Joan Treistman

The Kents' trip is more of an education for their children and themselves that countless years in school. Almost every minute is a learning experience. The fact that they used their time to give back to people of Guatemala and experience that simple gesture makes their life profoundly more...

I think it makes good sense to allow people the feel-touch opportunity that can often close sales and allow some up selling at the same time. With the current state of the real estate market, I will guess that Amazon will get some good deals and long-term leases that...

I think packaging is lagging behind consumer shopping behavior overall. That's true for Private Label and national brands.

My shopper insights research brings me face to face with consumers. They tell me what cues and signals motivate them. Eye tracking that I use shows me what packaging components drive...

Help me understand what I just read if...The number of people in the U.S. who own smartphones jumped 10 percent to 82.2 million in the three months through July 2011 [according to ComScore].

Here's what Forrester Research suggested: A recent Forrester Research survey indicated that 114 million U.S. smartphone...

I think it's all exciting. In particular The Town Square concept is a means of engaging the shopper every visit...just for a look see. I worry a wee bit about that daily low pricing will set expectations for even lower pricing. However, that part is up to the consumer....

Most of the research I conduct is behavioral so I want to agree with Joel 100%. However, in the spirit of full disclosure, I think there is something to be said for creating "context" when behavior is not accessible. Creating a framework that simulates where the decision is made...or...

This is behavior that is evolving over time. Trying to be ahead of the curve may take you off the road entirely. Staying in lockstep with consumers is probably the best tactic for the immediate term, while developing solutions that can be applied for the future. Yet, "experts" will...

Across industries, executives are swamped with data. Many companies extract the needed information. The big problem is the look and feel of what is reported. It's up to the buyer and user to determine what they need and how best to report it for action. Accepting the typical template...

NRF's letter highlights relevant issues. However, there is no magic wand that can fulfill these wishes with one wave. I believe more recommendations are required on the part of the NRF to facilitate overcoming local and national barriers. If the NRF shows how their goals can be achieved, they...

Of the three trends listed, I believe that mobile will be the area most evolved in 2012. It serves two masters...the consumer and the retailer. Harnessing the opportunities it provides sales staff should be a key goal for retailers. Consumers will develop mobile skills on their own, but an...