How does our emotional state affect how we experience a product? According to a new study, if you’re happy, you respond more to the visual qualities of a product; to overcome sadness, you gravitate to the tactile. Why? It’s part of our mammalian makeup. And possibly, a way to segment markets.
While we are on the subject of emotional states, Ron Gutman gave a talk at TED2011that neatly summarizes three decades of research on smiling. After watching his presentation, you will want to check your yearbook photo for a hint to your longevity.
What is the future of the retail store? Will online shopping significantly cut into in-store shopping? No, but technology will sharply alter shopper behavior. Shoppers still want to feel connected to a store—they even want to “talk” to it—to find out what is in stock and get advice on what they should buy. According to a study from Wharton, by 2019 64% of retail sales will be O2S—online to store. Take a look at ways in which technology is already altering the shopping experience.
Finally, you know your employees have good ideas about new products and processes. How do you make sure the best ideas get noticed and implemented? Take a look at Is Your Company Choosing the Best Innovation Ideas? in the MITSloan Management Review.
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