If all of the markets which can support easily superstores have been saturated, what growth vehicles are left for maturing companies like Wal-Mart Stores, Home Depot and Target? One option would be to move into a variety of markets with a smaller store footprint.
Ad-ology Research recently updated their Industry Marketing Insights report for Spas. The following are the predicted Top 5 Opportunities/Challenges from the report for this industry for the upcoming 12 months:
* The men’s market is growing, and many spas are offering services such as hot towel treatments and men’s facials.
* Due to the weak economy, spas report that demand is increasing for shorter treatments.
* Spas are incorporating technology such as Wi-Fi in relaxation rooms and cyber-treatments that combine biofeedback technology with guidance from wellness professionals.
The frugal behaviors adopted during the recession are becoming ingrained and reflect a new normal regarding consumer shopping, dining, and eating preferences. What constitutes value is being redefined and consumers are making different choices than in years past that will drive their food and beverage purchases for the foreseeable future, according to “Food Flavors and Ingredients Outlook 2010,” the sixth edition in an annual series by market research publisher Packaged Facts. Retailers, manufacturers and foodservice operators are expected to continue to appeal to the lingering thriftiness, capitalizing on recession-induced developments such as the surge in popularity of food trucks, for example.
Is there a way to get consumers excited about what the industry calls a “ low-interest category”? Stuart Elliott considers this question in his recent New York Times post about laundry detergent. According to Elliott, Procter & Gamble assumed control of the industry long ago after their brand powerhouses, Tide and Cheer, dominated sales.
Late last year, an Aberdeen Research report noted that the average CMO stays on the job for a little less than 2 years. These short tenures leave the CMO with limited time to make a big impact with his or her marketing ideas and to become a key member of the C-suite team. Now a report on Brandweek points to an even more unsettling trend – the temporary CMO.
As we emerge from the economic turmoil of the past couple years, today’s consumer is making new rules. Where companies and marketers once dictated price points and brand positioning to consumers, now it is the other way around. The consumer is setting a new standard – one that embraces social media, environmental savvy and a global approach that reassesses the very definition of beauty. Marketers have dubbed the emerging mentality the “era of the new conservative shopper.” It’s not a trend, experts believe, as much as a fundamental and long-lasting shift in consumers’ attitudes.
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