Mobile App Privacy Concerns Varies by Segment

Posted on September 13, 2012 by bermanevansretail
As retailers turn more to mobile apps, they need to understand the privacy concerns of their customers.
Click the chart to learn more from eMarketer.

 

 

Posted in Online Retailing, Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Privacy and Identity Theft Issues, Social Media and Retailing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THIS Is a Big Story!! McDonald’s Adding Calories to Menus

Posted on September 13, 2012 by bermanevansretail
Fast-food chains and other restaurants have been under heavy criticism (pun intended) for years about how healthy the food is that they serve. Health groups, consumer advocates, and government agencies have all stepped up their efforts. In some locales (such as New York City), there are already regulations in place requiring that calories be placed on menus. In other locales, such requirements are coming soon.
Why is the pressure on dining establishements today higher then ever? It is a result of the rising obesity rate in the United States and other industrialized countries, and concern about what children are eating.
With the preceding in mind, McDonald’s — consistently one of the biggest targets of critics — announced that it would voluntarily begin placing calorie counts on menus in ALL of its UNITED STATES restaurants.
As reported by Lisa Baertlein for Reuters: “A Big Mac and large fries? They’ll cost you 1,050 calories, and beginning next week, McDonald’s will tell its customers that in bright lights on its fast-food menus. The world’s No. 1 hamburger chain said on Wednesday it is going to start listing calorie information on menus in some 14,000 U.S. restaurants and drive-throughs — ahead of a national rule that will require larger restaurant chains to make such disclosures. McDonald’s Corp. is a trend setter for restaurants and its move in this arena — while prompted by regulations and pressure from public health activists — is likely to force other restaurant operators to follow quickly.”
This question remains: What about calorie counts on menus in countries OUTSIDE the United States?
Click the photo for Baertlein’s full story.

 

Photo by Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

 

Posted in Global Retailing, Part 2: Ownership, Strategy Mix, Online, Nontraditional, Part 6: Merchandise Management and Pricing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Social Media and Retailing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Business Web Site as a Soap Box?

Posted on September 12, 2012 by bermanevansretail
Retailers make decisions every day about the kinds of messages they want to communicate to the marketplace and the content of those messages. One controversial issue is whether personal — rather than strictly business — views should be expressed.
As Michael Hess writes for CBS MarketWatch: “The Chick-fil-A controversy brought to light the risks of a business taking a provocative public stand on a political, social, or religious issue. The privately-held fast food chain did so on a highly visible national scale, but the same thing happens every day — albeit much more quietly — at the small business level. Like any individual, the owner of a private company has the right to take any position or say pretty much anything he or she wants. But is it in the best interest of a business to put that right to the test?”
Click the image below to read 4 tips from Hess on where to draw the line.

 

istockphoto

 

Posted in Online Retailing, Part 1: Overview/Planning, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Social Media and Retailing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment