Some believe that people will purchase a product based on their needs, and advertising is not needed. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is argued that consumers make purchasing decisions solely according to their real demands, so advertising serves no useful purpose. I completely disagree with this opinion, as advertising plays an irreplaceable role in both informing buyers and driving rational consumption.
Admittedly, essential goods like daily food and basic medicine are bought out of rigid needs, with little influence from promotions. However, this does not mean advertising is unnecessary for the majority of products. First, advertising helps consumers identify the most suitable products that match their needs efficiently. In a market flooded with countless similar commodities, buyers rarely have enough time or professional knowledge to compare every option. For instance, when a person needs a laptop for office work, targeted adverts can introduce models with appropriate performance, weight and price, saving them from aimless searching among hundreds of products. Without such information, people may end up buying unsuitable items that fail to meet their actual needs.
Furthermore, advertising often raises public awareness of products that solve unrecognised needs. Many useful inventions were barely known to the public before promotion, such as portable power banks in the early 2010s. Most people did not realise they needed such a device to charge their phones on the go until adverts demonstrated its function, and it quickly became a daily necessity. Advertising here does not create unnecessary demand, but connects innovative products with people's potential needs.
In conclusion, while basic needs drive some purchases, advertising is an essential bridge between consumers and products, helping people make better choices and discover practical items that improve their lives. It is far from being unnecessary in modern commerce.