Share of wallet is a concept in marketing that refers to the percentage of a person's total spending dedicated to buying products and services from a particular company. Companies can conduct surveys to determine their share of wallet within given demographics to learn more about how their customers are interacting with them. There are numerous tactics that can be used to increase total spending by customers on a given company's products. For companies that want to increase revenue, there can be advantages to focus on expanding spending among existing customers rather than trying to attract new ones.
The more products and services a company offers, the greater its share of wallet will be. Companies can expand their offerings by developing related products that customers will buy because they have positive associations with a brand, or by branching out into new areas of an industry. Existing customers may switch loyalties because of their association with the brand, or consider adopting new products and services because they are offered by a trusted name.
Companies compete with each other for share of wallet. Many companies use tactics such as becoming a one-stop shop for customers, making it easy for people to get everything they need in one place. This can woo customers away from competitors who offer a more limited range of products. Revenue per user increases in response, and over time, the company can broaden its customer base by attracting people on the basis of recommendations from existing customers.
Focusing on developing new customers can be costly. People must be persuaded to buy products in the first place and the payoff may be in the distant future. By contrast, developing better share of wallet is usually less expensive and can have more benefits in the long term. Existing loyal customers can be enticed to spend more and the ability to access a range of services and products may increase positive opinions of the company. This will lead to recommendations to friends and family, increasing market share in the long term.
Surveys to determine share of wallet can be used as a research tool to develop ideas for new products and services. Exploring interest from customers in new offerings is helpful for companies that are considering expanding production, acquiring other companies, or developing new business ventures. Companies can also keep track of suggestions, recommendations, and questions from customers to determine what kinds of products and services appear to be most in demand.