Why the Byron Sharp method?
Byron Sharp's FAST method is based on the principle that consumers have no emotional attachment to brands and therefore do not base their choices on brand image or other rational aspects. According to Sharp, consumers are guided solely by situations in which they think of a brand (category entry points), recognize brands by certain specific characteristics (distinctive brand assets), and by physical availability.
Markteffect incorporates Byron Sharp's theory into various studies it Markteffect . Research is carried out based on the three leading factors. Distinctive brand assets are the uniquely recognizable characteristics of your product, service, or brand. To what extent is a brand distinctive, and does that play a role in the decision-making process?
The category entry points relate to both awareness (top of mind, spontaneous, and aided) through recognizable characteristics, but also to "possible solutions or products" that come to mind when thinking about a category. By looking beyond brands, we try to get inside the consumer's head and understand why he or she makes certain choices.
When it comes to physical availability, for example, we look at how easy it was for consumers to purchase a product in a particular category and whether the purchase they made was related to the extent to which the product was readily available.