When predictions were made about the “modern technological age” in which we now live, the main projection was that technology was the key enabler to having more free time. As with most predictions this hasn’t happened (flying cars etc), and about having more time, it’s more likely most people feel they have less free time.
Health is a multi-million dollar industry and a relevant issue for both consumers and manufacturers. Trends show that obesity is rising, as is diabetes and heart disease – yet we also see that awareness of these issues is rising as are gym memberships.
Brand planning is tough enough without having to also contend with the weather.
The past few weeks in the UK have been clear examples of how quickly it can change – a sunny start to spring, swiftly followed by a cold snap across the country – with snow for some. One week sunshine, the next hot chocolate with the central heating back on. In more recent years the UK has also seen a change in seasons where summer appears early, briefly, or not at all! Read more »
CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility – is usually focussed on the achievements made and communicated in a prospectus to shareholders. But should the C in CSR really stand for “Consumer”? Read more »
It all starts with a simple question: “Why do consumers buy our products?”
Fundamentally consumers are buying a product or service – a chocolate bar, a ready meal, a car, a weekend break in a hotel. Ultimately this is to satisfy a need. But this is within the context of what a consumer uses for meeting that need at that moment, and how your product proposition stacks up against that.
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When things don’t go to plan for your brand, what next?
Bad news abounds… News International is still smarting from the closure of NOTW, an ongoing enquiry and much cynicism around the launch of The Sun on Sunday. Network Rail Chief is given a knighthood on the same day lawyers plead guilty in a case where a passenger lost their life due to a crash.
Consumers can review everything in a multitude of media channels in review sites to Facebook and YouTube. So how do you manage that? Read more »
This week I had the chance to speak with a client on creating change within his business. Working within Insight in a FMCG chilled category, the business had over time become dominated by cost driven initiatives – managing the cost of ingredients: goods, packaging etc.
In the past few weeks a letter sent to Sainsbury’s Customer Service by a 3 ½ year old little girl has reached people via Twitter, and following that Facebook sharing, liked 150,000 times and shared over 48,000 times.
An innocent question indeed, amongst so many that are common:
Why is the sky blue?
Why can you sometimes see the moon in the day?
Social networks used for both private and professional purposes are currently reviewing & simplifying their privacy policies. This is great news for users – everyone knows in the simplest terms what they are signing up to. These are also the same networks that can be seen as great resources for brands and marketers to better understand their consumers – in their own words. But this is problematic. Yes – consumers agree to the Terms & Conditions when they join these networks. But who reads the details? Most consumers (myself included) just click “agree” and get on with using the site. That doesn’t mean consumers have given their permission for their thoughts to be used as a component of market insight. Read more »
Haymarket © 1957 – 2012
