Who can, will, should retire?(Brief Article)
Today, many people think they are never going to retire. For some
it's because they don't want to and don't expect to want
to. For many others, it's because they thought they could but now
find . . .
Who benefits from the worry?(discount stores benefit from
consumer economic worries)(Brief Article)
Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Sam's and yard sales are the major
beneficiaries of consumers' economic worries. Many shoppers want to
be extra cautious about what they are spending and sure that they . . .
Money worries widespread.(consumers worried about
economy)
Roughly half of our shoppers are worried about the economy. Those
over 50 are more likely to be worried than those under 50, especially
those under 50 and fully employed.
The differences between . . .
Global eating stays out of home.(Brief Article)
Sixty percent of our shoppers agree that they are eating more
globally than they used to (more foods from different cultures). But
only half as many (32%) agree that their menu at home has changed . . .
Trading up to better for you.(consumers would switch to healthier
snacks)(Brief Article)
Two-thirds of our panelists agree that they would probably switch
to the better-for-you snacks, "if companies like Frito-Lay could
narrow the gap between the taste of snacks that arc better for you . . .
What we no longer carry.(Brief Article)
Top three:
1) Cigarettes and associated stuff
2) Checkbook (replaced by debit cards)
3) Cash (use ATMs when needed)
Multiple mentions:
* Address book
* Change (for pay phones)
* . . .
What consumers are carrying now.(Brief Article)
Top three:
1) Cell phones
2) Water bottle
3) PDAs/Palm Pilots
Multiple mentions:
* Activities and games for kids
* Backpacks
* Band-Aids
* Beepers
* Breath mints
* Camera
* . . .
The mighty backpack.(what consumers carry with them)(Brief
Article)
Many of the consumers who aren't driving through drug stores
and restaurants are carrying more stuff with them. Women's handbags
used to be the subject of jokes, but backpacks and what's in . . .
New way to save money.(saving money on beverages)(Brief
Article)
Saving money is the second most frequent reason we heard for using
the drive-thru for fast food. Many consumers are aware of the fact that
soft drinks that cost as little as 20 cents a serving at . . .
The indulgence challenge.
Our fast food questions last month triggered several thoughtful
observations from some of the older respondents. Several commented on
the increase in indulging children. Some expressed sadness . . .
The aloneness challenge.(Captain's Tables at KFC)(Brief
Article)
There is enough aloneness out there to warrant some experimentation
with Captain's Tables -- which might be called Colonel's
Tables at KFC. The reason for Captain's Tables is to enable and
entice . . .
Car-habiting is still growing.
The drive-thru mentality has reconfigured today's marketplace.
Consumers are driving through Dunkin' Donuts for coffee, drug
stores for prescription pick-ups, and fast food restaurants . . .
Wishing for honesty.(consumers want honesty in pricing)(Brief
Article)
Consumers have been wishing for honesty in pricing since
self-service shopping came into being, but their wishes have extra
resonance at a time when honesty seems to many to be in very short
supply . . .
Consumers blame themselves.(causes of weight gain)
Almost ninety percent of the shoppers we surveyed agreed,
"instead of blaming food companies, consumers have to take
responsibility for gaining weight."
* It's stupid to blame the companies for . . .
What keeps shoppers coming back.
We always suspected that showing you cared about your customers was
at least as important to food retailing success as anything other than
location. Now, the folks at Cornell University's Food . . .
Hurry up, I'm young.
We often leave demographics to pollsters who sample thousands
rather than hundreds of consumers at a time. Sometimes, the demographics
of responses are compelling and revealing. Some such . . .
A boon for banks?
Those branch banks that have become fixtures in supermarkets and
discount stores may become more important to shoppers who are suddenly
thinking about switching from stocks to savings if they can . . .
Irradiated ground beef.
Wegman's introduced irradiated ground beef with a premium
price and credible consumer information. A Wegman's customer told
us she is "going to try it because I believe Wegman's when
they tell me . . .
Martha Stewart and more.
More consumers are making connections between what they buy and the
behavior of the companies they buy from. Martha Stewart is taking the
lead hit, because her products bear her name and are easy . . .
Marketing backlash warnings.
Consumers who are rebelling against bigness aren't the only
rebels. Irritation with intrusive advertising, telemarketing, and
increasingly creative promotion gimmicks is translating into . . .
|
|