Why has more progress been made on customer value differentiation than on customer needs differentiation? Is it possible to meet individual needs?

Discussion Thread: Relationship Marketing and ‘Every Good Endeavor’

Reading Timothy Keller’s book ‘Every Good Endeavor.’

On page 41 of the hardcover version of this book, he included, “Did God create food only to provide for necessity (nutrition) and not also for delight and good cheer? So to the purpose of clothing apart from necessity (protection) was comeliness and decency. In grasses, trees, and fruits, apart from their various uses, there is the beauty of appearance and pleasantness of fragrance…Did he not, in short, render many things attractive to us, apart from their necessary use?”

Additionally, you will explore the concept of Relationship Marketing and, in particular, you will focus on Differentiating Customers by Their Needs.

Answer these questions and use scholarly support for your answers:

Why has more progress been made on customer value differentiation than on customer needs differentiation?
Is it possible to meet individual needs? Is it feasible? Can you describe three examples where it has been profitable?

For each of the following product categories, name a branded example, then hypothesize about how you might categorize customers by their different needs.
Automotive –
Airlines – Delta
Personal Care (cosmetics, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.)
Hotels – Marriott
Connect the chapter from ‘Every Good Endeavor’ called ‘The Design of Work’ to ONE of the examples you provided.

You choose YOUR example. Connect Timothy Keller’s excerpt from page 41.

Write a thread of at least 750 words not to exceed 1,250 words
For each thread, students must support their assertions with at least 2 scholarly authored citations in current APA format, with at least one new reference from a Marketing Journal to support the topic researched.

Why has more progress been made on customer value differentiation than on customer needs differentiation? Is it possible to meet individual needs?
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