Customer Acquisition

Inflationary doomsday prophecies abound and big brands, particularly in CPG, are rightly worried about the strongly forecasted and deeply dreaded "trade-down" — i.e., the tipping point where consumers will alter their behavior and opt for a competitive store-brand to save pennies-on-the-dollar of their hard-earned cash. A case in point is Sharon Terlep’s recent WSJ article…

Typically, consumers have two decision-making styles: those who exhaustively research multiple options before making a purchase (aka the “thorough” shopper) and those who purchase the first decent choice that fits their preferences (aka the “efficient” shopper). Retailers that understand this distinction can shape their approaches to acquire and retain customers, including developing content and leveraging…

As consumers grapple with rising inflation, they’re searching for new ways to manage their expenses. For many, that means turning to an arsenal of digital tools. A recent Gartner survey of over 300 consumers identified the changes consumers are making, and the tools they’re using, in response to the rising cost of living. Faced With…

Although Google is pushing back its plan to eliminate third-party cookies to the latter half of 2024 (from 2023), advertisers and marketers are still scrambling to figure out how they’ll track website visitors and create personalized experiences without this critical tool. The key to a great consumer experience is data, and this change will be…

Talks of an impending recession have brands scrutinizing marketing costs more diligently. Retailers are also seeking ways to bolster the bottom line as consumers tighten their grips on their wallets. Amidst the ongoing recessionary pressure, data collaboration, specifically retail media networks (RMNs), has become increasingly popular for its ability to help brands gain insights on…

The holiday shopping season is upon us and retailers are keen to understand what will drive consumer spending this year. With global supply chain issues and inflation on the rise, consumers are changing their spending habits. According to the recent Q3 Gift Card Gauge from Fiserv, economic factors are already having a significant impact on…

It’s been long established that music has the power to stir emotion and influence consumer behavior. In 1973, business professor Philip Kotler first addressed the science of sound in retail when he coined the term “atmospherics” for the practice of designing store environments to project a specific image and induce certain behaviors. In an article…

“Zillennials” are the oldest members of Gen Z, who were born during that demographic’s first five or six years, approximately 1997 to 2002. While still considered digital natives, zillennials can remember a time before tablets or smartphones and were not pervasively online during their elementary school years, unlike the majority of their generation. This age…

Today’s consumers have revolted against the marketplace status quo. They’re now in charge, and retailers must recognize and embrace this fact in order to survive in the new “metail” economy. Joel Bines, managing director at AlixPartners and author of the best-selling book, “The Metail Economy,” shared insight into consumer behavior trends last month, including how retailers…

Over the past several years, short-term rentals (STRs), like Airbnbs, have gained significant popularity among travelers. Occupancy rates set records in 2021 as the demand for these properties increased a staggering 27.5 percent. One reason for the sharp rise is that short-term rentals offer a more personable alternative to hotels and motels. STRs usually have…