Russian car lease market has ingredients for large expansion, but problems persist. And the South African experience? 7 Oct 2008
Despite electronics, most girls 2-14 stick with traditional toys. 6 Oct 2008
A new Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study finds that 61% of new-vehicle shoppers in the United States say it is important to purchase a vehicle from a brand that is environmentally friendly. 3 Oct 2008
If the last few weeks have taught us anything at all, it's that no industry giant or business is recession-proof. Not even the last bastion of Wall Street's banking elite. In this time of economic uncertainty, recession fears have become self-fulfilling prophecies. Strategies have edged over from prudence into phobia, and the consumer conga line has slowed to a crawl. Grim economic reports continue daily, playing on the deep fears of retailers and consumers alike, magnifying market ebbs into tidal waves. 30 Sep 2008
The Global Risk Network has launched its second Global Growth@Risk report ahead of the Forum's Annual Meeting of New Champions in Tianjin, China. The report considers a number of short-term and longer-term risks to growth for both markets and corporations. 26 Sep 2008
A new forecast in the United States isn't just predicting a lousy holiday for retailers, it's predicting the weakest Christmas in 17 years, since the financial meltdown of 1991. 18 Sep 2008
Leads, leads, leads. It seems it is all about leads once the referrals and the circle of family and friends aren't enough to keep our firms growing. Yet, when it comes to generating leads, most professional services firms get it all wrong in 10 very common ways. 15 Sep 2008
According to the 2008 biennial news consumption survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, audiences for most traditional news sources have steadily declined, as the number of people getting news online has surged. 15 Sep 2008
According to a recent survey from the Association of National Advertisers in the US, 53% of marketers from a broad cross-section of categories and industries expect their advertising budgets to be reduced in the next six months as a result of the tough economic climate, and 87% of those polled are already being challenged to find cost savings or reductions within current marketing and advertising efforts. 11 Sep 2008
Research just released in the United States indicates that if you want potential cunstomers and clients to respond to your email marketing campaigns, keeping it short and sweet is the route to go. 8 Sep 2008
In the United States, high fuel prices have affected the buying trends of parents of school-going children. The trend could well repeat itself here in SA, come 2009. 5 Sep 2008
The digital video recorder (DVR) has become a must-have appliance, according to a survey released by NDS, a digital pay TV technology solution provider. More than 70% of consumers who currently own a DVR told surveyors that they could not live without it. 4 Sep 2008
USA: More than a third of mainstream consumers over the age of 30 experience deep frustration associated with their cell phone's interface according to a study revealed yesterday by Bowen Research, a firm that researches and evaluates consumer attitudes and behavior about high tech products, software and electronics. 29 Aug 2008
Worldwide sales of mobile phones reached close to 305 million units in the second quarter of 2008, a 11.8% increase over the second quarter of 2007, according to Gartner, Inc. Sales of mobile phones in the mature markets of Western Europe and North America slightly recovered after a difficult start. Western Europe reached close to 42 million units while North America surpassed 44 million units in the second quarter of 2008. 27 Aug 2008
The spending power of middle and upper-class consumers has plunged while lower-class consumers have more spending power, research by Cadiz shows. 22 Aug 2008
USA: It's rare to see Google command anything less than a large presence in just about any given e-business study these days, and the latest annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI) from the University of Michigan is no exception: ACSI scores for e-business rose 5.5% to 79.3 on ACSI's 100-point scale. That jump can largely be attributed to Google's own 10% climb to a score of 86. 21 Aug 2008
In my last Metrics Insider column, I wrote about the question of how advertising works. The column generated some great comments, and I got some very thoughtful responses via email. This week, I want to revisit the topic, and perhaps amplify a few points. 20 Aug 2008
How economically viable are the outlying regions of Richard's Bay and Empangeni in Zululand? The Newspaper Advertising Bureau (NAB) commissioned Freshly Ground Insights (FGI) to take a look at grocery shoppers in Zululand's eSikhawini, Ngwelezane, Nseleni and Macekane and found that they all travel to the centres to shop - most often to Sanlam Centre in Empangeni. The study also found that Spar is the number one grocery store for these shoppers. 19 Aug 2008
According to a leading US-based research company, Market Data Retrieval (MDR), which carries out research into direct sales and marketing solutions, educators in the US are a market that sales executives should target. 19 Aug 2008
Have you been bumped from a flight? Belittled by a hotel clerk? Or stewed in a doctor's waiting room? Then Rupert Barkoff wants to hear all about it. 18 Aug 2008
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