June 2017

You may be forgiven for thinking that high street travel agencies are a bit of an anachronism in today’s world. After all, who would go to a retail outlet filled with paper brochures while a uniformed member of staff tapped your details into their computer, when it’s possible to book a package …

Do you struggle to unplug from technology? Well you’re not alone, according to the results from our international online survey where a third of those polled (34%) firmly agree1 that they “find it difficult to take a break from technology (my mobile device, computer, TV, etc.), even when I know …

Dads are changing.  As more mothers have entered the workforce and become empowered outside of the home, dads have become more engaged with household chores like cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping.  These trends are not just born of necessity; in the US, Canada, and countries around the …

Imagine a potential customer is browsing in your store or on your website. They linger a little over one of your products and it’s clear that they’re interested. So how do you convert this browser into a buyer? There’s competition coming from every angle and consumer spending isn’t growing, …

Whether it’s smart speakers, thermostats or refrigerators, one thing is clear. The much hailed about ‘internet of things’ is slowly but certainly becoming a reality. The benefits are obvious for customers – smart homes represent the ultimate in convenience. Back in 2015, Amazon’s Dash button …

To truly conquer the connected shopper, you need to encourage your customers to buy as much as possible in one shopping journey. In today’s retail environment, shoppers are presented with overwhelming choice. Here’s how you can influence their decision-making to ensure they buy as much as …

As the summer of 2017 approaches in the US, there’s a veritable buffet for sports fans to enjoy. The Warriors and Penguins have been crowned champions but baseball, soccer, racing, golf and tennis now fill the schedule. I will be a part of the crowds this summer, heading to Connecticut to see …

Eight years ago, Starbucks developed its own app for mobile payments. Today, it’s still held up as the gold standard in the United States. In Asia’s rapidly developing market, where mobile payment is eight to nine years ahead of the West, things are quite different. In China, you can …

Today’s Connected Consumers are increasingly price sensitive. According to our FutureBuy 2016 study, 58% of shoppers compare prices in different stores and more than a third (39%) use price comparison and discount websites. Consequently, promotional activity is intensifying as retailers and …

U.S. ecommerce sales grew almost 15% in Q1 2017 compared to one year ago as reported by Internet Retailer.  With the growth of these sales comes increasing expectations from purchasers.  A recent GfK FutureBuy study shows that 54% of consumers are now less loyal to any one brand and need to …

While eroding prices of technical consumer goods may excite the increasingly savvy and deal seeking Connected Consumer, they can be a big problem for product manufacturers and their retailers. Lower prices mean lower margins, and in today’s evolving omnichannel environment, it’s important to …

Every brand wants to broaden its client base, but to achieve this is one of the biggest challenges facing marketers. The key to success lies in building a relationship between consumer and brand. From this strong foundation, you can increase penetration, but also upgrade light buyers into …