Retail Factoid of the Day… October 28, 2008

Retailers are preparing for a challenging holiday season. They have focused on keeping inventories low, tightly managing labor costs and holding other costs in check. In fact, the inventory-to-sales ratio for non-auto retailers is down to 1.24 months, which is a record low.

-Stacy Janiak, retail leader, Deloitte U.S., Home Textiles Today | 9.16.08

Savvy shoe brand inspires consumers to let the box live on October 28, 2008

What’s Happening

• In August, 2008, our friends at Iconoculture picked up a pair of Nicole sandals. When the kicks were unpacked, they were delighted to find that their purchase included a storage container — in the form of a shoebox (Iconoculture observation 9.26.08).
• Nicole’s durable green box is equipped with a metal nameplate. Inside, Iconoculture found a strip of perforated tags with labels like “receipts” and ”beauty” to be placed in the holder.
• Nicole’s also provided inspiration for salvaging the other boxed contents like using the decorative tissue paper to wrap a present and the ribbon to tie a gift or make a necklace.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS

• Consumers are increasingly aware of and concerned about the wastefulness of packaging. Brands and retailers need to create sustainable solutions that keep wrapping in circulation and out of landfills.
• Two products for the price of one? Packaging that morphs into a useful product gives shoppers something for their money during these financially tough times.

Female Factoid of the Day… October 27, 2008

Women comprise 46% of the total U.S. labor force, a figure that is expected to stay level through 2014. 46% of employed Asian women and 39% of employed white women work in management, professional and related occupations. Almost one third of black and Hispanic women work in sales and office occupations.

U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau

What defines today’s American beauty? October 27, 2008

What’s Happening

• What defines today’s American beauty? American women have long been fascinated with beauty tips, secrets and practices from around the world (see: French manicures, Swedish massages, Asian haircare products, Dead Sea exfoliants), but as more women embrace the absolute best they can get in beauty, they’re adopting a globally inspired beauty regimen that delivers both paramount performance and unique cultural insight. Fortunately, women don’t have to travel to the ends of the Earth to get it.
• Much like what we’ve been seeing in other lifestyle areas like food, fitness and overall wellbeing, beauty consumers are actively blending. Picking and choosing elements from a tapestry of cultures, they are forming a unique ingredient list that combines tradition and expertise with exoticism. From oils to rice, from mushrooms, clay and nectar to ground-up pearls, rare (but time-tested and trusted) ingredients are finding their way into mainstream skincare and beauty lines.
• Crema Nera by Giorgio Armani touts the power of obsidian extracts (found near volcanic eruptions in locations like Armenia, Scotland, Greece, Italy and Mexico) that help reduce wrinkles, boost radiance and regenerate surface cells. Sea buckthorn, an orange berry from the Himalayas, is the basis for a frequently used skincare elixir in Tibet, Mongolia, China and Russia. The oil from argan trees, a centuries-old ingredient for shinier hair used by North African women, can be found in Moroccanoil hair products. Kiehl’s introduced a product line infused with yerba mate, a nutrient-rich and energizing drink popular in South America.
• As consumers access a growing list of unique beauty practices, they are looking for more than just beauty solutions. You’ve heard the one about Cleopatra bathing in milk? Storytelling and ritual add an important dose of intrigue that stimulates discovery and experimentation.
• As Estée Lauder gains a stronger footprint in the Indian market, it is also keeping a close eye on merging modern scents with traditional approaches to Indian beauty like Ayurveda, a holistic system for healing. What better to inspire a good hair day than a dose of H’Suan Wen Hua, named after the Cantonese god of hair? Komenuka Bijin blends rice bran, sake and secret Japanese herbs into its formula. The products from bath bloomers take consumers on “spa journeys” inspired by 2,000+ years of bath and spa rituals from Turkey, Japan, Greece and Rome. Nyakio Kamoche Grieco’s home and beauty lines get consumers in touch with their Kenyan roots. And for the artist in every beauty buff: Naturals Skin Care launched Frida Kahlo: Pasión por la Vida skincare.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS

• Beauty consumers are embracing a pancultural mentality marked by the mixing, matching and exploring of various elements, ingredients and routines to form one-of-a-kind beauty identities.
• Unique can be both trendy and classic. Women are increasingly able to experience the benefits of ancient tools that are seamlessly woven into a modern lifestyle.
• Stories sell. Experience is still king, but products are stimulating more than just functional beauty. As an emotional trigger they provide a touch of the artisanal.
• It’s hard to argue against notions like “best,” “all natural” and “time-tested.”
• A sense of entitlement to own the best has consumers wanting unprecedented access to expert advice and hard-to-get, exotic knowledge.

Female factoid of the day… October 24, 2008

According to a Consumer Reports National Research Center study, only 29% of women said they are willing to switch brands of pet food to save money.

Mom’s blog about Walmart October 24, 2008

You know you’ve made it to the big time when you get asked to blog with the big boys… According to our trend tracking tradepartners, Iconoculture, Walmart invited 12 blogger moms to share their money saving tips on its website. The project, called Eleven Moms (yeah, the math doesn’t really add up), is part of its Moms Saving Money page, where Walmart provides tips and tricks on stretching the budget, living green and making meals.

The Eleven Moms — like Christine Young (From Dates to Diapers), Colleen Padilla (Classy Mommy) and Lucretia Pruitt (GeekMommy) — also keep the Walmart name popping up in their posts.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS: Especially in the current down economy, it’s smart for retailers to help moms band together to share their budget stretching tips. By inviting familiar faces to join, the host provides community members with a sense of confidence, trust and comfort.

Answering the age old question… what women want. October 24, 2008

Margaret Fuller coined the phrase, “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.”.  I can’t imagine a better way to start off a blog about women’s buying habits than giving credit to one of the most influential women’s rights activists of all time.

I wonder if Margaret were alive now if she would be surprised by the fact that, according to a recent study, women control about 80 percent of household, retail and grocery spending, and about 60 percent of travel and consumer electronics spending.  I should think not.  What she may be surprised by, however, is the fact that so little attention is paid to the everyday woman that makes these buying decisions!

As an everyday woman myself, and a research junkie at heart, I’ve decided to dig into the abyss that answers that eternal question… what DO women want??? and perhaps discover a little bit more about myself along the way.  I joined the advertising agency, Current, due to their compelling work for retail companies in speaking to women and am spearheading their efforts to remain up to date and ahead of the curve when communicating in a manner that appeals to the everyday woman.  Please feel free to join me on this journey of gaining knowledge about women’s wants, finding the latest trends and truly defining the art of speaking to the everyday woman the way she wants to be spoken to.

I leave you with a quote from another well respected Margaret and fellow advocate of research, Margaret Mead- “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”