Difference between Convenience Products, Shopping Products and Speciality Products

Based on Shopping Efforts there are three types of products; namely, Convenience Products, Shopping Products, and Speciality Products. 

What are Convenience Products?

The products which are purchased immediately, frequently, and with the least effort and time are known as Convenience Products. Convenience goods require minimum shopping effort. For example, newspapers, salt, matchbox, medicines, etc. 

Some of the features of Convenience Products are as follows:

• Convenience goods are purchased in small numbers. 
• Generally, they are of low price.
• These products are usually purchased at convenient locations with the least time and effort. 
• The price of convenient products is standardised, as they are branded products. 
• As these are essential products, they have regular and continuous demand. 
• Different sales promotion schemes, such as discounts, contests, cashback, etc., also help in the marketing of convenience products. 
• However, convenience products face stiff competition; therefore, need heavy advertisement. 

What are Shopping Products?

The products to which consumers devote considerable effort and time in shopping are known as Shopping Products. For these products, the buyer first compares the price, style, quality, etc., of different brands at different stores before making the final decision of purchase. For example, shoes, clothes, mobile phones, jewellery, etc. 

Some of the features of Shopping Products are as follows:

• Shopping products are usually durable. 
• The unit price as well as the profit margin of the shopping products are high. 
• Consumers usually plan in advance to purchase these products. 
• Before making the final decision of the purchase, the consumers first compare products of different companies and at different stores. 
• The retailers help the manufacturer in the sale of shopping products, as they play a crucial role in persuading the consumers in buying the product. 

What are Speciality Products?

The products with some special features for which the consumers make special efforts, while purchasing them are known as Speciality Products. Demand for speciality products is relatively inelastic. It means that even though the price of speciality products rises, their demand does not reduce. For example, antique paintings, exotic perfumes, expensive watches, branded sneakers, etc. 

Some of the features of Speciality Products are as follows:

• Speciality products are usually expensive and are available at a few selected places. 
• Because of their high cost, only a few people purchase these products which make their demand limited. 
• An organisation need to perform aggressive promotion activities for these products. 
• The job of the marketer of speciality products does not end with the sales. They have to provide after-sales services to the consumers also. 

Difference between Convenience Products, Shopping Products and Speciality Products

Basis	Convenience Products	Shopping Products	Speciality Products
Meaning	The products which are purchased immediately, frequently, and with the least effort and purchasing time are known as Convenience Products.	The products to which consumers devote considerable effort and time in shopping are known as Shopping Products.	The products with some special features for which the consumers make special efforts while purchasing them are known as Speciality Products.
Price	The price of convenience products is low.	The price of shopping products is high.	The price of speciality products is very high.
Shopping Efforts	Least time and effort are required in purchasing convenience products.	Considerable time and effort are required in purchasing shopping products.	Special efforts are required in purchasing speciality products.
Availability	These products are available at convenient locations.	These products are available at specified shops.	These products are available in a few places.
Nature of Demand	As these products are essential products, they have regular demand.	As these products are usually durable, they have no regular demand.	As these products are bought by a few people, they have limited demand.
Profit Margin	There is a low margin in convenience products.	There is a high margin in shopping products.	There is a very high margin in speciality products.
Role of Promotion	These products require heavy advertisement and sales promotion schemes.	These products require personal selling.	These products require aggressive promotional activities.
After-sales service	After-sales services are not required for convenience products.	After-sales service is required in some cases.	After-sales services are very crucial for speciality products.
Examples	Salt, Medicines, Newspapers, etc.	Shoes, Refrigerator, Clothes, etc.	Expensive watches, Antique Paintings, etc.