Michele Madansky is CEO of Michele Madansky Consulting and a former EVP at iHeartMedia.  We discuss...

• Her latest research on trends among working moms during The Corona Economy
• How trends differ across segments -- in particular, the general population vs. affluent consumers
• Surprising findings about stress levels among working moms
• Trends among “Breadwinner Moms” -- including the single biggest predictor of relationship success in couples where women out-earn men
• The diaspora of tech workers from the SF Bay Area
• Her top tips for personal/professional success in The Corona Economy

Michele’s blog Elephant in the Valley can be found here; reach Michele at her website here and on LinkedIn here

Zach Klempf is Founder and CEO of Selly Automotive, a CRM startup that is "Salesforce for auto dealers."  We discuss how car buying behavior is evolving in The Corona Economy.  

We focus on how the supply-and-demand dynamics of the auto market are being  turned upside down by a perfect storm of disruptive (and sometimes conflicting) factors: 

• fewer people are commuting to work
• mass transit is less available
• ride shares are less trusted
• value-orientation is rising
• delivery person is a hot job
• gas prices are falling
• digitally-based auto startups are thriving

Learn more about Selly Automotive here; connect with Zach on LinkedIn here

Scott Johnston is SVP of market intelligence firm Numerator, and has his finger on the pulse of today's consumer.  We discuss how the "panic buying" of the early Corona Economy wasn't exactly what it seemed, how purchasing behavior changes when it shifts from offline to digital, how click-and-collect is evolving beyond early-adopters, and more. 

Dig into Numerator's insights here, and connect with Scott Johnston on LinkedIn here

In this episode, I discuss new data on The Corona Economy with two colleagues from online survey firm QuestionPro -- Vivek Baskaran (CEO) and Dan Fleetwood (President of Research and Insights).  Topics include:

• The latest trends in consumer confidence (“bi-focal optimism”)
• Two-thirds of Americans are seriously questioning the American Dream
• What consumers have missed the most during the Corona Economy
• Consumer spending projections across different categories

The report on Americans Questioning the American Dream can be found here

Connect with Vivek or Dan on LinkedIn

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn here

Kathy Sheehan is an expert on consumer trends, with a particular focus on Gen Z and Millennials.  She previously ran Roper Reports (a well-known study of lifestyle and consumer trends), and is now SVP for insights consultancy Cassandra.  

In this episode, we discuss how...

• The corona pandemic accelerated the on-going pandemic of burnout
• The corona economy is shaping trends in categories as diverse as ecommerce, dating apps, influencers and education
• Corona will be the defining generational marker of Gen Z and beyond
• She believes empathy is the key trait to develop in 2020 and beyond

Read Kathy’s articles on Mediapost here

Learn more about Cassandra’s work, including their “Life Interrupted” report on Millenials and Gen Z during the corona economy here

Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn here

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn here

Chris Perry is an ecommerce expert and a good friend -- I particularly admire his ability to build a professional community, and to entertain while he informs.  

In this episode, we discuss the Corona Economy and...

• The CPG marketplace, particularly the role of private labels and store brands
• The role of Amazon (“in 2020, every day has been Prime Day”)
• The incredible “shrinking shelf” -- with consumers seeing fewer options as the dominant channel evolves from in-person to desktop to mobile to Alexa
• Evolving consumer needs -- particularly, how his “COVID-19 Retail Response Pyramid” is a new take on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
• Why major companies and brands continue to under-invest in digital channels
• His #1 tip for personal/professional success in 2020

Highly recommended: Chris's August 2020 eCommerce Career Summit -- a free webinar with great insights on eCommerce and tips on professional development and job hunting during The Corona Economy.  

Learn more about his community for eCommerce leaders at https://www.firstmovr.com/

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn here

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn here

I’m Steve Kraus and I’m inviting you to check out the “Consumers During Corona” podcast

Each week I’ll take a data-driven look at the latest trends in how people are living, thinking and buying in a marketplace turned upside down by a global pandemic and the fight for social justice

I’m a Harvard Ph.D. and a hacky comedian and a long time trend watcher who has spent his career studying what makes people tick.  I’m excited to be interviewing leading experts in psychology, consumer insights, social trends, marketing and more. We’re going to have a lot of fun. Check it out and tell you friends. Thank you very much!