Business -It All Adds Up
GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 11/1/2011 2:00:00 AM
Shoppers Need Service
60 % | of those surveyed by the American Express Global Customer Service survey believe businesses have not increased their focus on providing good customer service.
26 % | among this group actually think companies are paying less attention to service.
78 % | of consumers surveyed have bailed on a transaction because of poor customer service.
59 % | of respondents will try a new brand or company for a better service experience.
Eco Attitudes
THE HIGHER CONSUMERS' DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO RECYCLE, FINDS EXPERIAN SIMMONS.
• 12% of people in the U.S. and Canada would pay extra for environmentally friendly products, finds Nielsen.
• 79% of Americans wish companies would provide more on-package information on the environmental impact of their products, reports Cone Inc.
• 63% of Americans say they'll help the environment by bringing their own shopping bags to stores, finds Associated Press Polls
Consumers Embrace Mobile Coupons
MORE THAN TWO THIRDS (67%) OF MOBILE USERS SURVEYED BY PROSPER MOBILE INSIGHTS AGREE THAT LOCATION-BASED COUPONS ON A MOBILE DEVICE ARE "CONVENIENT AND USEFUL." 42.2 percent have already used a mobile coupon. 51.1%, prefer coupons sent to smartphones by email, 39.9% to scan a QR code in-store; 31%, by SMS; and 25.6% prefer to get coupons automatically when they are near the store. 10.3% prefer mobile check-ins and only 18.1% don't want to receive these messages at all.
38% Recession Not Over
More than one-third of small business owners believe we are still in recession, according to the American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor.
27% say they do not plan to grow in the next six months; 55% have concerns about cash flow, however that is down from 66% in the spring; 48% will make capital investments, up from 44% in the spring; and 31% will hire over the next six months, down slightly from the spring's 35%.
Nearly half (49%) offer healthcare coverage to employees - up significantly from just six months ago (36%) - and an increasing number are offering flex time (42%, up from 35% in fall 2010).
Holiday Forecast: Controlled
> 72% OF U.S. CONSUMERS expect their holiday spending to be ‘careful' or ‘controlled', according to Accenture's annual consumer holiday shopping study. 88% intend to spend the same or less than last year.
> 73% WILL SHOP AT A DISCOUNT RETAILER this year, compared to 81% last year and 85% in 2009. Specialty retailers also dropped from 36% in 2010 to 29% this year (39% in 2009).
> THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE in the number of consumers shopping online (66% vs. 69% in 2010); however the number of shoppers expecting to buy more than half of their holiday gifts online rose significantly, to 59% from 41% in 2010.
> 40% SAY AN ITEM BEING ON SALE is the single most important factor in their decision to purchase. 43% plan to buy all or mostly discounted items, compared to 40% in 2010, and 36% in 2009.
> APPAREL, TOYS and gift cards topped shopping lists.
We would love your feedback!
No related articles for this topic.
Featured Company
-
FurnitureCore.com
FurnitureCore.com is a dynamic web application aimed at the furniture industry. Retailers and manufacturers alike will find our deep reserve of tools to be exactly what their furniture business needs.www.furniturecore.com... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
