what is your national treasure?

February 1, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
food trends
 
Korean food has a reputation for popping-up in the most unique places...
 
On the heels of two reports on the popularity of Korean food in America (see big. bold. Korean. & food trends by way of The Simpsons), we learned about an interesting project in Berlin, Germany from our pal Mandie O'Connell: Dr. Rhee's Food Lab.

Equal part art installation and community curation, the one week bartering pop-up store opened during the season in which Baechu Cabbage Kimtschi is traditionally made in Korea aiming to secured personal cultural artifacts of equivalent value from various cultures in the city in exchange for "the national treasure of Korea".
 
 
The exchange of 60+ portions between customers and the Dr. Rhee's Food Lab brand was then documented online in real-time so followers could understand the specific reasons which a specific object was displayed. View the complete catalog here.
 
A collaborative project from visual artist Kate Hers and scientist Hanjo Rhee, we love how the exhibition engaged community prior to opening via Kickstarter funding and again throughout the event — linking food to cultural identity.
 
{special thanks to artist/Berliner Mandie O'Connell}
 
Tags: food, Korea, Berlin, germany, art, pop culture, consumer behavior, popup food, popup retail, Korean Food

no CC required

January 6, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
google wallet
{photo: Starbucks.com}
 
Those obsessed with the revolving safety concerns about privacy when using credit or debit cards for online transactions can now reference hard data supporting the argument for their favorite brands to invest in mobile payment processing.
 
According to research from mobile payments firm PaymentOne, most consumers (80%) say they would spend more online if they were offered an easier and more secure way to pay and online merchants could add aggregated yearly revenue of US $109.8 billion simply by offering an alternative 'no credit card required' option. We believe that technology developments transforming smartphones into digital wallets will be a great solution for consumers who enjoy shopping on the move in 2012.
 
"Consumers' concerns around the security and privacy of online payment transactions are staring digital merchants in the face and demanding attention," concluded Brad Singer, executive vice president for PaymentOne. "In today's economy where every cent counts and every customer is vital to the success of a business, merchants need to do more to ensure that customers aren't scared away when it is time to check out."
 
At a ratio of almost four to one, customers in the PaymentOne study believe that direct carrier billed mobile payments are more secure than credit or debit cards for online purchases.
 
But will users adopt?
According to a separate study by ABI research, mobile wallet users will grow to 594 million by 2016, and carriers such as Google, Apple, Microsoft and Research in Motion will control the marketplace in the USA, Western Europe, Korea and Japan.
 
Couch commerce is so 2011. M-commerce is the future.
 
 
 
Tags: retail, eCommerce, consumer behavior, trends, SmartCommerce

open house(s) at LVMH

October 18, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
Taking a note from the Hermes Hermès Artisans Festival of Crafts (a.k.a. the one brand LVMH desires most), luxury conglomerate LVMH opened up 25 of its brands to the public on Saturday and Sunday for Les Journées Particuliéres (The Special Days) — providing a glimpse into its exclusive workshops, design showrooms and wine cellars.
 
It was the first time in its history that LVMH has revealed the hundreds of hands and delicate workmanship behind its illustrious brands. Below is the preview video produced for the weekend event.
 

 

Couturiers like Christian Dior and Givenchy welcomed hundreds in Paris. Visitors were shown the high-ceilinged salon at Givenchy where the brand's famous clients like Hollywood stars Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor would meet with the famous couturier, who retired in 1995. A grey-haired tailor at Dior, who has worked at the couturier for a decade, showed small groups the proper way to make a men's jacket, which takes about a week and requires 15 pieces of fabric.
 
"These are works of art," said Beatrice de Plinval of Parisian jewellers Chaumet, referring to the bejewelled headpieces the company has produced for the French aristocracy since 1780. Chaumet's sparkling creations can require between 500 to 1,500 hours of workmanship.
 
In Italy, Bulgari, Fendi and Pucci participated in the "Private Days" event, which also reached Spain, Scotland and Poland, according to Reuters.
 
The two-day event was not solely focused on the art of fashion. Top makers from Dom Perignon to Moet & Chandon opened their cellars in France's champagne and design buffs viewed the headquartered in some of Europe's most beautiful buildings.
 
We love the opportunity to create intimate connection between artist and consumer regardless of income level. The grand marble staircase at Dior, situated on Paris' exclusive Avenue Montaigne, was the site of the atelier's first fashion shows, where stars like Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich would watch sinewy models pass by.
 
The rich history and culture represented by these brands offer a glimpse into people, places, and luxury goods before the likes of tabloid magazines.
 
Tags: fashion, luxury, wine, italy, france, artisan, consumer behavior, inspiration

study: moms and daughters are enmeshed about fashion

July 28, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
A new study by Dr. Ayalla A. Ruvio, assistant professor of marketing at Temple University's Fox School of Business has found that mothers seem to be heavily influenced by their teen daughters' fashion choices, reported by Newswise.
 
"The impact adolescents have on their parents is much more profound than they have been given credit for," according to Ruvio's report. Conversely, it appears that the impact we have on our children as they grow up, may be less than we thought — at least in terms of fashion sense.

Mothers who viewed themselves as young at heart, cared about fashion, and viewed their daughters as fashionistas, tended to copy their teen daughters' fashion choices, according to a story from Yahoo Contributor Network. Furthermore, Ayala told the Journal of Consumer Behavior, it's a conscious choice: mothers weren't just picking up fashion cues from their adolescent girls unintentionally, but said they were deliberately purchasing make-up, clothing and other fashion items that their daughters also purchased.
 
{source: Yahoo.com}
Tags: fashion, study, Culture, children, consumer behavior, trends

bargain hunters

May 4, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

According to a national poll from Consumers Union’s ShopSmart magazine, over three-quarters of women (76%) consider themselves to be bargain hunters, with 10% saying they enjoy the challenge of finding the best deal.

Money is the shoppers' main motivation, with 40% of women admitting they bargain shop because they are on a limited budget, reported Business News Daily.

And if money were no object, 83% of women polled still said they would seek out a deal. Female shoppers hate to overspend, as two-thirds of women (65%) typically wait for a sale to purchase items. And 37% feel guilty if they pay full price without trying to get a deal.

“I’m such a sucker for a bargain, especially when I have a coupon or there’s a sale for 50 percent off,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, Editor-in-Chief of ShopSmart. “According to ShopSmart’s poll, many of us are helpless against a great deal, and retailers know this. However, there are so many new opportunities these days to shop smarter, and if you play the game right, you can save really big.”

A good sale also triggers social shopping with the majority of the survey respondents (90%) likey to share the news of their bargains with others, including over one-third (35%) who tell anyone who will actually listen.

{source: Business News Daily}

Tags: sale, research, trends, consumer behavior

harness your content

April 19, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

Loving this short film about how the power of words can radically change your message from Purple Feather.

Great tips for food, fashion & lifestyle creatives.

Tags: new media, promotion, marketing, consumer behavior

retailing trend: click & collect

March 16, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
click and collect
After years of trying to drive customers to their e-commerce sites, retailers like Sears, Nordstrom and Wal-Mart have all instituted programs that let you order an item online and then pick it up at a brick-and-mortar location.
 

 
This strategy to get shoppers to set foot in their stores and breaches the divide between e-commerce and real world sales as competition grows from Amazon and other online retailers. The convenience, for both consumers and retailers assists in streamlining inventory because many stores had previously offered different selections online than in store. In a world where shoppers are becoming accustomed to browsing digitally, it just makes sense to sync the Web and in-store experience.

Examples include:

  • Wal-Mart announced last week that it would expand an old program with a new one called “Pick Up Today" from 2,000 items in less than a quarter of its stores to 40,000 items (by the fourth quarter), including baby items, toys, electronics, video games and appliances in an initiative expected to reach nationwide (3,600 stores) by June. When the order is ready, customers will receive a text message or e-mail alerting them when their orders are ready.
  • Wal-Mart will now let consumers refill prescriptions and order photos via its mobile website.
  • Nordstrom recently combined its inventory so that if the online stockroom is out of an item, a store that has it can ship it to the Web customer as part of their "Buy Online, Pick Up In Store" service offering.
  • Best Buy, Ace Hardware, JC Penney and Sears are among the others offering “ship to store” programs.
 

By motivating customers to visit brick-and-mortar, the retailer increases the chances that they’ll pick up another item or two on the way to the checkout - increasing retailers UPT (units per transaction). "Click and Collect" services can also decrease labor costs, in addition to shipping, if employers tap in-store employees during down sales hours.
 
Tags: convenience, department store, website, eCommerce, consumer behavior, inventory, SmartCommerce

news bites: 1.24.11

January 24, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
Forward thinking and futuristic finds...

FASHION
- New virtual mirror application enables customers to try on potential purchases via website.
- Hipster or health hazard? Maintaining "raw" denim look by not washing jeans for 15 months is OK health-wise.
- Even luxury brands now create their own online media & content bypassing magazines.
- Virtual fitting room use shape-shifting "fashion robots" to model clothes before you buy.

+
FOOD
- Nowness reveals winner of Fantastic Food competition chosen by industry experts.
- Time to Rethink Your Message: Now the Grocery Cart Belongs to Daddy.
- Chef Ferran Adria unveils new downmarket eatery, 41 Degrees, in Barcelona.

Tags: luxury products, branding, produce, tech, website, innovation, trends, fashion, eCommerce, consumer behavior, food

luxury in an ever-changing marketplace

November 10, 2010 | By Shannon Kelly

Karl Lagerfeld talks to the BBC austerity, branding and design in a truly international consumer culture.

Tags: luxury products, branding, packaging, fashion, consumer behavior

news bites 10.22.10

October 22, 2010 | By Shannon Kelly
intriguing, interesting and entertaining news cultivated by In Your Head...

FASHION
- Harvard Business Review report assesses economic importance of Michelle Obama’s fashion choices at $2.7bn.
- Projecting retail sales trends is a science, not an art. National Retail Federation projects US will increase holiday spending by 1% by spending more on quality & service as they turn away from discounters but a contrasting report by NPD Group proclaims that discount stores will be "top destination" for holiday spending.
- Neiman Marcus sold 100 special edition 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertibles from the retailer's annual "Christmas Book" catalog in 3 minutes.
- Harvey Nichols launches the first ever pre-nup bridal package including recommendations on scents, bridesmaid dresses, shoes, skincare, make-up as well as financial reassurance.
- Loving these fashion themed Halloween costumes for the daring.

+
FOOD
- Eco-friendly floating restaurant with sustainable seafood set to open in marinas worldwide.

photo: CNN via Shannon Ronalds

- Harnessing the power of social media by using the internet to identify and even predict new customers.
- What everyone's talking about -- Starbucks launches test of beer and wine in cafes.
- Good advice for small packaged food companies on how to get your product onto retail shelves (some of these tactics can also be used for sales people in the fashion industry).

 
Tags: luxury products, weddings, packaging, coffee, trends, fashion, holiday, consumer behavior, food