In Clear Focus

In Clear Focus: Projective techniques are powerful consumer insights tools - but are often misunderstood. Our guests, Dr. John Whittle and Nigel Roth share ways in which projectives can uncover consumers' deepest motivations, responses, and how they really feel about brands. We discuss real-world case studies and hear recommendations on how and when to use different projectives. A fascinating dive into techniques that encourage participants' imagination, expression, and free association.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: The second in a special series of podcasts reflecting insights from Bigeye's national study, Retail Disrupted, looks at the role that smart speakers and displays play in consumers' shopping behaviors. We also learn which consumers are most likely to use augmented reality apps to support their purchasing decisions. Discussing the findings are antitrust expert Tim Hwang, retail futurist Doug Stephens, and Justin Hadaegh from the mobile shopper survey platform, MFour.

In Clear Focus: While many people profess a desire to help fight climate change by engaging in more sustainable behaviors, there's often a gap between people's expressed intentions and their actual behaviors. In this week's podcast, applied consumer neuroscience expert Michael Smith joins us to discuss his new book, Inspiring Green Consumer Choices. Hear what Michael believes marketers and advertising creatives need to do to encourage more consumers to purchase sustainable products and...

In Clear Focus: Celebrating Bigeye's 100th episode, we take a closer look at direct-to-consumer brands. Host Adrian Tennant catches up with 4 previous guests to find out how COVID-19 supply chain disruptions and changing consumer behaviors have impacted their DTC businesses since they first appeared on the podcast. Listen in for lively conversations with Liz Mazzei of Provenance Meals, Delaney Doria of Luma & Leaf, Olivia Canlas of Meowbox, and Brandon Frank of Pacific Packaging Components.

In Clear Focus: The first in a series of podcast episodes accompanying Bigeye’s 2021 study, Retail Disrupted: What Shoppers Want From Brands Today. Based on a national survey of over 1,500 US shoppers, it's clear that consumers are demanding more from retailers than ever before. In this pod, we explore key data points from the report with retail futurist Doug Stephens and influencer marketing expert Paige Garrett and discuss what the findings mean for retail and direct-to-consumer marketers.

In Clear Focus Encore: As millions of views of "unboxing" videos on social media demonstrate, packaging is an important part of the customer experience. Industry expert Brandon Frank explains how evolving consumer attitudes are leading brands to embrace sustainable packaging solutions. Brandon shares the inside story of innovative packaging his company, Pacific Packaging Components, developed for premium beauty brand Drunk Elephant, and his role as a member of Credo's Clean Beauty Council.

In Clear Focus Encore: Pet marketing services agency Bigeye's podcast features Olivia Canlas, the co-founder and CEO of Meowbox, a pawpular direct-to-consumer cat treat and toy subscription. Olivia shares how she first had the idea for Meowbox and why social media has been purrfect for growing the brand. Olivia talks candidly about challenges during COVID, the importance of being part of an extended network of female entrepreneurs, and brainstorming pawsitively ameowzing creative box themes.

In Clear Focus: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Bigeye insights interns Camila Swanson and Jorge Sedano reflect on their own experiences as multicultural consumers. Including candid interviews with friends and family members, the team examines influencer marketing and how Hispanic consumers are depicted in ads. We hear why ads in Spanish-language media can be more memorable, and the ways Hispanic consumers most commonly retain their families' cultures and traditions.

In Clear Focus Encore: Demographic segmentation is the foundation of traditional marketing - but does it still work? A consumer behavior psychologist and professor of marketing, Michael Solomon discusses his book, "The New Chameleons" highlighting fundamental shifts in terms of how we think about customers. Michael explains generational differences, targeting "markets of one", and predicts which consumer behaviors accelerated by the COVID-19 lockdowns and economic changes will persist.

In Clear Focus: Bigeye's forthcoming national study reveals that among those who follow influencers, 9-in-10 purchase a product after seeing it used or recommended by an influencer. Paige Garrett, Assistant Vice President at RVD Communications in New York, explains how influencer marketing is reshaping retail and why it redefines the shopper's path to purchase. Paige also shares which tactics yield the most positive ROI and predicts where influencer marketing is headed in the coming years.

In Clear Focus: Chantal Schmelz is a facilitator, strategist, lecturer, and marketer based in Zurich, Switzerland. Chantal explains how she uses the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Method to break down barriers between participants and generate breakthrough ideas. Chantal shares consumer insights based on her work in Europe and the Philippines, and contrasts e-commerce in developed countries with what she sees in the developing world - plus how WEConnect connects women-owned businesses with buyers...

In Clear Focus: Bigeye's guest this week is Ksenia Newton of Brandwatch. Ksenia explains how she triangulates different sources of data, including social listening, to derive fresh consumer insights about shopping behaviors in-store and online. Ksenia shares insights from recent Brandwatch reports and makes some predictions about this year's holiday shopping season, based on what she's seeing in her research. We also preview the results of Bigeye's upcoming study about US shopping behaviors.

In Clear Focus: This week's podcast guest offers fresh ideas and insights to generate "customers for life". Customer service expert and author John D. Hanson explains how to wow today's customers, based on extensive research into the practices of industry leaders including Amazon, American Express, Nordstrom, Ritz-Carlton, and others. In an age of increasingly digitized customer service automation, John suggests seven ways that firms can differentiate with service excellence online and...

In Clear Focus: Doug Stephens is an internationally recognized retail futurist. His new book, Resurrecting Retail, explores the challenges today's big-box retailers face from online giants like Amazon and niche, direct-to-consumer brands. We discuss how retailers are responding with innovative, immersive shopping experiences that bring customers back to physical stores. Doug identifies the emerging technologies that will shape the future of shopping for the remainder of this decade and...

In Clear Focus: This week's guest is a content strategist who believes traditional Buyer Personas often fail to deliver the results marketers expect. Adrienne Barnes shares her process for creating the "Best Buyer Personas" and explains how her research pointed to improvements that eliminate many subconscious biases that traditional Persona development practices introduce. Adrienne also discusses some of the practical ways in which Personas can help align the work of sales and marketing...

In Clear Focus: With an eye on the future, we talk with Thomas Klaffke, an expert in identifying and interpreting consumer signals. As Head of Research at TrendWatching, Thomas explains the process of mapping out global, meaningful consumer trends and insights. We also discuss Business of Purpose, a new platform for business professionals which Thomas also leads - and what a societal shift from carefree consumerism to a more purpose-driven economy will mean for the future of brands and...

In Clear Focus: Trends are the currency of our cultural lives in a global economy built on cycles of disruption and innovation. For the first episode of season 8, we're joined by Dr. Devon Powers, the author of On Trend: The Business of Forecasting The Future. Devon shares her insights about the global agencies and professionals whose job it is to identify, explain, predict, and manufacture consumer trends. We discuss how these patterns can influence how we all live, work, play, shop, and...

A preview of season 8 of IN CLEAR FOCUS including contributions from experts on trend forecasting, customer experience, consumer insights, ecommerce, and direct-to-consumer brands. This season includes results from Bigeye's upcoming national study on consumer retail. Lively conversations and fresh perspectives on the business of advertising IN CLEAR FOCUS every Tuesday from August 10, 2021.

Gender: Beyond The Binary - Reflecting data from Bigeye's national study on gender, three members of the LGBTQIA+ community join us for a discussion about consumer products. We hear how brands are embracing nonbinary and unisex products, especially in fashion and beauty, and discuss Gillette's controversial 2019 "The Best a Man Can Be" campaign. We also learn which consumers are most and least likely to think gendered products are different enough to warrant different versions for men and...

In Clear Focus: Coinciding with the launch of Bigeye's new website and #TheBigeyeLens campaign, this week's episode explores connections between human eyesight and trend forecasting. We're joined by two guests: Doctor of Optometry, Dr. Amanda Stebbins in Orlando, and Thomas Klaffke, the Head of Research at TrendWatching, based in Berlin, Germany. With an eye on the future, we hear about the latest advances in correcting vision, and how COVID has accelerated disruptive innovations in...