It’s no secret that humans are emotional creatures and that moods can oftentimes influence shopping behavior. In fact, a recent trip to Whole Foods reminded me of how powerful feelings can be while shopping. In this instance, a specific kombucha drink grabbed by attention because of it’s promise of a “clear mind”. While this wasn’t necessarily a functional benefit the beverage could offer, it’s name was enough in that moment to convince me to purchase. It was an aspirational feeling that I of course wanted—I mean, who wouldn’t want to have a clear mind? As I walked back to the office, this purchase got me thinking about other... Continue reading

This past weekend was the conclusion of Coachella, the popular music festival that stretches over two weekends each spring. Every year, the event draws in a crowd just shy of 100,000 young and hip festival-goers per day, making it a highly desirable venue for brands. Fighting to stand out in such a crowded space, marketers are finding new ways to entice consumers to buy their products. One of the most highlighted tactics from brands this year: using social exchanges as a form of payment instead of traditional money transactions. So, how did this play out? Cupcake Vineyards, an official wine sponsor of the event, sold $1 glasses of... Continue reading

Whole Foods recently announced a partnership with Imperfect Produce to test-run sales of 'ugly' produce in a few of its Northern California stores, which is set to begin next month. This announcement comes after increasing consumer demands for the food industry and retailers to help eliminate food waste—a petition on change.org specifically called out Whole Foods, as well as Walmart, to take steps towards becoming more inclusive with their produce selections by including more imperfect fruits and vegetables. Giant Eagle has also announced this month that the grocery chain will incorporate 'ugly' produce in 5 Pittsburgh store locations as part of a "Produce with Personality" pilot program. This... Continue reading

The highly anticipated Oculus Rift was officially released for pre-order this morning. The virtual reality headset is priced at $599 and will begin shipping in March of this year. While this new gadget is largely purposed for gamers, its release also signifies that virtual reality is going mainstream. As the headset continues to gain momentum with larger audiences, it could very well become a popular tool for retailers to engage with their shoppers. A few brands have already successfully experimented with virtual reality in the past year—Rebecca Minkoff brought fashion enthusiasts to the runway with a cardboard, DIY assembly headset and Dior created a similar experience with it’s... Continue reading

CES 2016 has officially kicked off this week in Las Vegas. Every year the weeklong tradeshow hosts the latest gadgets and thinking from some of the world’s largest technology and electronics companies. However, this year, it seems that much of the hype and buzz is centered on a rather unsuspecting segment—the auto industry. At this year’s event, almost 25% more floor space has been dedicated to the auto industry and two of the eight keynote speakers are from automakers. Leading up to the tradeshow, there have been multiple reports and announcements of tech and auto partnerships, which have all of course fueled the anticipation around cars this week... Continue reading

The role of physical stores for modern shoppers has been under quite a bit of debate. First we were told that the "death of brick-and-mortar" is here. Then, as it turns out, they matter more than ever. With the increasing presence of e-commerce and retailers fighting back with more of an omnichannel approach, it's no wonder that there's confusion about the relevance of physical stores in the modern shopper culture. A recent interview with Andy Dunn, CEO of Bonobos, brought an interesting perspective to the table. When it comes to brick-and-mortar, maybe its role is neither dying nor thriving--maybe it's just being reimagined. For those not familiar, Bonobos... Continue reading

Whenever Apple launches a new product, there is a familiar scene—long lines and even a pack of enthusiasts that camp outside stores to get their hands on the newest gadget first. With the announcement of the new Apple Watch and a set release date for April 24, 2015, consumers expected the familiar ritual. However, a leaked internal memo from the company suggested otherwise. This time around, there will be no mega-event at stores for the watch’s release as it will only be available for online orders (until a later projected date in June). Obviously not all brands have the same loyal following or hype surrounding each new product... Continue reading