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Kate King

Retail Stores Are Tracking You Like Crazy ⚙ Co.Labs ⚙ code + community - 8 views

www.fastcolabs.com/...es-are-tracking-you-like-crazy

mk473 environment 2 technology ethics privacy

shared by Kate King on 16 Sep 13 - No Cached
Sarah Wesp liked it
  • Lina Goens on 16 Sep 13
     
    I like it! I want to be recognized, greeted, and assisted if I need to be. I can see where some people may feel uncomfortable but employees should be trained when to know when a person wants more help or to be left alone.
  • ...7 more comments...
  • rteufel on 16 Sep 13
     
    To me this seems like the next logical step. What as worked extremely well in online stores (I have worked for one for 5 years and we made a considerably large ratio of our revenues with cross selling on product pages), might also work in actual retail stores. It will, however, take time until customers get used to being "spied on". In my opinion they WILL get used to it, the same way everyone got used to facial recognition in facebook, data collection by Google, and customer profiling by Amazon.
  • Kyle Werner on 17 Sep 13
     
    What technology can do in this age and how retailers are using it effectively to further enhance their business ventures is simply astonishing! A possible next step to this if not in the development process already is if the consumer has the mobile app on their phone, the app will be able to tell what products the consumer is looking at and offer suggestions regarding the product. This could even be taken one step further, for example, if a customer is looking at lunch meat at the deli, the app could even suggest what types of condiments or kinds of sides for the lunch meat, and help assist the consumer in where to find these products in the stores. I agree with Raphael, consumers will have to get used to this business strategy, and look at the silver lining of how these tactics can be beneficial to themselves.
  • jkayjohn on 17 Sep 13
     
    I think the biggest problem with this sort of tracking is many people feel entitled to a sense of privacy. Even though in our day in age this sense of privacy does not truly exist. We are tracked by what we do and what sites we visit online everyday so it makes sense that retail stores deserve the same chance, but people I believe will feel even more violated by this sort of tracking in the physical sense if they are not being told about it. I think the best way for retail stores to go about doing this is by actually making the public aware and playing on the benefits of being able to track their customers and give them the best assistance possible. They need to have a market strategy in place that can do all of that.
  • Carly Foley on 17 Sep 13
     
    I don't know whether to be impressed or creeped out. I feel like I would want to turn my phone off any time I would go to the mall because I don't want to be bothered when I'm shopping or anything. I like to go in and get out. I am not big into shopping so I make it as fast as possible, and the fact of someone knowing what stores I am at or what I am looking at is a little weird for me. I like my privacy.
  • John Cummings on 17 Sep 13
     
    I agree with Lina this can upset some people. They may think their privacy has been invaded. But any business person would understand that this is just another marketing ploy.
  • Kara Blakley on 17 Sep 13
     
    This article is really showcasing specifically how almost no aspect of our lives is private anymore. I did a research report a few years ago on the Psychology of Food/Supermarkets and the technology that are utilizing to get our business. The "tracking" in the stores has been utilized by a few companies that send mobile coupons to your phone when you pass by certain items in the store. Not only that, but the technology keeps a record of your purchases and alerts you when you are around those items again. I even read a story of a father finding out his daughter was pregnant when she received Target baby advertisements/coupons in the mail from the child care department. Based on her previous purchases, Target's customer technology knew she was probably having a baby before her own parents did (or before she decided to tell them). From a business standpoint, I understand trying to utilize any technology means possible to get purchases, but the line is fuzzy between being helpful and being intrusive. Finding a balance between the two is something companies need to figure out!
  • Sarah Jacobsma on 17 Sep 13
     
    I agree with Lina and John. I think it is very impressive that companies can use phone tracking to help out customers. In reality how much privacy do we have these days anyways? From a retailer stand point this technology can be very helpful but from a customer standpoint it can be a little creepy. What technology can do amazes me and it will be interesting to see how it effects the way retailers and consumers interact.
  • Emily Prellwitz on 19 Sep 13
     
    I find this kind of stuff extremely interesting. I honestly like that stores can track me like this because this means that they are more likely to send coupons and deals my way for the things I want to buy. I also think this is a great way for stores to get the perfect layout of their store by seeing where certain demographics walk around.
  • Camille Sampson on 19 Sep 13
     
    This is significant because it has implications beyond just marketing to consumers. The question is, how far should we trespass into citizens (aka customers) rights in order to improve the customers experience? This isnt JUST another marketing ploy, it's an experiment in eroding consumer privacy... and it's working. Marketers realize how little consumers are informed of their own behavior and by association they realize lengths to which they can go. But as privacy erodes, what do we really gain? Sure, it's great they can send us coupons and build our customer profile, but did companies consult the consumer and get consent to do this? Is this data collection all passively done because companies know the taboo behind privacy issues? What does this type of intrusion open up in the future? I think this is seen as simply "the way things are" because we are all desensitized to businesses (and governments) violating the privacy of information. I would like to point out that historically when masses of people in power simply accept things the way they are that's when really really bad things happen (slavery, child labor, exploitation, etc). Passive accumulation of this information seems to me complicit with those who actively accumulate this information- they're both invasions. We must critically think about how allowing such invasions actually works to shape the physical and mental landscapes of our lives, are we actually prepared to deal with the consequences? So, while it may seem like this is just another marketing ploy, we instead should see this as actually another breach of private information which will continue to shape consumer behavior.
Camille Sampson

Surviving Whole Foods | Kelly MacLean - 0 views

www.huffingtonpost.com/...ing-whole-foods_b_3895583.html

mk473 consumer behavior simplicity environment whole foods promotion

shared by Camille Sampson on 24 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Camille Sampson on 24 Sep 13
     
    Effective simplicity to capitalize on consumer behavior: Although specialized grocers like Whole Foods provide limited product options to appear "simple" and avoid overwhelming consumers, does the lack of familiar items available intimidate the consumer and alter their decision making process?
  • Kate King on 24 Sep 13
     
    A FUNNY look at Whole Foods - please be advised that the author is a stand up comic!
anonymous

Marketers Have it Wrong: Forget Engagement, Customers Want Simplicity - 3 views

www.forbes.com/...ment-consumers-want-simplicity

mk473 consumer behavior decision process decision simplicity

shared by anonymous on 20 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • anonymous on 20 Sep 13
     
    This article has great content about how marketers can master the consumer decision process. The article was written about a year ago, but the information is still very relevant and provides helpful tips on how to be most effective in this area as a marketer.
  • ...4 more comments...
  • Lina Goens on 23 Sep 13
     
    Making it easier on us will make it easier on the companies. I still wonder how companies can implement this in the retail industries. Turbo tax was a good example but I am curious as to how you can make it easier in retail because retail stores may offer same types of clothing but completely different prices, quality, styles. Can't really think of anything off the top of my head, but may be a good discussion question.
  • Sarah Wesp on 24 Sep 13
     
    Interesting article! As I was reading it, I was thinking to myself about what I would want more, engagement or simplicity--and I do have to agree with them that simplicity would make things easier. In the last paragraph, the author states, "don't you think it's time to stop overwhelming consumers with marketing information and cut through the clutter?" I do think some marketing information is beneficial, but as a consumer, it would be nice to "cut through the clutter" and have things stated or marketed more simply.
  • meganbos on 24 Sep 13
     
    I think simplicity comes into play especially with the way we view advertisements. If a company conveys a message simply and concisely with out me having to really pay attention or sort through more information I think I am more likely to buy it. Also simple images have more of a design appeal and I think our generation is more focused on aesthetics and the way things look and feel- and simplicity plays a large role in that.
  • Lindsey Wacnik on 24 Sep 13
     
    I agree with Lina this is a tactic that would be hard to apply with clothing retailers, but it would be useful for electronic and appliance retailers. I was just on the Best Buy website, and for each product there was a whole page of information about its capabilities and features. They gave the option to compare products which helped to "cut the clutter". This was similar to Turbo Tax; there were options to choose four different products for a side by side comparison that gave a breakdown of the difference for the features and capabilities in just a few words. Best Buy is utilizing this simplistic tactic, and I personally love it!
  • Brock Naylor on 24 Sep 13
     
    I would have to agree with Megan on this point. There is a statistic somewhere that identifies the average amount of time a person spends actually observing an ad, and in that tiny time frame, there is no way you could pull away all the information many ads are trying to convey. This is why there is a great push these days towards image messaging as opposed to textual advertisements
  • Camille Sampson on 26 Sep 13
     
    Although this article is titled, "Forget Engagement, Customers want Simplicity" I think this article provides an excellent response: http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/2012/07/03/ikea-effect/ Although it was written a little over a year ago, I think it makes a pressing point. Simplicity is good, but too much of it and you will push the consumer away. There is a fine line between obligating the customer to be overly involved in the decision making process, but we need to remember to leverage their spending power. Consumers feel confident about their purchased because THEY chose to purchase it, not because it was pushed into their faces. Marketers need to remember the value the customer receives from the invested interest in the product. Although simplicity is an efficient and beneficial advantage, it limits personal investment into a product which intern negatively affects the value it holds in the consumers mind.
Kyle Werner

Five Reasons We Impulse Buy | Psychology Today - 10 views

www.psychologytoday.com/...five-reasons-we-impulse-buy

mk473 consumer behavior impulse

shared by Kyle Werner on 23 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Kyle Werner on 23 Sep 13
     
    This article discusses why consumers typically jump on impulse buys. Being knowledgeable of these triggers will make the buyer more aware in the future.
  • ...7 more comments...
  • Lina Goens on 23 Sep 13
     
    I wonder if this trend will ever change. JCP thought we were smart enough to know the difference but apparently we weren't. It seems that JCP was a little before its time by thinking in this way. Our subconscious feeds off of impulse buys because its instant gratification. Hopefully I can resist next time I'm out running errands.
  • Sarah Wesp on 24 Sep 13
     
    All five reasons are so true and I have probably had at least one impulse buy for every reason, but I think the biggest reason for those impulse buys are because of those discounts and sales. Who doesn't love to save money? Now that I have read this though, I am going to try to be more cautious the next time I'm out shopping (hopefully there aren't too many good sales going on).
  • meganbos on 24 Sep 13
     
    I thought this was really interesting especially because it came from psychology today. However, number two was not what I expected. I am usually accustomed to people brining up buyers remorse, rarely do they ever say they never regretted it. Maybe that is just with more expensive purchases and not on sale items? All of these articles on pricing have made me more aware of how stores are manipulating me into buying, and I must say most times it works!
  • Angelo Csuti on 24 Sep 13
     
    Yes, I agree with Sarah. I also bought a lot of those products, which I will never use again, but I think that behavior is not as unconscious as the article may want us to believe. Most of the time I am pretty aware of the fact that I am buying stuff because I perceive it as a good deal, even though I also know I won't make too much use of it.
  • Sarah Jacobsma on 24 Sep 13
     
    This article was really great -- I impulse buy for all five reasons and a place I impulse buy from ALL the time Groupon. I agree with Angelo I buy products and sometimes when I am buying them the thought crosses my mind if I will ever use it again does not matter. I usually buy things because I think it is a good deal because lets face it we love to buy things -- especially when they are discounted or on sale!
  • Krista Lawson on 24 Sep 13
     
    I also agree with the sales aspect being one of the biggest reason for impulse purchases. In two different jobs I have worked we had What we called PWPs (purchase with purchase). Once a customer made I purchase I was able to offer them another item at a discounted price. I would always say, "with your purchase today you qualify to get -said item- for 50% (or other discount) off!" Granted, this sale usually went on for three months or so, but using the word 'today' tended to convince customers they needed this item. So e customers would think out loud and reason why they should go ahead and buy it which was always interesting for me to listen to. As a sales person, I would remind them that the sale wouldn't last for long and it was a great deal so they could get it now and not have to come back hoping the sale was still going or that supplies were still available. Most of them never would have bought the item had they seen it on the shelf, but hearing the discount associated with their purchase today they felt obligated to buy, and almost always did.
  • Kara Blakley on 24 Sep 13
     
    Target is my downfall for impulse buying! I always stop by the dollar bin section (especially when it is 50-70% off) then I feel like I need everything! Which is terrible because I can personally go to almost half the things I've purchased in my home that I have not used. The other day at Michaels, I witnessed a lady purchasing some scrapbook paper and after having to wait for a few customers ahead of her, she purchased a small piece of Hershey chocolate sitting in a bin for 59 cents. I couldn't help but think about the marketing and item placement that Michaels thinks about in their store layout because they would not have sold that extra item had it not been convenient and inexpensive. The placement of small items helps create more sales - especially by the cash registers - as children and people of all ages may want things they didn't think about when initially going into the store. This was a really interesting article!!!
  • Emily Prellwitz on 24 Sep 13
     
    I think this article perfectly describes a lot of purchases made on black Friday. I have made a lot of purchasing decisions on this list. This is exactly how stores draw people into their stores by offering a huge sale but only for a limited time. Or for online shopping stores sometimes offer free shipping for a limited time in order to create impulse purchases.
  • Paige Laughlin on 24 Sep 13
     
    I totally agree with Emily. After working the last three Black Fridays at Express, it's amazing to see how impulsive customers are when buying items. I am definitely one of those people as well, especially in a huge sale environment. You ask yourself "will it ever be this price again?" And if the answer is no, I will probably buy it.
Brock Naylor

There's A Thin Line Between Tracking Terrorists And Tracking Consumers - 5 views

www.businessinsider.com/rveillance-domestic-nsa-2013-8

mk473 STP Targeting

shared by Brock Naylor on 02 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • Brock Naylor on 02 Oct 13
     
    This is another article that outlines how companies target consumers by obtaining information about there interests. Many people feel that a lot of these methods of gaining information are invasive or otherwise unsettling. How do you feel about information being gathered about your consumer behavior? Do you feel that they are going too far?
  • ...3 more comments...
  • Brock Naylor on 02 Oct 13
     
    Excuse me, their* interests
  • Carly Foley on 02 Oct 13
     
    Not sure how I feel about this. Also not sure how it works. If it is based off of what they use to track terrorists, how have they configured it to work for consumers. Even after reading the article, I still feel like they didn't explain it very well.
  • Angelo Csuti on 03 Oct 13
     
    Quiet intimidating to see how much we are getting observed by big companies, using the same techniques as the NASA. In Germany we also have had a big debate about it for years already but there is no progress. I think we unfortunately have to accept that the spying techniques are one bad consequence of the internet and be aware, while using it.
  • Kara Blakley on 03 Oct 13
     
    This article was really interesting, creepy, and yet educational all at the same time! I'm not surprised at all that companies are using these algorithms to track our movements. Yes, nothing is safe in this world and how can anybody trust anything?! But at the same time, we as consumers need to be aware of these insecurities because you never know who has access to the Wifi connections or internet access. All of this psychological analysis is used to increase sales. Maybe they didn't want this particular example to get out that the same type of technology is used in tracking terrorists, but we should understand as potential marketers that this is just to generate sales. And because of programs such as these, we may be introduced to brands and products that could change our lives for the better.
  • meganbos on 03 Oct 13
     
    The ad targeting is very interesting- I have definitely noticed the targeted marketing durning this project. After searching Vera Bradley for my in class project all of my advertisements on Facebook and other searches are all Vera Bradley products!
Kate King

New Wisdom on How Men Shop for Clothes - WSJ.com - 2 views

online.wsj.com/...4110404578625933374837170.html

mk473 consumer behavior gender shopping behavior

shared by Kate King on 19 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Women have long dominated consumer fashion both online and off, but men's interest is on the rise, and they are expected to offer big growth in coming years, particularly as the millennial generation settles into adulthood.
  • but men increased most types of shopping between 2004 and 2012.
  • "Men are becoming more like women in [the fashion] context,"
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • "for a man to walk into a retail environment and walk out with nothing—that would be viewed as a failure,"
  • Other findings: Men find models' faces distracting.
  • men have a strong need to touch and feel clothing before buying it.
  • Carly Foley on 23 Sep 13
     
    I think my favorite part of this article is that they are going to include a strip of packing tape to make it easier to return. That is just funny. I would think they wouldn't want to make it easier to return,, I mean, what company wants to have a customer return an item. I understand they want to make it convenient, I just think it's funny.
Kate King

Elastic Pricing: Beyond Dynamic - The Robin Report - 1 views

therobinreport.com/elastic-pricing-beyond-dynamic

mk473 retail pricing

shared by Kate King on 29 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • Kate King on 29 Oct 13
     
    Good explanation of "dynamic pricing" or how online retailers are able to present specific messages and price offers to consumer based on your behavior on line. Think: "Minority Report" with Tom Cruise!
Thomas Holmes

From McRibs to Maseratis: The Power of Scarcity Marketing - 2 views

hbswk.hbs.edu/7236.html

mk473 consumer behavior

shared by Thomas Holmes on 24 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Thomas Holmes on 24 Sep 13
     
    How limited offers can make consumers perceive products as better than they actually are.
  • Krista Lawson on 24 Sep 13
     
    I really liked this article because I was able to find aspects where I can really relate. One thing that came to mind is durning Christmas/winter months, Hershey's releases candy cane peppermint kisses. I have associated these with only that time and I'll buy more of them specifically because I know they won't be here long. I don't feel like this is something we as consumers need to learnt o say no to. I think it is merely a marketing ploy that works well. For those from Indiana, or other similar states in terms of seasonal changes, I feel like we are all somewhat trained with this mentality due to our seasonal changes. Towards the end of Winter we can't wait for Spring and so on. I ink it would be interesting to see did there is any difference related to this scarcity concept among people from Indiana for example versus Florida. I think it would make sense that people in Indiana may buy more of something associated with winter during that time due to the temperatures we experience versus Florida who would still have that winter spirit, but not the weather to further encourage it. It could have no effect, but I think it's interesting to think about.
Kate King

New Wisdom on How Men Shop for Clothes - WSJ.com - 5 views

online.wsj.com/...4110404578625933374837170.html

mk473 consumer behavior gender shopping behavior

shared by Kate King on 19 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Lina Goens on 23 Sep 13
     
    I like the "show room" idea. That could really boom.
  • John Cummings on 24 Sep 13
     
    I agree Lina this has a chance really take off
Kate King

Millennials Are On the Rise - Barrons.com - 5 views

online.barrons.com/...3889404578440972842742076.html

mk473 consumer behavior millennials

shared by Kate King on 19 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • make up the largest population cohort the U.S. has ever seen. Eighty-six million strong, it is 7% larger than the baby-boom generation
  • could keep growing to 88.5 million people by 2020, owing to immigration, says
  • 27% of the U.S. population
  • Lina Goens on 23 Sep 13
     
    The description of the millenials are dead on, now I wonder what marketers will do with this information moving forward.
  • ...1 more comment...
  • Sarah Wesp on 23 Sep 13
     
    Wow--I didn't know the millenials were 7% larger than the baby-boomer generation, but I would agree with Lina on this one in that how they described the millenials is pretty spot on. Even going as far as the car companies predicting the types of vehicles we will buy in the future, I do think they are overall pretty accurate in these predictions.
  • Sarah Jacobsma on 24 Sep 13
     
    I actually read this story the other day and really enjoyed it. I was wondering if this would end up on Diigo. Like Sarah said, who knew the millennials were 7% larger than the baby-boomer generation. It is a huge market to target along with a lot of potential - it will be very interesting to see the many different ways marketers target and cater to millennials in the future.
  • Camille Sampson on 24 Sep 13
     
    It'll be interesting to see how accurately this article describes market growth as influenced by the millennials. As an entrepurener, I personal found this article to be helpful as a guide for my next interest; home ownership. It seems like the next few years could provide ample opportunity to capitalize on the growth in the housing market that is soon to come. Although the ,market is lagging right now, this is the time to buy in, when costs are low, then capitalize and lease properties once the population begins to seek homes away from mom and dad. the question is, what other industries will be influenced by this flux in the market? The article mentioned the growth of sales that will be seen in construction stores like Home Depot etc. but what about variables that are dependent of those organizations? Will the price of various resources increase? for example, wood, concrete, marble etc. Also, what will be done demographically to account for this oncoming flux in living styles? Business will need to capitalize on the innovations in living patterns that are going to develop from this flux-mainly locations. Where will these people move from? More importantly, what lifestyles are they moving to?
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