perceptionper·cep·tion /pəˈsepʃənpər-/ noun [countableC] the way that people feel about a company, product, market etc and what they think it is likeThere is a perception among investors that an economic recovery is beginning.
National stereotypes do play a role in product perceptions. For example, consumers will buy perfume because it is French.
After he took over, he changed public perceptions (=what people thought) of the company.