Posts Tagged trends
Nine probable key consumer trends for the 2011
According to a compilation and analysis of current studies, Mintel predicts nine key consumer trends for the year ahead, examining how long term behavior has been impacted and created a new way of life. In 2011, consumers are living for the long term with attitudes inspired by a changed value set, says the report, written by Alexandra Smith and Richard Cope.
Alexandra Smith, global trends analyst at Mintel, said “…consumer trends for 2011 are a legacy created by economics… and are set to influence the global consumer mindset for a long time to come.”
Posted by eBrand Media Research Department in Trend Tracker on November 4th, 2010
Further evidence of the demise of the Industrial Age – Newspaper circulation skids
By Tom Polanski, EVP, eBrand Media and eBrand Interactive
According to a new report from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, for the six months ended March 31, 2009, the largest daily newspapers are losing subscribers at a record pace, with circulation down 7% compared with the same period in March 2008. For Sunday newspapers, circulation was down 5.3%.
In addition to sinking circulation, newspaper ad revenue is plunging. McClatchy ad revenue plummeted 29.5% in Q1 2009 compared to the same quarter last year, while The New York Times Co. saw ad revenue plunge 27%. Zenith Optimedia predicts that ad spending for newspapers will sink 12% in 2009.
During this 6 month period ending Mar. 31, 2009:
– Circulation at the New York Times slipped 3.5% during the week and 1.7% on Sundays
– The Washington Post fell 1.6% daily and 2.3% on Sundays
– USA Today fell 7.4% during the week on a decline in copies ordered from hotels
– The Chicago Tribune fell 7.4% daily and 4.5% on Sunday
– The Los Angeles Times slipped 6.5% and 7.5%
– The Boston Globe plunged 13.6% during the week and 11.2% on Sundays
– The New York Daily News was down 14% during the week
– New York Post, down 20%
– The Miami Herald (-15.8%)
– The San Francisco Chronicle (-15.7%)
– The Philadelphia Inquirer (-13.7%)
– The Houston Chronicle (-14%)
Posted by Tom Polanski in Trend Tracker on May 8th, 2009
eBrand Media counts ten trends transforming marketing measurements
By Tom Polanski, EVP, eBrand Media and eBrand Interactive
I found this article in our library, and thought you’d find it interesting. There are at least 10 mega-trends that are collectively transforming media and marketing measurements as we know them:
1. Digital network adoption. Mass adoption of the Internet and digital networks is fundamental, if obvious. Their impact on how we share and manage information is now perhaps the most significant influence on the evolution of metrics, among all that follow.
2. Attention erosion. Our networked society has resulted in massive increases in consumer choice and, from a marketer perspective, an erosion of attention. Many economists postulate that we’re undergoing a transition away from an economy based on shelf space to one based on attention scarcity. From a measurements perspective, there are two major implications: first, there is a growing demand by marketers to tap into measurements to embrace this shift. Second, many data collection and measurement methodologies–such as surveys–are susceptible to the very same attention scarcity. In market research circles, this is often referred to as the “continuing drop in panel participation and response rates.”
3. Speed of measurement. The near-real-time intelligence delivery that characterized the Bloomberg terminal is permeating nearly all facets of marketing measurements. Even if measurements are not delivered instantaneously in a slick, colorful dashboard, the expectation of faster data and actionable insights is growing. Speed is a competitive advantage.
4. Democratization of data and analytics. There was once a time when access to vast piles of market-research data and processing power was contingent upon huge budgets. While that’s still true in many cases, digital networks have made more data more accessible–even sometimes to the point of open-source or free. An interesting manifestation is the growth of free metrics services like Alexa, Google Trends and BlogPulse to understand Web behaviors. These services are not heavy-duty market-intelligence tools, but nonetheless are valuable, directionally significant and influencing perceptions and decisions around the things they report. Don’t forget Google Analytics and Salesforce.com, which are offering low-cost marketing and CRM dashboards that any company can implement overnight. (Disclosure: BlogPulse is an R&D platform and demonstration tool from my employer.)
5. Observational measurements. In digital networks, people often passively emit both anonymous and identifiable gestures, whether it’s visiting a Web site, programming a TiVo, commenting in a public discussion forum or a host of other activities. Observational research techniques–sometimes called digital ethnography–are not a replacement for more overt data-collection methods, like face-to-face surveys, but they are an important addition when attempting to obtain natural, unprompted insights into the behavior of customers and prospects.
Posted by Tom Polanski in Trend Tracker, eBrand Media on March 5th, 2009
Best Buy Matches Lowest Online Price. Trouble for Competing E-tailers?
By Tom Polanski
I underwent an extremely unusual purchasing process with a Best Buy located in Portland, Oregon. It could mean trouble for online electronics retailers.
I’ve been in the market for a replacement plasma display for the family room and since I’ve been a member of AVS Forum for over 5 years I decided to start my research there. Once I targeted the television I wanted I began to contact the forum sponsors regarding pricing and availability. For the sake of clarity, forum sponsors are companies, usually Mom and Pop stores located across the country, that place ads within AVS Forum. The assumption is that the publisher, AVS Forum, only allows reputable companies to place ads within their site and that these companies will give forum members the best prices and service. It’s a great relationship for AVS Forum, online electronics retailers and forum members.
In fact, I was given great prices by authorized dealers and would have been comfortable buying from any of them. I liked them all. I settled on a company in Seattle to make my purchase from. However I began to have second thoughts when I came across a thread regarding problems this new generation display was occasionally exhibiting. A great, award winning display but, again, there are reports of problems every now and then. It’s to be expected with a sophisticated piece of technology but worrisome, nonetheless.
Posted by Tom Polanski in Gadgets & Gear, Seeing Into the Future, Trend Tracker on June 16th, 2008