The Experientiality Continuum: An Empirical Investigation of Some Basic Tenets on Experiential Consumption

Experiential consumption is a relevant concept within the consumer behavior and marketing streams of research, but a shared definition has not been provided yet in the literature. Both scholars and practitioners have proposed several interpretations that define experiential consumption by focusing on some specific features. These basic assumptions, while widely shared, have never been supported by empirical evidence. This paper tests some of these basic tenets. A large sample of respondents judged a large domain of products on multiple criteria, i.e. the features of experiential consumption. Results suggest a theoretical picture showing common patterns of features generally considered as distinct and provide information on a selection of products calibrated on the relevant features of experiential consumption.