Having succumbed to a clever marketing ploy, I’m annoyed. Marketing is not my favourite thing, because it works. It works on many people, a lot of the time. Subtly tugging at our emotions, sense of duty, or self esteem, we are wooed into purchasing items we need, items we might not need and items that seem like they will improve… Read More »Humans like Shiny and New, even for Vegetables
I’m sure you’ve been there: Called the 1-800 number of a large organization and been greeted by the faintly synthesized, almost human, voice of a machine. It wants to direct your call, but babbles relentlessly, spouting information that seems designed to make customers hang up. Most of us don’t need an AI to tell us to check the website/app. Usually,… Read More »When the AI answers the Phone
Peloton decided to offer its products on Amazon.1 Intriguing. Peloton sells high-end home fitness equipment and home fitness classes, often using such equipment. Recent trends in consumer products have been to sell direct to consumer (D2C), which is what the company was doing prior to the Amazon liaison. Adding a layer between the company and the customer, may increase costs, logistics… Read More »THE Distribution Channel
This creator economy thing has to do with being famous without previous experience as a rock star, professional actor or athlete, royalty, otherwise super rich, or a politician. It’s about being famous for being yourself. Could you be a creator? Creatordom is often described as ‘making a living at doing something you love’. Some people end up doing it by… Read More »To be, or Not to be… a Creator.
I walked into a store, with a small tote bag, like the environmentally conscious consumer I am, and was asked to leave my bag at the front desk. I walked back out of the store. There were things I really wanted to buy in that store, but wasn’t in the mood to embrace the our-customers-are-most-likely-criminals or we-trust-no-one vibe. I walked out of the store… Read More »The In-Person Shopping Experience
Two things happened to me at about the same time, so they must be related. Right? Ok, both were about customer service. One was kinda theoretical, the other a real-life experience. Theory and real life intersecting? There’s always a fundamental interconnectedness. Here’s what I experienced: #1. I’m reading the book: ‘If you are in a Dogfight, become a Cat!’ by… Read More »Are you having a meaningful relationship with a brand?
Predictions are, in the near future, we will each have a personal assistant with artificial intelligence (AI)1 that runs our life. It’ll order household items before we run out, book social engagements, reminds us of upcoming events and related purchases (like birthday gifts, a bottle of wine for the hostess, or a new outfit to wear to the party). More elaborate… Read More »AI Personal Assistants – The Death of Shopping as we Know it?
Corporations might be legal persons but they don’t have DNA. This expression ‘in our DNA’ is a thorn in the eye of my scientist’s sensibilities when it’s used to describe organizations. I know, it’s just an expression that means something fundamental to behaviour, beliefs or actions. Fair enough as a metaphor. But, I don’t like it. Because of my propensity… Read More »Is it really in your DNA?