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See how easy it is to navigate the site and find the exact resources that will help you generate more leads, schedule more prospect meetings and close more – and bigger – contracts.
NEW MEDIA INSIGHTS REPORTS:
Latest information from the world of digital media and technology
In Pursuit of the Online Shopper
Online shopping continues to mature and has become as much as a place for consumers to buy what they need as physical stores. A new Adobe Commerce US consumer survey found 93% of respondents said they shop online. Understanding the evolution of the online shopping trend is critical for businesses of all sizes.
The results of a May 2022 Digital Commerce 360/Bizrate Insights survey add to that understanding. Although it is one of the oldest digital communication tools, “general email” was first among survey respondents at 44% for the “marketing effort influencing your decision to make online purchases.” Many other tools and platforms didn’t fare as well: social media at 18%, advertising on search engines at 17%, text messages at 12% and influencers on social media at 7%.
Of the surveyed online shoppers, 43% said they open email advertising from retailers daily, but that open rate doesn’t convert to frequent purchases. Only 1% said they make a purchase daily after reading an email and only 10% weekly. The largest category was monthly purchases at 60%.
Industry Profilers and PowerPoints
Up-to-date reports on more than 150 retail sectors.
Market Gains Despite Challenges
- As with virtually all retail verticals, the grocery market faces the same challenges, from supply-chain issues to labor and hiring to consumer inflation. Nonetheless, grocery stores (NAICS 4451) recorded an 8.3% YOY sales increase during Q1 2022, or $199.05 billion.
- The latest monthly report from the US Census Bureau indicates grocery stores’ sales increased 10.1% YOY during April 2021 to $68.41 billion, although much of the increase is likely attributed to increasing food and beverage prices.
- The 2022 Axios-Harris Poll of reputation rankings shows consumers continue to have high regard for the grocery category, as Trader Joe’s became #1 for the first time, H-E-B was second and Wegmans was third.
Consumer Spending Is the Make-or-Break Factor
- Brands and retailers will have a good 2022 Back to School season if consumers continue to spend as they did during April 2022, when retail sales increased 0.9%, which they also did during the three previous months.
- More inflation; continuing supply-chain issues, resulting in less inventory in stores and online; and the possibility of a recession, which could negatively affect employment, could reverse increasing retail sales during the critical June–September shopping season.
- Generally, households with incomes of less than $50,000 drive the economy, including Back to School; however, 13.6% of these households experienced income loss during April 2022.
Automotive Update Report
Latest topics and issues in the automotive industry and dealerships
The Sea of Red Turns a Slight Pink
A broad view of the sea of red on which the automotive market is sailing reveals no change in color. Total Q2 2022 sales decreased approximately 21% YOY, which will equate to a market contraction of 7.5% to 12% during June.
Supply-chain issues continue to be the primary barrier to building enough vehicles to satisfy consumer demand. For example, General Motors said its second-quarter production was “strong,” however it also reported having 95,000 mostly-manufactured vehicles waiting for various parts and components. It expects to finish and ship them to dealers during the second half of 2022.
As the industry sailed into the second quarter, however, there were a few patches of almost pink on the blood-colored sea. The June SAAR (seasonally adjusted, annualized rate) was estimated at 13.0 million to 13.8 million units, a marked improvement from 12.81 million for May.
Special Reports
In-depth reports on the most important media, retail, marketing and demographic topics.
Retail’s Remarkable Resilience
Lessons Learned
- The pandemic’s devastating effect on retail motivated many local retailers to change their business models significantly. In the process, many discovered new methods to engage and attract new customers and created businesses better prepared for future crises.
- Despite many consumers eagerly returning to in-store shopping, retailers face a new set of challenges. Supply-chain issues and a lack of sufficient inventory have created a frustrating situation for retailers since they can’t serve consumer demand.
- This month’s Special Report from Media Group Online explores these challenges, what retailers are doing to overcome them and retail’s bright future.
