Difference Between Client and Consumer

The fundamental difference between customer and consumer is that the customer buys the product and a consumer uses or utilizes the product.

In the first place, for every company it is essential to know how to identify who is its client and who is its consumer , given that with each one it must offer different benefits. Likewise, for each one you must apply a set of different strategies to preserve your preference.

Secondly, it is important to differentiate between the terms client and consumer, because they are often used as if they were terms that are the same, but the role that the client and the consumer play in the market are different.

Who is the client?

Specifically, a customer is the person or institution that frequently buys the goods and services that a company sells. A customer is also considered to be one who makes purchases in a commercial establishment on a daily basis .

That is to say that the purchase can be made directly in a company or in a commercial establishment.

In any case, the customer is the one who carries out the purchase transaction, since he is the one who pays a price or an amount of money to be able to take ownership of the products that are sold in the market.

Who is the consumer?

Therefore, the consumer is the one who uses or consumes a product, he may buy it directly or someone else buys it for him.

So, the consumer is the one who directly satisfies his needs with the use or consumption of the goods and services that are sold in the market.

Consequently, a product is designed based on the needs of the consumer, since the consumer is the one who uses or uses it.

Difference between client and consumer

Differences between client and consumer

The main differences that we can establish between a client and a consumer are the following:

1. Purchase and consumption

• A customer buys a product, but does not always consume it.
• The consumer always consumes or uses the product

For example, a mom who buys disposable diapers for her baby. The mother is the buying customer, but she does not use the product and the consumer is the baby, because she uses the diaper.

2. The relationship of the company with the client and the consumer

• Companies handle customer data, because they carry out their purchase transactions on a regular and daily basis.
• While consumer data remains anonymous.

If we continue with the example of the mother or father who buys diapers for their baby, the company knows, for example, where they buy them, the volume of purchase and the frequency of purchase. The company may know that these parents buy diapers in a supermarket , in packages of 100 units and with a purchase frequency of every fifteen days.

Importance of the client and the consumer for the company

Similarly, for the company customers and consumers are very important. Because if you don't maintain customer loyalty, you won't sell your products. However, if the product does not meet the quality conditions, it fails to satisfy the consumer's need and in the same way the product is no longer sold.

To finish with the diaper example, the parent as a customer may be happy with the price and the attention they receive when making their purchase transaction. But if the diaper, due to its characteristics, causes irritation to the baby's skin, they will also stop buying it.

Difference between client and consumer

Finally, we can affirm that companies must be very clear about the difference between a client and a consumer, since their permanence in the market depends on both of them. It attracts the customer with a good price and service at the time the commercial transaction is carried out. While the consumer remains satisfied if the product is designed with the attributes and benefits that best meet their needs.