Captivating Connections.

are you a (facebook) quitter?

Facebook is quite obviously the world's largest social network, and is getting ready for a public offering (as you probably have been reading). However, in the U.S. growth on the network is slowing down, and the U.S. isn't contibuting to the 800 million active users globalling and 200 million U.S. users. With about 1/3rd of the U.S. population not on Facebook yet, what's up? Why do "some people, even on the younger end of the age spectrum, just refuse to participate, including people who have given it a try"?

According to the NYTimes, "One of Facebook’s main selling points is that it builds closer ties among friends and colleagues. But some who steer clear of the site say it can have the opposite effect of making them feel more, not less, alienated."

Other "holdouts mention concerns about privacy," while "those who study social networking say this issue boils down to trust. Amanda Lenhart, who directs research on teenagers, children and families at the Pew Internet and American Life Project, said that people who use Facebook tend to have 'a general sense of trust in others and trust in institutions.' She added: 'Some people make the decision not to use it because they are afraid of what might happen.'

What do you think? What would make you quit Facebook (if you haven't already)?

are you screwing yourself?

If you're waiting till the last minute to do your holiday shopping, you very well may be (along with a whole lot of other people).

According to PriceGrabber, "41% of shoppers...plan to shop between Dec. 21 and 24, and 43% of those say it is in order to find better deals. (Of course, 43% also said it was because they’re too busy, 26% admit they are procrastinating, and 22% actually think shopping is more fun that way.)"

Sounds like the malls are going to be packed...

"And they’re not just looking for last-minute stocking stuffers, either. When asked what type of gifts they plan to purchase at the last minute...53% intend to purchase both big- and small-ticket items, 10% will buy all their gifts, and 6% will buy only big-ticket items (over $100)."

So keep those stores stocked, and, if you venture out the night before, be careful!

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/164117/procrastination-41-plan-on-the-11th-hour.html?edition=41246#ixzz1gWNC0AxE

the guy who said books are dying is leading a books renaissance.

Ironically, in a world where tablets and eReaders are picking up steam, book stores are experiencing a boom:

"Barnes & Noble, the nation’s largest bookstore chain, said that comparable store sales this Thanksgiving weekend increased 10.9 percent from that period last year. The American Booksellers Association, a trade group for independents, said last week that members saw a sales jump of 16 percent in the week including Thanksgiving, compared with the same period a year ago."

Helping to lead this charge?

“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson

“Catherine the Great” by Robert K. Massie

“Spencer Tracy” by James Curtis

Also, memoirs from Diane Keaton, Regis Philbin and Gabrielle Giffords.

gluten free is quickly becoming the way to be (or at least way more accessible).

According to Technomic, "menu items billed as gluten-free increased by 61% between 2010 and 2011, reflecting greater demand both by consumers with gluten allergies or intolerance and those who just consider gluten-free foods to be healthier." 

That's quite an impressive change for restaurants and food culture. However, that's not all, as restaurant operaters are learning to better provide information and options for those with increasing allergies and food needs...

Because "73% of consumers want restaurants to provide clear information about their food’s fat, sodium and sugar content, and potential food allergens," restaurants are working harder than ever to not only provide increased offerings, but to call them out, and really show consumers what variety is available so no consumer feels left out.

Pretty impressive.

who really uses tablets the most?

Forget the nerds, forget the tech early adopters. Who do you think really uses the tablets the most in the U.S.?

According to eMarketer, "Asian-Americans are avid users of new devices and are among the first to buy tablets and ereaders. They join US Hispanics on the top rungs of the technology early-adoption ladder."

How do?

"eMarketer’s estimate of US tablet users shows that 14.4% of Asians have used tablets monthly this year, vs. 12.6% of Hispanics and just over 10% of blacks and whites. The gap will narrow as the years pass, but it will take until 2014 for whites in the US to reach the same tablets penetration level as Asian-Americans."

Backing up that data are more findings from the Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication at Florida State University, who also found  "Asian-Americans have among the highest penetration for both tablets and ereaders. With 14% ereader penetration rate, Asians are about even with Spanish-speaking Hispanics (15%), and a few points behind Hispanics who are primarily English-speaking (20%).

But Asians are on par with Hispanics in possession of tablets, with 17% of both groups reporting ownership."

guess which is city is #1 in mobile shopping?

Yeeeeeee haw! It's Houston!

According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau's latest study, Houston is the #1 city when it comes to “mobile shopping savvy.”

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/163717/houston-is-top-mobile-shopping-city.html?edition=41055#ixzz1fxm4HVW5

consumers are savvier than ever (alleviating me of my high school shame).

In high school, I remember buying this really cute tank top at Target. Full disclosure: said tank top was purchased because I had spilled a frozen caramel machiatto on myself while driving to my friends house, and, while this isn't unusual for me, I didn't have anything else to change into. I got a lot of compliments on that tank top, but, I distinctly remember awkwardly changing the subject when asked where it was from. While I thought it was a STEAL at $10 for something that garnered so much attention, I was embarrased it wasn't from Nordstroms or Express (or something more respectable in those days).

This, my friends, was before the days of "Tar-jaaaaaaay" and before it was cool to get something at a great price or on sae. Now, it's pretty much a badge of honor to say you snagged something at a thrift shop, Gilt Groupe, or that it was "totally 30% off of the 60% off and I had a coupon!"

This isn't just for apparel. According to the American Pantry Study, a Deloitte and Harrison Group, consumers are savvier than ever before, and that they "expect discounts, shop for deals, know when the deals are and like (some) private-label brands just fine."

Here's some stats:

- 80% of shoppers like to see how much money they can save via coupon use or shopper loyalty cards

- 69% are disappointed when they discover that a brand recently purchased is on sale at another store

- About 50% of the items consumers buy on stock-up trips are sale items, and about a third estimate that 70% of the items they bought on those trips were deals

- 62% said that have a good idea when products they want to buy will be on sale

- 90% said they are becoming more precise in what they buy

- 80% said they have become more efficient at getting in and out of the store

- 87% of respondents cited several store brands that they think are just as good as national brands when it comes to saving money without giving up quality

- 90% said they have already figured out which store brands and private labels work for their families

So what's the bottom line for CPG brands (and brands in other industries as well)? According to Pat Conroy, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and consumer products sector leader, “shoppers today expect to get a deal on the products they purchase. With this mindset it is critical that consumer products companies take measures to enhance brand loyalty by connecting early and often with key audiences in environments outside of the store.”

finally, i'm not the only person buying shampoo online.

It's pathetic to admit, but my schedule is so slammed between work, school, and life that if I don't make a note to stop by Duane Reade on my way between appointments or work and school to get shampoo, I've got nothing to wash my hair with. So, I'm sure you can understand why Soap.com has changed my life (and, if you haven't tried it yet, go for it, then I DARE you to disagree with me!).

It's quite a way that consumer packaged goods (CPG) has come, huh? Despite Amazon's popularity, lots of CPG sites went bust over the past few years. However, now that people are comfortable making larger purchased online (ironically), they're now comfortable making everyday one; according to eMarketer, "online sales of everyday staples more than doubled between 2006 and 2010 and are expected to double again by 2014."

To be realistic, "online CPG sales still only account for 2% of the category’s sales overall," but, given the market, that's a whole lot of opportunity. As Krista Garcia, eMarketer analyst, explains, this is only the beginning, nothing that "CPG brands have begun to recognize the possibilities of direct-to-consumer sales. Larger, more established manufacturers are creating their own ecommerce solutions, while many others have begun partnering with pure-play sites devoted to selling CPGs online.”

Exciting! Do you buy your CPG products online? If so, which ones? Where? Why?

emoticons gone wild (or why my dad will finally stop emailing me :( faces)

I love my dad. He's super smart, and pretty tech savvy for a boomer (see his Wired writeup this week here). However, sometimes I have to laugh at the things he does (or doesn't) do.

For example, we keep in touch via email a lot, keeping a pulse on how we're both doing. So, of course, when I ask him "how are you?" and his reply is "fine :( ," you can see why I would worry. What self-respecting adult would use a frowny face if it wasn't a dire issue going down? Of course, I drop what I'm doing, call him, and he has no idea what I'm talking about. Long story short, I had to give his a tutorial on what side of the ( the : needs to go on to make it a frowny or smily face.

Multiple times.

So you can see why emoji may be something my dad can get down with.

As the NYTimes explains them, emoji are "the more elaborate cousins of emoticons — those creative combinations of colons, parentheses and other punctuation that people use to drop a facial expression into a text message or e-mail.

But unlike emoticons, emoji don’t require tilting your head sideways to make sense of the image. They are a kind of pictorial alphabet stored on a phone that can be displayed in place of the regular keyboard, making it easy to tap out a visual message."

Now that Apple's iOS 5 comes with installed emoji "that can be turned on as an 'international keyboard' in the device’s settings," emoji are set to be embraced by a brand new audience.

Have you used emoji? What do you think?

is Xbox Live really a challenge to the cable box?

According to the NYTimes, "the old-fashioned cable television set-top box — long the hub of living-room entertainment for most people — is about to become less relevant." The article makes the arguement that, thanks to Microsoft's "face-lift to its Xbox Live online entertainment service that will allow subscribers to watch a wide array of mainstream television programming from the Xbox 360 console.

In addition, rather than fumbling with traditional remote controls and the primitive program guides of cable boxes, Xbox Live users will be able to search for shows using voice commands and hand gestures, if they also have the popular Kinect peripheral for the Xbox."

But the reality is, you still need your cable box (just maybe not as much). 

"People will still need to pay the cable providers to get channels through the Xbox. They will also have to pay the roughly $60 a year Microsoft typically charges for a premier membership to Xbox Live. And the Xbox won’t be a true substitute for everything viewers can get through their cable boxes because content rights will have to be negotiated for some shows before they can be watched through the console.”

What do you think? Are you sold?