Happy Holidays from Shopper 360

We're taking some much needed time off from our coverage of shopper marketing and private label to celebrate the season with our loved ones. We want to sincerely thank you for your readership, your comments and your participation.

Here are our top posts from 2009:

Walgreens making changes to be customer centric

*Updated* The Return to “Personal Selling” at Retail

*Updated* Keynote:A Fresh and Easy Place to Shop


We'll be back in January with more coverage.

We wish you Happy Holidays!

Hispanic Market Sees Value in Private Labels

Supermarket News reports that nearly three-quarters (73%) of Hispanics agree that “store brands are a great value for the money,” and 64% said “store brands are just as good as national and international brands.” The study also found that 73% of Hispanics are buying more private label foods this year and one in four plan to purchase private labels in 2010.

What do you think?

Learn more: Hispanic Market Sees Value in Private Labels

Popular Author Deals Directly with Amazon.com

This post in retailwire discusses how the high-popular author Stephen Covey has given Amazon.com the exclusive e-book rights to two of his most popular titles. Musical artists have long partnered with big retailers to help increase music downloads and sales of their units, but this is a first in electronic publishing.

Amazon.com has offered Stephen Covey a royalty rate double that he would normally receive through the publisher. Is this the new route for popular authors? Will we see less book publishers in the future?

Archived Recording Available: Do Consumers Prefer Private Label? A Look Into Consumer Attitudes About Private Label

What is the difference between name brands and store brands? Do consumers know? Do they care? How do they describe private label compared to name brands? Does this differ across categories? How about across markets?

Private label and store brands are having an impact on many consumer purchases today, both in the US and Europe. And within these markets the definition of private label compared to name brand varies according to category and retailer.

When is a name brand important? What makes a name brand different? Do consumers feel the same way about brands today as they did a year ago? Why or why not?

Showcasing BuzzBack’s unique portfolio of award-winning online research techniques, this webinar will highlight new consumer research conducted in the US and UK about purchasing behavior and attitudes associated with private label versus consumer name brands. The study will present ways to identify consumer behavior and attitudes about shopping via an online survey.

As you listen in, you will learn:
What drives consumer purchases of private label brands and why
Consumer perceptions and attitudes about private label compared to name brands
Types of people who purchase private label compared to store brands

Listen: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/781266785

Official Call for Presenters is Now Open for the 10th annual Shopper Insights in Action Conference

The Institute for International Research (IIR) is currently seeking corporate practitioner presenters for the 10th annual Shopper Insights in Action Conference.

Due to the high volume of submissions, we suggest you submit your proposal early and no later than January 5th, 2010 to Amanda Powers, Senior Conference Producer at apowers@iirusa.com or call 1-646-895-7332. (Only proposals from brand and retail corporate practitioners will be considered, for all other submissions please see sponsorship section below).

Shopper Insights in Action is recognized as the world's leading conference focused on understanding shopper behavior and translating insights into action.

This year's theme is The new 360 degree sphere of influence: physical. virtual. mindset.

It addresses the game-changing paradigm shift from influencing shoppers in-store to influencing them whenever, where ever they are in a shopper mindset.

2010 will be a true best practice and idea exchange for those responsible for activating purchasing behavior across the brand and retail continuums. It is the only unbiased shopper-rooted platform where practitioners can properly benchmark their research/marketing practices against the leading brand and retail companies.

2010 Main Themes:
You may choose a specific topic or suggest a topic that fits within one of the themes.

1. STORE DESIGN & THE EXPERIENCE

2. REVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH PRACTICES

3. BRAND IDENTITY & PRODUCT INNOVATION

4. PRIVATE LABEL INSIGHTS: MEETING CHALLENGES WITH OPPORTUNITY

5. NEW & NEXT PRACTICES

6. ACTIONING THE INSIGHTS

7. WHAT'S NOW, WHAT'S NEXT...in the retail landscape

8. Other

Speakers receive FREE admission to the conference as well as any pre-conference activity such as workshops or symposium.

What if I am not a corporate practitioner (from a client-side company) but still would like to participate?

More than 75% of our content will be delivered by corporate practitioners. If you are a consultant or solutions provider and wish to be a part of the program, please contact Jon Saxe, Senior Business Development Manager at jsaxe@iirusa.com or 646-895-7467. We will customize opportunities to fit your needs from speaking, branding, networking and/or exhibiting.

CALL FOR PRESENTERS:
For consideration, please e-mail apowers@iirusa.com with the following information by January 5th, 2010:
• Proposed speaker name(s), job title(s), and company name(s)
• Contact information including address, telephone and e-mail
• The main theme you plan to address
• Which format you'd like to present
• A brief summary (75 words max)
• Please indicate what is NEW about the presentation
• What the audience will gain or learn from your presentation (please list 3-5 deliverables)
• Previous conference presentations
• Short Bio (2-3 sentences) & Speaker Headshot

If you are a retail executive and interested in attending the event but can not commit to presenting, you may apply to be a "retail thought-leader”. Write to Amanda at apowers@iirusa.com with your interest.

Complimenary Webinar: Do Consumers Prefer Private Label? A Look Into Consumer Attitudes About Private Label

Wed, Dec 9, 2009

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/781266785

Mention priority code MWS0020BLOG

Do consumers know the difference between national brands and store brands? Do they care? How do they describe private label compared to national brands? Does this differ across categories? How about across markets?

Private label and store brands are having an impact on many consumer purchases today, both in the US and Europe. And within these markets the definition of private label compared to national brands varies according to category and retailer.

When is a brand important? What makes a national brand different? Do consumers feel the same way about brands today as they did a year ago? Why or why not?

Showcasing BuzzBack’s unique portfolio of award-winning online research techniques, this webinar will highlight new consumer research conducted in the US and UK about purchasing behavior and attitudes associated with private label versus national consumer brands. The study will present ways to identify consumer behavior and attitudes about shopping via an online survey.

As you listen in, you will learn:

• What drives consumer purchases of private label brands and why
• Consumer perceptions and attitudes about private label compared to national brands
• Types of people who purchase private label compared to national brands

Featured Speaker
Brendan Light, SVP, Research and Development, BuzzBack Market Research

Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/781266785
Mention priority code MWS0020BLOG

Does your shopper marketing need to be re-evaluated?

In an interesting article at Inside Retailing, they look at the evolving customer and how you can reach them most efficiently when they enter your store. Shoppers need to be directly spoken to by your in-store advertising. This can result in more purchases. According to the article, 68% of buying decisions are made while the shopper is in the store.

Your strategy can be broken down into three stages:
-Developing a clear understanding of shopper behaviour and related insights
-Engaging the shopper in unique instore experiences
-Converting the shopper into a buyer

They also state that shopper marketing success relies on three things: the quality of your customer, your shopper insights and how well you integrate both of them. Read the full article here.

More Choices in Store: India's Retailers Are Stocking Up on Private Label Brands

The University of Pennsylvania's Marketing portal reports that India's retailers are filling their shelves with private label goods.

The report states,

In India, the growth of store brands is a function of increasing retail sophistication. Large-format, modern retail stores (known as the "organized" retail sector) -- as opposed to smaller, traditional "mom and pop" stand-alone stores -- are presently only a small portion of total retail in the country. A report by investment bank Northbridge Capital, titled "Indian Retail Research 2009," estimates the total Indian retail market at US$450 billion, growing more than 30% a year and expected to cross US$720 billion in 2011. Of this, organized retail accounts for just 14%, or US$63 billion -- although this sector is expected to grow 40% faster than the overall market to reach US$90 billion in 2010.

Learn more: More Choices in Store: India's Retailers Are Stocking Up on Private Label Brands

What do you think of the surge in private label goods by Indian retailers? What other factors may be causing this boom?

JCPenney Strikes a Deal with Mango

This recent post in retailwire discusses how JC Penney is striking up a deal with the fashion retailer Mango to setup a "store-within-the-store". This unique agreement will allow JCPenney to offer affordable contemporary fashion to women.

MNG, by Mango, which is an exclusive line for women aged 18-35 will also be sold at JCPenney beginning next fall. Enric Casi, Mango's CEO, mentions:

"Every time we bring Mango to a new international market, it has driven immediate, strong demand, and we have only begun to capitalize on the great desire for Mango in the U.S. JCPenney is the perfect match for us to take advantage of the opportunity we see for the MNG by Mango brand in this market."

Walmart Turns Trash Into Pizza Boxes

In an effort to reduce waste and to recycle their private brand pizza boxes, Walmart is utilizing a new way to reduce its footprint by recycling the cardboard waste collected in its stores into boxes for it’s private-label, take-and-bake pizza boxes, according to Earth911.com.

“We’ve totally and literally closed the loop using a retailer’s own boxes to go through a paper mill and then to make corrugated boxes out of those same things again,” said Myles Cohen, president of the recycling division for Pratt Industries, the company carrying out the new program. “Quite frankly, the program with Walmart that we’re partnering on is groundbreaking [...] It’s the future.”

Walmart estimates this measure alone will save 8,600 tons of waste from landfills. Additionally, it will reduce the need to consume the equivalent of 40 million gallons of water and 125,000 trees.

Walmart Turns Trash Into Pizza Boxes