More U.S. cities go green and ban the use of plastic bags in retail outlets. The ban on plastic bags continues as Seattle bans single-use plastic shopping bags at all businesses in the city, according to an Examiner report. The ban went into effect on Sunday, as was approved by the Seattle City Council in December. [...]
Technomic Inc. reports that sandwiches prove to be more successful items on lunch and dinner menus for the past two years. Sandwiches are a staple food item for both lunch and dinner menus at limited- and full-service restaurants, and more consumers report purchasing sandwiches away from home today compared to two years ago. “Today’s consumer [...]
Findings from a new Catalina report underscore the importance of reaching and motivating the right customers when introducing new products. A new report published by Catalina, a provider of precise consumer-driven marketing, finds that only a tiny fraction of shoppers determine the success of new Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) product launches. The report explores the [...]
Consumer research from MSA and Paradigm Sample suggest the majority of customers looking to buy salty snacks leave the store empty-handed, a serious no-no for convenience stores. By Trish Temmerman, Management Science Associates (MSA). Nearly eight in 10 convenience store customers looking to buy salty snacks on a shopping occasion have left the store without [...]
Savvy c-store operators are using loyalty programs to improve merchandise planning and forecasting to spur long-term growth. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Loyalty programs, when administered well, offer c-store retailers solid benefits—the ability to react to trends quickly, make more informed decisions, improve cost effectiveness and aid in merchandise planning and sales forecasting. “Loyalty programs [...]
IDDBA’s “What’s in Store” report shows customers are looking to eat healthier, shopping more but buying less on trips. Consumers are buying less food less frequently, making value that includes health the crux of their shopping ethos, according to “What’s in Store 2012,” the published trends report from the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA). Spending on [...]
New report shows c-stores have greatly benefited from the growth of the overall retail industry. Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “US Convenience Stores Forecast to 2014″ report to its offering. The U.S. convenience stores industry, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing sectors, presents lucrative investment opportunities for new players. [...]
Despite fast-changing customer expectations, shortened product and retail life cycles and rapid technological advancements, many retailers have not taken advantage of opportunities to innovate. By applying new perspectives to established ways of doing business, convenience store retailers can strengthen their competitive and financial positions, improve the customer experience and create a new life cycle of [...]
In collaboration with TNS, 50,000 shoppers select the nation’s 22 most innovative products of the year. Product of the Year USA, the largest consumer product award that rewards innovation and is voted on by consumers, brought together executives from iconic consumer brands, such as Proctor & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, PepsiCo, ConAgra Foods and Johnson & Johnson [...]
Nearly one-third of U.S. shoppers found empty shelves this holiday season, an Aldata survey finds. Holiday shopping wasn’t a cheerful experience for many Americans this holiday season. According to a new survey of more than 1,000 U.S. in-store shoppers, 31% discovered that the product(s) they were looking for this holiday season were out of stock. [...]
Motorola Solutions Survey shows 67% of shoppers agree emerging in-store technologies heighten overall satisfaction. The latest installment of the Motorola Solutions Inc. annual Holiday Shopping Survey highlights that three in four (75% ) surveyed retail associates and managers feel they provide a better in-store customer experience when equipped with the latest mobile technologies. In fact, [...]
Times & Trends report finds pantry stock-up and quick trips account for two-thirds of CPG trips and dollar sales. It has long been a daunting task to stay in lock step with the shopper mindset. After all, mindsets are a moving target and can quickly change due to a variety of reasons, including purchase [...]
A survey shows lack of inventory, difficulty finding desired items and long checkout lines are top threats to retaining loyal customers. Nearly 70% of U.S. adults would avoid shopping at a retail store if they encountered empty shelves, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by Galleria Retail Technology Solutions, a provider of retail and category [...]
Savvy consumers research brands and prices before heading into stores. Excitement over unexpected in-store deals has diminished as discounted prices become an anticipated part of the consumer products shopping experience, according to the Deloitte/Harrison Group annual American Pantry Survey. For nearly one-third (30%) of consumers, at least seven of 10 items in their shopping cart [...]
Study finds some shoppers are looking at products in-store, then using their phone to find it cheaper elsewhere. A recent blog post by Retrevo examined the results of a Retrevo Pulse Study that polled shoppers about how they use their cell phones when they shop. Findings showed retailers aren’t doing enough to give smartphone equipped [...]