According to this article in Salon:
In a study in the journal Pediatrics, children who tasted identical graham crackers and gummy fruit snacks, some with and some without cartoon characters, “significantly preferred the taste of foods that had popular cartoon characters on the packaging.”
Where do men learn about men's grooming products? Mostly from an equal combination of word-of-mouth and ad circulars/coupons/mailers, according to eMarketer.
Word-of-mouth I can understand. But ad circulars? I didn't think anyone paid much attention to them anymore.
My husband learned about the Nivea line of men's grooming products from me. I bought him some of this balm as soon as it appeared in the drugstore. It smells great.
A Fast Company article reveals what makes some Internet stories go viral, including some of the science behind it. In a nutshell:
Recent research suggests that emotions hold the secret to viral web content. Articles, posts, or videos that evoke positive emotions have greater viral potential than something that evokes negative feelings, but both do a better job recruiting clicks than neutral content.
Read the whole article here.
Image: The Guardian
According to a New York Times article, annual consumer spending on gluten-free products is projected to increase by 50% from 2013 to 2016.
The article quotes Harry Balzer, vice president at the market research company NPD Group:
About 30 percent of the public says it would like to cut back on the amount of gluten it's eating, and if you find 30 percent of the public doing anything, you'll find a lot of marketers right there, too.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
According to CNN, Americans consume about the same amount of chocolate per capita as they did 20 years ago.
Unfortunately for the individuals who make the chocolates, automation has resulted in fewer chocolate-making jobs.
Notice the only brands to make all three lists are Amazon.com, Subway and Ford.
I also find it interesting that Independents have more brands in common with Republicans than Democrats. In Massachusetts, where I live, Independents tend to be Liberal.
Last, does anyone else find it weird that so many people think so highly of V8 vegetable juice? If I had to guess which beverage made at least two of the lists, I would have guessed Budweiser or Coca-Cola.
Via AdWeek
Minimum wage rates in seven first world countries:
Australia $16.88
France $12.09
NZ $11.18
UK $9.83
Canada $9.75
Japan $8.17
USA $7.25
Figures via Washington Post
Image is the work of Thomas Hart Benton
Huffington Post created this graphic from Forbes' annual lists of high earners.
Click graphic to enlarge it and bring it into sharper focus.
Sales are dropping at three of the clothing retailers most coveted by teens and college students: Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters and Hollister Co.
This is what Amercrombie & Fitch's CEO Mike Jeffries looked like during happier times. Guessing his face looks exactly the same when he's mad. Or sad. Or surprised.
.
Via HuffPo
According to BuzzFeed:
Sales of men’s handbags and totes rose 3% to $957 million in the 12 months through June, while briefcases, duffel, laptop, and messenger bags declined.
This Tom Ford men's canvas side-zip tote bag will set you back $2580 at Neiman Marcus.
Notice the zipper has a loop. A feature the luxury retailer felt was important enough to mention.
Loops must be really expensive to produce.
