Category Archives: Thinking Aloud

July 25, 2011 · 2:50 pm

Familiarity Nixes Contempt

I’m a little tardy in posting today and I apologize.  Funny how time slips away, as Willie would say.  In any event, I have a quick question for you and then a few data points you might find of interest.

What’s the most important factor in consumer thinking when buying electronics?  What influences the brand decision?  How about when buying clothing?  Do you think it’s the same as electronics?  Well, it is, and that factor is familiarity.  This is according to The NPD Group Brand Landscape Report and reported late last week.  Why do you care? Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Thinking Aloud

Tagged as , , , , , ,

July 22, 2011 · 9:04 am

When To Shut Up

It’s time to end the week on a food-related note as is our custom here. I was out last evening with some former work colleagues, most of whom I hadn’t seen in quite a while. It was fantastic to see them and to catch up. Most were pleasantly surprised at the physical changes I’ve been making and a few pulled me aside to know how they could do the same. I explained it to them as I did to you all in this space.
Someone ordered some snacks for the group to enjoy as we conversed and imbibed. It was the usual bar food fairly even divided between the pretty healthy yet tasty (veggie plates, humus) and utter crap but so delicious (fried mozzarella).  What was interesting to me was who chose to eat (and drink) what – some of the same people who expressed a desire to get healthier were eating the junk and drinking fruity, high sugar drinks.  And that’s where the business lesson came in. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Helpful Hints, Thinking Aloud

Tagged as , , , , , ,

July 18, 2011 · 12:54 pm

Are Deals Dumb?

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 10: The Groupon logo is di...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

As I read my daily emails from Groupon, LivingSocial, and a couple of other daily deal sites, I started thinking once again about the wisdom of these things. Not so much from a consumer perspective because, frankly, anything that saves me money is OK in my book. From a business perspective, however, there are a number of on-going questions about which there’s a lot of conflicting information. Let’s lay some of it out and get your perspective. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Thinking Aloud

Tagged as , , , , , , ,