US Moms are the leading edge of behavioral shift to mobile devices
There has been a lot of research on "crossing the chasm"and how technology moves from early adopters to mainstream consumers. With previous technology devices like PCs, much of the migration has been influenced by business and work at home adoption. In the case of mobile devices, it appears that multi-tasking moms are the leading edge of driving smartphone usage.As I watched the mother of my twin granddaughters managing three kids less than 3 years, there is no question why moms lead. What does this trend mean for mobile marketers and retailers?
Who will be retail's Big Dog … and who is barking up the wrong tree?
If you live in the US, retailing is going to be very interesting by Black Friday this holiday season. The major retailers have come out of the blocks early with price matching guarantees. Target was one of the first to fire a salvo with their "Big Dog" commercials airing three weeks before Halloween. It's going to very interesting to watch the competition as savvy consumers increasingly go online to shop and compare prices. The consumer is definitely in a position to cash in, but who will be the top dog of retail this holiday season?
A photo report from the field while searching for "balance" on safari
I've been writing this weekly blog for well over 260 consecutive weeks. That's over 5 years of staring at a blank screen trying to find a compelling headline and something to say. Do bloggers ever get a week off? Do they need one … YES!
After my around the world tour of retail, I had the opportunity to get back on another plane and go on safari in one of my favorite places on this planet – Africa! I can't begin to describe the utter joy to visit a lodge in the bush veldt which had absolutely NO INTERNET! Oh what a relief it is not to be "always on" and reachable by email or cell phone. And, what a perfect excuse not to write a blog for the week!
Retail is adapting to the digital preferences and habits of consumers
If you look at age demographics, there is an amazing stat: 50% of the world's population is under 30 years old! No one under 30 remembers typewriters and carbon paper, but they know what a carbon footprint is. More importantly, younger people tend to be "Digital Natives". The "Natives" have adopted a digital lifestyle and changed their shopping habits that are entirely different from those of us who grew up on typewriters. What does this mean for retail stores who were built with cash registers?
