What drives a consumer to make a purchase ?

Any consumer product is uniquely specific  requirement oriented for consumers having been designed and produced/created  after fixation of the specific-requirement out of various studies and information management in regard to the specific requirement.Hence, influence , i.e., qualitative dimension .  At this rate , it has been established recently that  the Sovereign Communist China  attained global image  by flooding the Democratic India with numerous chinese products of consumer utility whereas  earlier , before China , it was the Democratic Japan used to  flood the Indian markets with consumer utility products .

Before we see the products, we are being influenced by The advertisements (publicity & PR effect) through Media such as TV , News papers, Magazines, Radio etc. Many of the items, when it is on the market either in US, UK, etc, still, we buy it, by shear influence only & not by attraction.

By influence we mean by the prospective customer's recall - of a TV commercial, an ad in the newspaper or billboard or hoarding. That means being readily recollectable in the mind - 'instant connect'!! If to this we add some bonus - discount or gift package, thennthe customer makes the purchase because of PRODUCT FAMILIARITY & APPEAL.

familiarity and Appeal are both factors of mental influence.

thats perfectly said!! Mr.naushad... also i would add that the product tht we are talking about a need/luxury

The Criteria for purchase depends upon the product. Example if one buys a cosmetic product then attraction , but for most other products influence by way of advertisement , word of mouth from known people , performance of the products , suitability of the same for one s needs make the decision and defanately not Attraction.

Influence could play a trigger point in purchasing. Advertisements really influence customers. It could be that somebody is really influenced by the product and that word of mouth influences other person to buy the product.

need of the product is the basic criteria for a person to buy that product. Influence can also play its role. when a person is in need of that product he will not go for a long process of attraction or influcene, he will just buy the product because he is in need. that need drives the person to make the purchase.

A customer need is a basic criteria for any influence and attraction. If the need is not a question to ask then the influence & attraction is of no use.

Influence arises with the need & it should be catered to create an emotional confidence in customers mind. Attraction is like a one-film wonder actor who creates an impact with a blow & goes away & as it came. But, influence rules the chart as attraction can seduce once but influence is a perpetual seduction which attracts one time but creates an forever image for a customer. 

Influence drives a customer to make purchase.I agree with Naushad that First of all Need drives a consumer to make purchase. Then capacity of buying & offers.

Because attraction doesn't drive to consumer to make purchase of products. For example:- Ad of cement is too attractive these days but if we don't need it we can't purchase it. It means Ad of product attract us but we don't make purchase. Whereas due to influence of Ad we will purchase goods as per their need.

And these days, Ads try to attract consumer on company brand rather than product.

word of mouth is the key factor for influence... weather the product is attractive or not is not that important.... but word of mouth is considered more.. this is my perception towards people buying

First of all, need influences purchase. Once the need is felt, then comes attraction in selecting one of the several oligopolic products. Unless there is a need, consumer generally do not go for thinking about the purchase except in case of very small and petty items which may be purely due ton attraction. But. in the case of products of specific use,  the need and necessity to have it influences the buyer. Attraction, on the other hand influences the buyer to have a particular brand due to special features of the brand where the same product is available with several brand names.

the USP contributes to a large extent to initiate te purchase. the brand value too is important. other factors like consumer offers and posaitioning of competitive brands are vital too.

HI SHEETAL.

CONSUMER TAKES THE PURCHASE DECISION BASED ON VARIOUS FACTORS WHICH VARY FROM PRODUCT TO PRODUCT.THE PARAMETERS APPLICABLE TO BATHING SOAP MAY NOT BE RELEVANT TO A CAR.FIRST WANTS ARE MADE NEEDS.SECOND FACTORS LIKE AFFORDABILITY,ACCESSIBILITY,AVAILABILITY  PLAY A KEY ROLE.

a sense of fulfillment after the above