Week 9 - I don't remember buying this

Picture this...you come home from work and there's a package waiting. What could it be, you don't remember ordering anything. You open it up and it's...a cat brush that emits steam. Or a bag of Swedish candy. Or a mini trampoline for exercise. Or...the list goes on*

Was this done in a fever dream? Was I intoxicated? Depressed? Perhaps all three.

Social commerce is fueled by the significant amount of time that consumers spend on social media —US adults will spend 11.4% of their total daily media time and 17.9% of their digital media time with social platforms in 2024, per EMARKETER’s June 2023 forecast. https://www.emarketer.com/insights/social-commerce-brand-trends-marketing-strategies/

According to Forbes, social commerce is expected to hit $1.2 trillion market value by 2025. And this phenomenon affects your large stores of course, but it is the smaller retailers that can capture sales with unique products that are on trend and current.

Depending on the platform, shoppers can use hashtags, shop tabs, and other tools to find brands and products. They may interact with businesses, creators, and other customers via one-on-one chats, product demos, expert-generated content, public groups, and private communities. Brands, on the other hand, curate authentic social content to engage customers and prospects. Luxury fashion and beauty brands have quickly embraced this trend. https://influencermarketinghub.com/social-shopping/

So the next time you need a unique gift, or you want to try a sour pickle made in Texas maybe scroll through your TikTok shop and see what is available.

*May or may not be real purchases I have made on social media.

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Week Four - When Marketing Research Goes Wrong

This week I discovered a lighthearted comedy pop podcast called The Big Flop. "Find out what happens when massive hype turns into a major fiasco, and join us as we try to answer the age-old question...Who thought THIS was a good idea?!" Two of the episodes I listened to this week were on the JCPenney --> JCP rebranding and the McDonald's Arch Deluxe. I recommend the podcast if you're looking for a quick recap of historical fiascos. This article discusses data literacy and how market research done poorly can be a disaster : Why Data Literacy Matters . . . Or Why McDonald’s Arch Deluxe Disappeared McDonald's spent over 150 million in marketing to roll out (pun intended) a burger that noone wanted. The Arch Deluxe Was a Hell of a Burger. It Was Also McDonald’s Most Expensive Flop. "Had the Arch Deluxe debuted in a different time, and with a different marketing gimmick, there’s a chance it could’ve been a hit. Only three years after the burger’s ...

Week Six; So I saved a penny?

When did even/odd pricing start? I found two possible explanations: One story is that it forced the cashier to open the cash register to give change. By pricing an item at $4.75 or 49.95, the cashier would need to access change and open the register, which recorded the sale . Otherwise the cashier could potentially put the $5 or $50 in their pocket without opening the register. Another story is that in the early 1900s, JCPenney conducted a pricing study and concluded that people perceive a deal when the price ends in 7, 8, or 9 and that the odd number creates a sense of urgency to purchase. Because I love all things sociological and psychological, I had to ask: But, why? An odd price ending conveys the impression of a discounted price. Consumers tend to pay attention to the first digit of a price, so reducing a product from $3.00 to $2.99 will be perceived as a value and lead to 10% to 30% higher sales. Odd pricing also gives the illusion that ...

Bic Cristal - the pen for men!

I came across this image, and I found it amusing and wanted to share and use it as a starting point to talk product life cycles. However, while coming up with some pithy intro I remembered... Bic pens were created in 1950 by entrepreneur Marcel Bich. In 2006 it became the bestselling pen in the world selling its 100 billionth pen. It is even in the Museum of Modern Art, but it is also in the Museum of Failure. Because in 2012, Bic introduced "Bic Crystal For Her". Marketing a thinner barrel for better handling and the "plug color" matches the ink. Needless to say, it was not well received and was quickly discontinued. But not before the reviews started:

MK103 - Athena G

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