Retail News Insider

Imagine a toothbrush that tracks your brushing habits and prompts your smartphone to deliver targeted oral care tips. A speaker that not only takes requests to play your favorite songs, but can also add items to your grocery list, turn off lights or lower the heat whenever you ask. Sound like a sci-fi novel or an episode of The Jetsons? Think again. These devices are part of today’s reality—and the growing Internet of Things (IoT). Whether you’re aware of it or not, our mobile devices, household appliances and other electronics are becoming increasingly connected. As more manufacturers make their products “smart” by integrating Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other networking technologies, so too are more retailers and CPGs looking to get into the IoT game.

With kids back in school and families busier than ever, September is the perfect time to bring everyone back to the dinner table with National Family Meals Month! Many retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) vendors will be participating in this industry-wide movement, promoting family meals through social media, coupons and special offers. In-store sampling events are another great way retailers and CPGs can spread the word and encourage families to cook and share more homemade meals together.

As a former Sales Advisor and Lead, Field Trainer Jeanette Folliett knows what it takes to engage shoppers at in-store demonstration events. This month, she shares the strategies she’s now teaching Sales Advisors to help step up their game.

It’s no secret that the best way to know what shoppers really think of your store, service or product is to ask them directly. But gathering impressions from the widest range of consumers can be tricky. Many survey techniques tend to attract consumers who are the most—or least—happy with a particular product or service, potentially […]

The past few years have been tough for many bread, pasta and cereal manufacturers. The backlash against gluten and processed carbs along with the rise of Paleo, Primal and other high-protein, low-carb diets have led to consistently declining sales. Cereal giant Kellogg’s, for example, saw an eight percent decline in sales in the fourth quarter […]

Marching Toward Continued Success Every new day brings change and opportunity. In a recent company meeting, I shared with our associates worldwide the idea that change is essential to success. For Over the past few months we have focused on adapting to new processes and ideas to help our teams be more efficient and to […]

Innovation is a common theme in retail and in the many articles Retail News Insider presents each month. That’s because retailers and CPGs constantly have to come up with new products, services and solutions to adapt to changing trends, consumer preferences and sentiments and the economic environment. In this month’s Market Watch feature, you’ll learn […]