Shopper Culture

A New Generation of Moms

Get ready! The Millennial generation is taking over as parents. Roughly one in five moms is a Millennial, and nine million of them are raising kids at this very moment. This recent article "8 Things You Need to Know About Millennial Moms" in Pop Sugar highlights eight characteristics of Millennial moms. Below we discuss three of these new Millennial mom traits and share some considerations as they apply to the world of shopping.

 

They have been shaped by technology.

Millennial moms have been shaped by technology since the day they were born. Internet, iPhones and social media are a regular part of their daily diet. They use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and You Tube and average of 17 hours a week, four more hours each week than the average mom according to a report from Weber Shandwick.

Is French Toast The Best Defense?

We have long known that shoppers are predictably irrational. Sometimes shoppers say and do different things and then can’t explain why they behaved that way. However, few examples make this shopper truth more undeniably obvious than when the weathermen call for inclement weather.

There’s hurricanes, severe storms, or lots of snow and suddenly, the grocery stores are essentially battle zones with shoppers fighting to get their carts down the aisles or fill their baskets as fast as possible. Most notably, the bread, milk, and egg aisles are mad houses of irrational behavior. The sense of urgency and fear of running out drives shoppers into frenzies. But why? It can't be that those are coincidentally the ingredients to make french toast. 

What can Shopper Promotions Learn From Powerball?

If you have a pulse, chances are you've heard by now about the lucky three winners of the $1.6Billion Powerball jackpot. Chances are you played, and may have played with a group of people like an office pool. I know I did.

Experts say we have a better chance of being bitten by a shark, becoming president of the United States, or being hit by lightening – twice. We know this. We've heard it all before. Yet we still play. Why? Because $2 is not that much to risk for a chance, however slim it may be, of winning a life-changing, epic prize.   

This cultural Powerball frenzy has me thinking about brand sweepstakes and promotions at retail.

How To Become A Company That Matters

Many companies exist to fulfill shoppers’ needs, but what if a company really mattered to them? Stood out in their mind as the company and had an impact on their daily lives?

Integer and The ShopperCulture team are proud to be part of Peter Sheahan’s new book, Matter: Move Beyond the Competition, Create More Value, and Become the Obvious Choice. In this latest book, he explores how companies have elevated themselves above their competition to become an obvious choice in their markets. The book is the result of an extensive research study undertaken by Peter and his writing partner Julie Williamson looking at companies both large and small that have developed innovative approaches to their business which have helped them win in our radically changing world. There are many fascinating cases in the book, one of which is the story of the birth and growth of ShopperCulture.

We are very proud of the distinctiveness that ShopperCulture has created for The Integer Group over the last nine years. Our continual mission of driving “a global conversation about the impact of shopping culture on brand strategy” has helped us stand out amongst agencies around the world, and we are excited to have been asked by Peter to take part in this project. As Peter says:

Consumers Aiming to Live Life to the Fullest in 2016

The new year is a time when consumers rethink their goals and consider what they want to improve in their lives. Almost half of consumers make resolutions every year yet, only 8% actually achieve them. Why? Are we thinking too big? Are we just not committed? Or does life simply get in the way?

According to a GOBankingRates survey of 2016 resolutions, money-related goals were less important this year than in the past. Instead, consumers are choosing to focus on life and lifestyles. The top resolution stated by respondents was “to enjoy life to the fullest,” followed by “to live a healthier lifestyle.” In fact, the first financially relevant resolution, “save more, spend less,” was number four on the list!

Personal Products Getting More Personal...

According to Mashable, "At-home pregnancy test company First Response announced on Wednesday at International CES the first-ever Bluetooth-enabled pregnancy test, which syncs up with an app and houses all test results and dates in one spot."  The one-time use traditional 'stick' has gotten smart and now shares data with the branded app that provides optimal cycle timing as well as previous and current test results.  

From smart home to smart bathroom to smart womb, how will marketers continue to toe the line of adding value without becoming intrusive? 

Photo Source: Mashable

CES 2016: Focused on The Future of Transportation

CES 2016 has officially kicked off this week in Las Vegas. Every year the weeklong tradeshow hosts the latest gadgets and thinking from some of the world’s largest technology and electronics companies. However, this year, it seems that much of the hype and buzz is centered on a rather unsuspecting segment—the auto industry.

At this year’s event, almost 25% more floor space has been dedicated to the auto industry and two of the eight keynote speakers are from automakers.

Trends 2016 Part 1

This year, we’ve observed that a few new trends in the shopper-marketing world have started to shift the entire shopper experience as we traditionally think about it. As the industry evolves and new shopping models emerge and normalize, we’re definitely taking notice! Over the next few days, we’ll explore and discuss a few of the trends that caught our attention in 2015 and have significant implications for shopper marketing in 2016 and years to come!

Decision Fatigue and Outsourced Shopping

In today’s world, shoppers often find themselves sifting through a surplus of choices, becoming overwhelmed with information and too many options – a phenomenon that’s developed in recent years called decision fatigue. With so many choices, from toilet brushes to what to watch on Netflix, decision-making itself has become a chore, and shoppers are looking for new, easier ways to make their decisions and purchases.

 

Exploring Macrotrends: Hyper-Personal

Consumers and shoppers live in a digital world. Which means that there's a whole trail to any sale on the Web to be mined for information, allowing brands and retailers to make every interaction, every offer, every connection more personal and personally relevant.

 

This month's issue of The Integer Pulse explores the macrotrend of Hyper-Personalization and several shopper marketing examples of how this trend is impacting your future.

We're All in Marketing: What Evolution Tells Us About Advertising

What do you have in common with an Australian Peacock Spider? How is Volkswagen like a Bull Snake? And how do you pick the right eggs at the grocery store?

Ethan Decker, PhD, VP of Insight & Strategy at Integer, recently spoke at TEDxSMU 2015 in Dallas, TX.

As an ecologist in marketing, he connects the dots between the natural world and the human world, and finds some surprising insights about marketing and advertising.

Watch Ethan's TED talk here. 

Is Advertising Inherently Evil, or Is It Nature?

Some would say advertising is inherently evil. Certainly it has a history of deception and snake oil salesmen. But it might not be as bad as one would think. In fact, it might even be natural.

Ethan Decker, VP of Insight & Strategy at Integer, recently reflected on his past as an ecologist and the world of elk and orchids to see what he could learn about the world of advertising.

Click here to read Ethan's article on Huffington Post. 

Pumpkin Spice Craze: Has It Gone Too Far?

Pumpkin carving and pumpkin pie have been Fall staples since I can remember. But then pumpkin spice changed everything and shoppers' love for it has only grown over time. To the extent that Fall now seems to be the season of pumpkin spice. A time when you can get anything and everything infused with this unofficial taste of Fall.

There are the classics like the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, pumpkin spice scented candles and air fresheners and of course the ever classic pumpkin spice cake. But many other products are adopting this flavor and retailers are embracing this trend in store. Has it gone too far? 

We want to hear from you, the readers! Click here to weigh in on the pumpkin spice craze.

To fuel your thinking, here are some recent happenings on the pumpkin spice front.

Exploring Shoppers' Shift to Thrift

The surge to save is not going away. But it isn’t just about dollars—it’s also about saving energy, saving time … even saving the world. Shoppers are rethinking their buying behavior to include more than cost. Convenience, quality and most recently, simplicity, are all tipping points to purchase. The recession may have started it but the shift to thrift behavior has stuck around. Partly because it’s never been easier to shop and compare options.

This month's issue of The Integer Pulse explores this macrotrend and two shopper marketing examples of how this trend is impacting your future.

Retailers Support Shoppers' Health with Products AND Services

Everyone is excited for the shift to cold weather, boots, and pumpkin everything–but it's also time to get your flu shot and stock up on Emergen-C.

The first wave of colds is coming and more and more retailers are helping consumers prepare by offering shoppers more convenient solutions–including retail clinics.

There are over 1,800 retail clinics at retailers like Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, and Kroger. The number of locations continues to rise and reports over 10 million visits annually. While this service is growing is only accounts for 2% of all "primary care encounters." 

The New Shopper Acculturation Model

The acculturation model has started to show some cracks in the last 15 years. It was designed to address immigrant-driven diversity. With most Hispanic population growth now coming from native-born Hispanics, the relevance of a framework designed to explain an immigrant experience has increasingly become irrelevant. It's the understanding of the nation coming together and eliminating what makes us different. This includes all ethnicities including white adopting more and more different ethnicities behaviors into their day-to-day lifestyle.