The latest "World Map of Social Networks," confirms Facebook’s global dominance in social media, with nearly 700 million users; but, while gaining users abroad, Facebook is losing U.S. fans. Or is it?Continue reading...

The times they are a-changing in Australia. A new report has it that Aussies are more likely to stay home than go out at night, are less interested in beer-drinking (awesome beer ads notwithstanding) than in the recent past, and are much more interested in recreational activities such as sporting equipment or television.

“The conventional wisdom is that Australians spend like there’s no tomorrow, are reluctant to save, put purchases on the credit card and love a beer, smoke and flutter (gambling). But the stereotype is outdated,” said CommSec chief economist Craig James, author of The New Aussie Consumer, according to StartupSmart.Continue reading...

The moment to target consumers is shifting – backwards, out of the store and back to the home.

About 62% of shoppers research online deals before heading out to shop at least 50% of the time according to survey results from Booz & Co. and the Grocery Manufacturers Association. 

This "know before you go" behavior is not new for more expensive purchases like home furnishings and electronics, but increasingly, it’s everyday products like food and drink, detergent and diapers, baby and pet food being researched at home before the shopping trip begins.

And when the world's biggest retailer ventures to customers' homes — well, time to head home to see what's going on.Continue reading...

No soup for you!

And by "you," we mean your children, grandchildren and future generations of consumers.

If the free market has its way, and it usually does, it seems the consumer food category known as "soup" will be a quaint thing that oldtimers tell young whippersnappers about.

"Oh lordy, back in my day we had aisles full of soup. Soup for kids, alphabet soup, soup for one, low-fat soup, organic soup, chunky soup, creamy broth, soup we ate on its own as a meal — soup, glorious soup!"

The tempest in a soup bowl comes from new consumer demographic data showing that when it comes to soup, the up and coming generation just isn't nuts about soup.Continue reading...

Interest  in the Millennials — the generation born between the late ‘70s and the early ‘90s — is greater than ever among brand marketers. And as the youngest members of this large generation reach legal drinking age, Millennials, who will make up 40% of Americans age 21 and over within the next 10 years, are about to become even more compelling for alcohol brands.

According to Nielsen, one of the biggest differences between Millennials and previous generations is that they are much more open to trying new alcoholic beverages. While most of them still prefer beer, they buy more wine and liquor than previous generations did at the same age. Thus the typical pattern of maturing into buying more wine and spirits later in life may not apply to them.Continue reading...