connect-2-consumer's podcast

Price is an important part of choice, but certainly not the only one. Bridget's guest this week is Dr. Alicia Rihn (University of Florida). They discuss a recent study that was conducted at the University of Florida studying how price conscious consumers made purchase decisions in comparison to individuals who weren't price conscious. Who looks at price longer? Listen and learn!

Hemp production for research purposes is now legal. Listen and learn about some current challenges and opportunities for this growth market.

Michigan's rank as the leading tart cherry producer brings Trey and a graduate student to analyze some consumer data Bridget collected several years ago. Learn more about the results and implications for tart cherry marketing today.

Don't keep revising your "to-do" list, do what truly will help you accomplish your goals - the important things in life. Schedule what matters most before making time for activities and tasks that won't help you accomplish your goals.

What goes on a label is as important to the product's manufacturers as well as consumers. Bridget and Trey discuss some newsworthy labeling issues and their impact on agricultural products.

Restrooms provide some uninterrupted time to connect with consumers. Consider the cleanliness of your facilities as well as the messages you could communicate about your business as your customers take care of theirs.

Periodic evaluations or coaching sessions using the 12 questions from "First Break All the Rules" by Buckingham and Coffman could help most businesses get a quick pulse on how employees feel they are contributing to the company.

Terroir or the influence of soil and climate on the flavor profiles of a product can influence consumer taste perceptions as well as their attitudes about the product. Bridget and Trey discuss terroir with regard to hops and its implications for other products.

Bridget outlines a three-step process for interacting with customers in the sales process. Adapted from a Harvard Business Review interview with Kevin Peters of Office Depot, the podcast offers an effective structure to conversing with consumers.

Are there too many stores and not enough sales? In some cases, yes, especially for general retailers. But the expansion in retail stores is in a positive trend for specialty retailers like plant retailers. The retailing trends, some causes for the growth and decline, and how plant retailers can take advantage of some of the trends are discussed.