VRM - vendor relationship management - is a concept that turns CRM on its head. It's designed to put consumers in control of the transaction and level the landscape. This is not an us-versus-them movement; rather, it is a deliberate approach by consumers that will be equally beneficial to vendors. 16 Apr 2008
In order to create a successful e-mail contact strategy, marketers must listen to their customers to cater to their needs. Common tactics used in developing an e-mail contact strategy are onboarding and launching a win-back campaign. 14 Apr 2008
The latest consumer confidence poll by Stellenbosch University's Bureau for Economic research has found that households by and large haven't as yet been financially devastated by higher fuel prices and so on, nor do they expect this to happen in the coming year. 10 Apr 2008
In its first advertising expenditure forecasts of 2008, ZenithOptimedia downgraded its combined growth forecasts for North America and Western Europe this year from 4.4% to 3.8%, as consumer and business confidence is negatively impacted by current economic conditions. 10 Apr 2008
Online retail sales in the US are expected to rise 17% this year to reach $204 billion, according to a Forrester Research study conducted for Shop.org. Clothing, computers and automobiles will be the three largest online sales categories in 2008. 9 Apr 2008
The other day, and for the tenth time in the last year, I showed my mother how to answer her cellphone. 9 Apr 2008
Weeks after settling a legal threat from one potential competitor, Nielsen Co. has announced plans to acquire another, IAG Research, for $225 million. 9 Apr 2008
Consumer confidence has fallen by a whopping 10 points from its previous record, according to the latest First National Bank/BER consumer confidence index (CCI). 8 Apr 2008
The Western Cape's economy remains extremely healthy, although various negative factors are hampering accelerated growth. 8 Apr 2008
We've spent a lot of time laughing in our office this past week. Why? "Builder's tea", "a cup of Joe": these are just two of the terms our mix of Americans and Brits have been translating and teaching one another. 3 Apr 2008
A recent report indicates America's teens have their stuff together and, amongst other things, rate having a sound education as being more important and a better goal than making it on to a talent show. In short, the responses ‘have surprised many in the marketing community and have caused them to rethink how they need to appeal to this demographic'. 2 Apr 2008
More targeted news coverage … shorter attention span …the shift from news being a product to a service … trends in the US in news media seem to indicate that not all is well. 1 Apr 2008
Companies that derive revenue from multiple channels often have two analyst teams: the "database marketing team" and the "web analysis team." These groups tend not to communicate. 31 Mar 2008
USA - According to The Luxury Institute's latest WealthSurvey, the participation of wealthy online consumers in social networks dramatically increased to 60% in 2008, from 27% in 2007. Participation levels of online wealthy consumers in leading social networks are 16% for MySpace, 13% for LinkedIn, and 11% for Facebook. 27 Mar 2008
According to a recent newsletter from Dynamic Logic, analysis from their MarketNorm database shows that consumer product advertisements on gaming sites tend to perform much better among women ages 45+ compared with younger females. And this is not a small audience, says the report... 25 Mar 2008
A recent BurstMedia survey of more than 13,000 web users 18 years and older found that online content providers are not meeting the needs of all age segments. A majority of Internet users 45 years and older believe online content is focused on younger age segments. 20 Mar 2008
The retail sector is in trouble, with consumer confidence at its lowest in years and consumers facing higher living costs on almost every front. 19 Mar 2008
The economically active commuter market living in Etwatwa/Daveyton, situated on Johannesburg's East Rand, sometimes travel as far as Sandton or Cresta to spend their disposable income at their favourite shopping centre, even though many of these residents have to travel by taxi to get there. 19 Mar 2008
In 2006, the Chief Marketing Officer Council found over 26% of executives pointed to a lack of data and systems integration that prevented their organisation from achieving the optimal level of customer insight and intimacy. The current CMO Council's 2008 Marketing Outlook study still finds that only two of the top five solution investments for the year are CRM tools and customer analytics. 19 Mar 2008
While New Zealanders top global rankings as the nation most prepared to give up all packaging aspects for the sake of the environment, less than half of Asian consumers would be willing to give up these types of convenience packaging. 18 Mar 2008
