David Evans, CEO of the SPOS Group reported in Inside Retailing on his thoughts on what retailers can learn from USA retail trends.

His comments were as follows:

1. Consumers are moving from impulse spending to informed purchases. They want the information next to the product and do not want to be harassed by a salesperson.
2. They are shopping around and want an immersing experience when they are in store. They want a positive memorable experience
3. Integrated merchandising. The back of room systems need to ensure that pricing, stock control management are all integrated so that the customer gets a smooth journey through the transaction

The Cherry industry in the USA is not one of the industries you would look to as a leader in marketing, but they are doing some interesting things at present that are worth watching.

They have Twitter advocates who are promoting cherries as part of the marketing strategy. This is working that well that the news has moved from social networking marketing into the traditional press with Time Magazine doing a piece on how the industry is working with those that Tweet.

They are also using more traditional marketing techniques to get the message across. (more…)

A shopping cart turned over in a pool of blood on a book cover, you may think this is the next exciting novel. It is in fact the cover of Alan Fairnington’s new book called “The Age of Selfish Altruism, Why New Values are Killing Consumerism”.

The book was reviewed in the Age newspaper by David Wilson on May 3rd 2010

What is the book about ? The end of the shop to your drop mentality by consumers when shopping. We are in the era of the “post consumer”. (more…)

Imagine the consumer walking into the garden centre, looking at a gorgeous plant and picking it up to admire the flowers. They wonder who raised it, the history of the plant, where to plant it in their garden and how to care for it. They get out their mobile phone and place it next to the label.

The phone comes to life and shows them a video of the plant raiser, provides a brief history of the plant, it shows a mature plant and how to care for it. The phone also links through to a Face book page where they can read the comments of previous buyers of the plant. They are captivated by the plant and the information provided and place the plant in their shopping trolley.

You may think I have just lost the plot or I am talking about a scenario that will take place in 2050, but this could happen today, there is nothing stopping your labels talking about you to the customer. (more…)