Marketing Forecast from Ad-ology

Ad-ology Research recently updated their Industry Marketing Insights report for Shoe Stores. The following are the predicted Top 3 Opportunities/Challenges from the report for this industry for the upcoming 12 months:

* The toning/shaping segment is expected to continue boosting walking shoe sales, which grew 33% in 2009.
* Shoe retailers should cater marketing to African-American women: A 2010 survey revealed that 70% plan to buy shoes in the near future.
* While cost is important to shoe buyers, many are fiercely brand-loyal, which may lead them to a particular retailer. Despite weak economic conditions, shoppers appear to still focus on quality brands, perhaps due to their durability and reliability.

A new report from the Retail Advertising & Marketing Association examines the similarities, differences, online shopping and search habits of moms of pre-teens compared to the average U.S. adult. Moms with tweens, defined as children aged eight to 12, use the Internet for research and also share information they find there through e-mails and text messages more often than does the average adult, according to the survey data. Coupons continue to serve as the top media influencer for both grocery (79.1%) and apparel (46.0%) purchases. Moms of tweens are tech-savvy and are adept at bargain-hunting and multi-tasking. Retailers should continue to find ways to attract mom – and her pre-teens – with coupons, fun and appealing phone applications and even social networking website promotions.

A new survey of supermarket prices on thirty summertime essentials found that shoppers can save over 30% by choosing the retailer’s brand instead of the national brand. The economy appears to be a factor in winning shoppers over to store brands, according to research from the Private Label Manufacturers Association. As the economy continues to fizzle, industry analysts believe consumers will continue to select private label products in categories where they previously considered only national brand items.

According to home improvement industry analysis by The NPD Group, Inc., home improvement market categories saw an overall dollar increase of four percent in the 12 months ending June 2010, compared to the same time last year. Warehouse home centers were up two percent and hardware stores were up 21% in sales in the last 12 months ending June 2010, versus last year. Home improvement categories, such as garage storage/organization, kitchen/bathroom cabinets, vinyl tile, stain, and interior paint, generated the largest double-digit gains in retail dollar sales.

How can online retailers prepare to effectively compete during the upcoming holiday season? According to the Coremetrics 3rd Annual Online Retail Holiday Readiness Report, online shopping these days is all about fast and targeted sessions. Retailers who meet these consumer needs will end 2010 with positive results.

Ad-ology Research recently updated their Industry Marketing Insights report for Office Furniture Dealers. The following are the predicted Top 3 Opportunities/Challenges from the report for this industry for the upcoming 12 months:

* Consumers are becoming more interested in stylish and “personal” office furniture, due in part to longer work hours and spending more time in their home office.
* Shoppers buying for their home offices are increasingly drawn to smaller pieces of furniture, especially desks. Current popular desk models often have a combination of veneers and solid woods, or have laminate or glass tops.
* There’s opportunity for furniture retailers to market ready-to-assemble pieces to those with a home office. Approximately 90% of consumers with a home office have purchased ready-to-assemble (RTA) office furniture, of whom 70% purchased RTA desks