Research Topic

For all their talk about the customer, most retailers have yet to evolve to a business model that is truly customer-centric.

That’s the conclusion of a new industry study by strategic consulting firm The O Alliance that was created in partnership with Revmetri.

Consumer demand for more control over their shopping environment is driving growth in one particular technology category.

According to a new study from market research firm Technavio, “Global Self-service Kiosk Market 2016-2020,” the market size of the global self-service kiosk market is predicted to reach close to $18 billion in revenue by 2020. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5% between 2016, when the market is expected to be roughly $14 billion, and 2020.

Retailers surely expect to move a lot of salty snacks and beer ahead of Super Bowl Weekend, but candles too?

That’s just one of the more interesting items a new survey reveals as the product categories most impacted by the big game. IRI released data detailing the sales lift of various food, beverage and consumer product categories in the run up to Super Bowl Sunday.

The year 2015 was a big one for mergers and acquisitions in the retail and consumer sectors, with 31 multibillion dollar deals driving activity during the year.

United States retail and consumer (R&C) total transaction value for 2015 hit a five-year high and surpassed the $100 billion mark for the third year in a row, according to PwC’s U.S. retail and consumer deals insights 2015 Year in Review and 2016 Outlook report.

When it comes to e-commerce, the top driver is actually something the experience doesn’t offer.

According to two surveys of online shoppers in the U.S. and Canada conducted by Bizrate Insights, a division of Connexity, in December 2015 and January 2016, a leading 55% of respondents cited the lack of crowds, traffic and hunting for parking as a top reason to buy online. Another 46% said shopping online takes less time than shopping in stores, while 46% also mentioned free shipping.

Despite plummeting fuel prices, the ranks of convenience stores swelled to a record level last year.

The U.S. convenience store count increased to 154,195 stores as of Dec. 31, a 0.9% increase (1,401 stores) from the year prior, according to the 2016 NACS/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count.

How good is your data?

Seventy-five percent of retailers believe inaccurate data is undermining their ability to provide an excellent customer experience, according to a study by Experian Data Quality.

A lot of attention has been paid to purchase drivers, but what about factors that prevent consumers from buying your products?

A new study of 900 U.S. consumers conducted in November 2015 by international law firm Morrison & Foerster indicates that concerns about privacy are reducing the number of purchases customers make.

At least once in the last 12 months, more than one-third (35%) of respondents indicated that they had decided not to purchases products or services from a company because of privacy concerns.