-quality products. For example, China is a leading global economy but most of its industrial products are perceived to be low quality. Emerging economies, therefore, have the potential to outperform China in terms of product quality.