Cigarette warning labels encourage smokers to light up, brain scientists say, as the part of the brain that creates cravings is stimulated by the sight of the warning. This nugget comes from Buy*ology: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy, a book by Martin Lindstrom, based on a three-year-long neuromarketing study that measured brain activity in 2,000 volunteers worldwide. Apart from being an interesting "fact", this research provides another reason for retailers to watch shoppers closely. People frequently do not behave as you (or your suppliers) expect them to. Understanding how they behave will give you an edge, no matter how small.
We are launching the 2009 Independent Achievers Academy tomorrow in London with a group of retailers and suppliers. The marketing team have come up with a great practical exercise to help us relive the Academy experience. At its heart, the IAA has a simple concept: set a goal, plan to hit it and celebrate the outcome. I hope to learn lots from participants and will pass this learning on to you.
Interesting, I found Why We Buy: The Science Of Shopping by Paco Underhill a facinating read. It covers a similar area of life from a different view point.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course John Stanley is quite inspirational. http://www.johnstanley.cc/