Content about Consumer behaviour

May 24, 2011

Happy days are here again! Consumer confidence rebounded 1.6 points in April from a dip in March, according to the Consumer Confidence Index, despite the fact that high-gas-price stories are dominating the airwaves. That suggests consumers may be willing to try new things again — in other words, to buy something new — and that is excellent news for niche manufacturers. In this annual report, DSN calculates the value of niche brands.

Happy days are here again! Consumer confidence rebounded 1.6 points in April from a dip in March, according to the Consumer Confidence Index, despite the fact that high-gas-price stories are dominating the airwaves. That suggests consumers may be willing to try new things again — in other words, to buy something new — and that is excellent news for niche manufacturers. In this annual report, DSN calculates the value of niche brands.

Click below to download the PDF of the Top 150 Annual Niche Brands Report.

February 7, 2013

MeadWestvaco Corporation on Thursday launched its inaugural consumer satisfaction study, “Packaging Matters.”

RICHMOND, Va. — MeadWestvaco Corporation on Thursday launched its inaugural consumer satisfaction study, “Packaging Matters.” The study explores the role of packaging in product satisfaction as consumers purchase, transport, use and dispose of products across 10 different categories. 

January 28, 2013

Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) will increase 3.4%, down slightly from 4.2% in 2012 and 5.8% in 2011, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 economic forecast.

Washington, D.C. — Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) will increase 3.4%, down slightly from 4.2% in 2012 and 5.8% in 2011, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 economic forecast.

The lukewarm forecast, released Monday, comes on the heels of a holiday season that went head-to-head with Washington’s political wrangling over fiscal concerns, shifting consumers’ spending plans downward. In the end, holiday sales in 2012 grew 3.0%.

January 10, 2013

If you are like a lot of people, hanging a new calendar has inspired you to embrace new beginnings and experimentation. Every January morning begins with plans to put insights into action.

If you are like a lot of people, hanging a new calendar has inspired you to embrace new beginnings and experimentation. Every January morning begins with plans to put insights into action.

And if you are like a lot of other people, you’re feeling desperate for different outcomes in 2013, while still doing things the 2012 way.

January 9, 2013

Men are an ideal target for online beauty and beauty retailers may want to consider expanding more marketing efforts to further leverage this growing opportunity, according to recent research from Mintel.

CHICAGO — Men are an ideal target for online beauty and beauty retailers may want to consider expanding more marketing efforts to further leverage this growing opportunity, according to recent research from Mintel.

The ease and convenience features of online shopping appeal to some 60% of men ages 18 of 34 years who buy beauty products and agree that buying online is more convenient than shopping in store. This compares with 52% of women of the same age and 41% of their older male counterparts (ages 55 years and older), according to Mintel.

December 20, 2012

More consumers plan to spend more on holiday shopping this year than last, according to a new Nielsen survey.

NEW YORK — More consumers plan to spend more on holiday shopping this year than last, according to a new Nielsen survey.

According to the "Nielsen Holiday Survey," 54% of consumers stated they still haven't started their holiday shopping. The weekly survey polled 1,100 households starting in September, and the market research company releases results weekly. Respondents said their top destinations for holiday shoppings would be supercenters, departments stores and the Internet.

December 3, 2012

Analysis by Shopper Sense founder Lily Lev-Glick, a 20-year shopping behavior analyst and researcher, has revealed holiday shoppers fall into one of three distinct categories.

Analysis by Shopper Sense founder Lily Lev-Glick, a 20-year shopping behavior analyst and researcher, has revealed holiday shoppers fall into one of three distinct categories: Scrooges, Ho Ho Happy Go Lucky and On a Merry Mission.

November 16, 2012

Consumers showed a greater willingness to spend in October as the housing market began to recover and energy prices receded, according to a new report by Deloitte.

NEW YORK — Consumers showed more confidence in October as a recovery in the housing market indicated a greater willingness to spend — especially among people who shop through multiple channels — but some headwinds remain, and the issues in Congress could threaten the gains, according to a new report by Deloitte.

The monthly Deloitte Consumer Spending Index rose significantly last month, to 4.02, from September's 3.54. The index measures tax burden, initial unemployment claims, wages and home prices.

November 14, 2012

Retail sales were down slightly in October on a month-to-month basis while increasing on an annual basis, reflecting Hurricane Sandy and uncertainty in Washington, according to the National Retail Federation.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales were down slightly in October on a month-to-month basis while increasing on an annual basis, reflecting Hurricane Sandy and uncertainty in Washington, according to the National Retail Federation.

The retailing trade group said Wednesday that October retail sales — with exception to automobiles, gas stations and restaurants — decreased 0.3% seasonally adjusted from September while increasing nearly 4% unadjusted year over year.

November 5, 2012

Products often fail before they ever find their way to market. Because our firm reviews more than 2,500 new health, beauty and wellness products, and sees approximately 13,000 packaging changes and line extensions annually, I’ve seen this firsthand.

Products often fail before they ever find their way to market. Because our firm reviews more than 2,500 new health, beauty and wellness products, and sees approximately 13,000 packaging changes and line extensions annually, I’ve seen this firsthand.

October 15, 2012

More than half of consumers say they plan to spend $500 or more on gifts this holiday season, slightly more than what they planned on spending in 2011, according to PriceGrabber’s winter holiday shopping survey.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — More than half of consumers say they plan to spend $500 or more on gifts this holiday season, slightly more than what they planned on spending in 2011, according to PriceGrabber’s winter holiday shopping survey.

The survey of online shopping consumers, conducted from Aug. 31 to Sept. 12, revealed that 75% planned to shop with online retailers, 74% said they’d shop at discount stores and 49% planned to shop at traditional department stores.

October 12, 2012

According to Nielsen analyses issued Thursday, higher consumer confidence levels, increased impulse buying and consumer intent to spend more could all lead to an upside surprise in 2012 holiday spending.

 SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — According to Nielsen analyses issued Thursday, higher consumer confidence levels, increased impulse buying and consumer intent to spend more could all lead to an upside surprise in 2012 holiday spending. 

For sales in 89 categories across five key departments (food, beverages, alcohol, health/beauty and homecare), Nielsen is forecasting spending for November and December 2012 to reach $98.3 billion. Nielsen expects dollar sales to increase 2.3% and unit sales to remain generally flat (0.1%). 

October 10, 2012

It seems that consumers' holiday spending intentions are more positive than last year, according to NPD's 11th annual holiday retail study.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — It seems that consumers' holiday spending intentions are more positive than last year, according to NPD's 11th annual holiday retail study.

October 2, 2012

I was fortunate. I was born into a wonderful family. Each of my four siblings and I have certainly chosen individual paths, but it is amazing how interconnected we remain and how we can still rely on each other when necessary.

I was fortunate. I was born into a wonderful family. Each of my four siblings and I have certainly chosen individual paths, but it is amazing how interconnected we remain and how we can still rely on each other when necessary.

Recent events certainly demonstrated how vital family can be. Several weeks ago, as a result of a massive stroke, my father passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife of 60-plus years and his five children. It was during the days leading up to and following Dad’s death that I realized more than ever that family matters.

October 2, 2012

Survey results released Tuesday by online shopping site PriceGrabber found that 88% of shoppers plan to research their holiday gift purchases in advance to find the best deals.

LOS ANGELES — Survey results released Tuesday by online shopping site PriceGrabber found that 88% of shoppers plan to research their holiday gift purchases in advance to find the best deals.

Of those, 38% plan to spend three to six hours researching holiday gift purchases, 29% plan to spend up to two hours, 19% said they plan to spend over 10 hours and 14% indicated between seven and 10 hours.

August 27, 2012

It seems that consumers' outlook on the economy is influencing how they will shop this upcoming holiday season, according to a new survey.

AUSTIN, Texas — It seems that consumers' outlook on the economy is influencing how they will shop this upcoming holiday season, according to a new survey.

August 24, 2012

This year’s Olympics coverage on NBC stood in stark contrast to the television network's failed attempt to offer expanded audience choice through their pay-per-view “Triplecast” in 1992. Remember that 20 years ago, NBC aired the Olympics through three pay-per-view channels? Their total number of subscribers, either for a one-day pass or any of the “gold,” “silver” or “bronze” packages probably couldn’t equal even the smallest service area for a major cable company.

This year’s Olympics coverage on NBC stood in stark contrast to the television network's failed attempt to offer expanded audience choice through their pay-per-view “Triplecast” in 1992. Remember that 20 years ago, NBC aired the Olympics through three pay-per-view channels? Their total number of subscribers, either for a one-day pass or any of the “gold,” “silver” or “bronze” packages probably couldn’t equal even the smallest service area for a major cable company.

August 21, 2012

Forty-five percent of customers shopping in-store at brick-and mortar-locations will walk out and complete their purchase online for a discount as low as 2.5%, according to new showrooming research from GroupM Next.

ST. LOUIS — Forty-five percent of customers shopping in-store at brick-and mortar-locations will walk out and complete their purchase online for a discount as low as 2.5%, according to new showrooming research from GroupM Next.

This number jumps to 60% of shoppers who will leave and purchase a product online for a savings of 5%. When discovering an online discount of 20%, a small percentage of shoppers (13%) stay and complete their purchase in store.

July 31, 2012

Days of cutting back-to-school spending are over, as nearly 9-in-10 consumers plan to spend the same or more, according to Deloitte's annual back-to-school survey.

NEW YORK — Days of cutting back-to-school spending are over, as nearly 9-in-10 consumers plan to spend the same or more, according to Deloitte's annual back-to-school survey.

July 31, 2012

Beauty brand L'Oréal USA is leveraging Clarabridge, a provider of sentiment and text analytics for customer experience management, to monitor what is being said in real time about its 27 brands across social media outlets, including website reviews, product reviews, blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

RESTON, Va. — Beauty brand L'Oréal USA is leveraging Clarabridge, a provider of sentiment and text analytics for customer experience management, to monitor what is being said in real time about its 27 brands across social media outlets, including website reviews, product reviews, blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

The move will enable L'Oréal USA to automatically route consumer insight to the right people and more effectively engage with its consumers.

July 30, 2012

Shoppers still are purchasing on impulse at the front end of the store. Data from SymphonyIRI Group indicated that more than half of consumers make unplanned purchases upon seeing products or deals in the store — a percentage that has remained unchanged during the past 18 months.

Shoppers still are purchasing on impulse at the front end of the store. Data from SymphonyIRI Group indicated that more than half of consumers make unplanned purchases upon seeing products or deals in the store — a percentage that has remained unchanged during the past 18 months. In a recent survey of more than 1,500 consumers, 46% said they made an unplanned purchase during their most recent trip to the drug store. (For complete results, visit DrugStoreNews.com/c2b-mobile-insights)


July 27, 2012

A survey released by Chase Slate with Blueprint revealed that more back-to-school shoppers are carefully managing their spending and borrowing by creating a budget and sticking to it.

WILMINGTON, Del. — A survey released by Chase Slate with Blueprint revealed that more back-to-school shoppers are carefully managing their spending and borrowing by creating a budget and sticking to it.

Thirty-eight percent reported that they have a set budget for school-related expenses; in 2011, only 26% of people had created a budget for their back-to-school shopping. In addition, 32% said they anticipate their spending on back-to-school shopping this year to reflect prerecession figures.

July 25, 2012

Once again, consumers are putting off back-to-school shopping until the last minute, but retailers can take solace in the fact that they intend to spend more this year, NPD reported.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — Once again, consumers are putting off back-to-school shopping until the last minute, but retailers can take solace in the fact that they intend to spend more this year, NPD reported.

According to NPD's survey, 31% of respondents said they plan to spend more this year, compared with 22% who made that claim in 2011. The number of consumers who plan to spend less went from 38% in 2011 to 24% this year, while those who plan to spend the same rose from 40% to 46%.

July 19, 2012

A survey released by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGInsight found that the average parent will spend $688.62 on back-to-school items this year, compared with $603.63 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $30.3 billion.

WASHINGTON — A survey released by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGInsight found that the average parent will spend $688.62 on back-to-school items this year, compared with $603.63 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $30.3 billion.

NRF cited an increased number of children entering elementary and middle school this fall, as well as necessary back-to-school replenishments after last year’s cutbacks, for the predicted improvements.

July 5, 2012

Remember when retail transactions were completed based only on the assortment found within the confines of a brick-and-mortar store? Truth is, we may never return to those days.

Remember when retail transactions were completed based only on the assortment found within the confines of a brick-and-mortar store? Truth is, we may never return to those days.

I’ve heard arguments that as a result of retail choices, formats and virtual storefronts, consumers will no longer establish relationships with retailers. As a result, loyalty will be lost.

Honestly, I disagree. Multi-channel retailing not only has the potential to enhance the shopping experience, but also the ability to strengthen relationships with patrons.