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Articles by Jacqui Simses
Leveraging customer insights to beat the competition
Today’s shoppers are difficult to nail down. They likely interact with your products in numerous ways, across social media, email, online, and in store. It’s hard enough to track a customer’s interactions with your brand, let alone learn any insights about them along the way. Understanding your customers — who they are, how they shop, what they like or don’t like about your products — is critical to your business success.
How to display reviews on your website and beyond
Consumers don’t trust traditional marketing the way they used to. But while the world of retail and shopping continues to evolve, one constant is starting to take shape: the consumer to consumer marketplace. We rely on recommendations from friends, family, and fellow shoppers to make informed purchase decisions, not just brand descriptions written on product pages. Which is why displaying reviews in more places will mean more sales.
A guide for retail merchants: Creating a UGC strategy
In today’s shopping environment, a retail merchant’s job is far from easy. Embracing constant change and delivering an outstanding omnichannel experience with the best selection of products is critically important for retailers. Especially in the face of today’s increasingly informed and always-on consumer. A retail merchant’s key focus is understanding the customer.
Uncategorized Archives | Bazaarvoice
Get started Tell us a little about yourself, and our sales team will be in touch shortly. Thank you for your interest in Bazaarvoice. A member of our team will be in touch shortly to talk about how Bazaarvoice can help you reach your business goals.
Why ratings and reviews are important for your business
We all know ratings and reviews are important. While they’ve only been around for about two decades, it’s hard to imagine shopping without them. According to consumer research we conducted of 30,000+ global shoppers, the majority (88%) of shoppers use reviews to discover and evaluate products. From food and beverage and apparel, to health and beauty and hardware, to everything in between, reviews play a crucial role in the buying process.
Experiential marketing: How to appeal to online shoppers
Everyone — and, we really mean everyone — regularly shops online these days. Brands and retailers have won over shoppers by offering more products, fast shipping, and opportunities to shop anytime anywhere, including on social media. But, now consumers want more. That’s where experiential marketing comes in. What is experiential marketing? Experiential marketing is a marketing strategy that engages consumers through participatory experiences.
Influencer research: What influence do influencers have?
In our latest research peak, we wanted to find out what the term “influencer” means to consumers. Because sometimes, it’s hard not to roll your eyes when a Kardashian posts yet another video unboxing a product you would bet your life savings that she probably won’t ever use. Or promising a detox tea was “life changing” when you can guarantee she’s never tried it. We know that they’re being paid to say these things, so can we trust what they’re saying?
CPG research to guide your brand
Lately, we’ve been trying to get inside the minds of our shoppers. We’ve been closely monitoring consumer behavior to understand how shoppers research brands and products and, ultimately, what drives their CPG purchasing decisions. In recent years, we’ve seen that ‘convenience’ and ‘product benefits’ have replaced ‘brand name’ more and more as a driving decision factor.
Social commerce trends: Shopping on social
These are live-blogged notes and sketches from a social commerce trends webinar delivered by Alex Kirk, Director, Global Consumer Insights and Jami Reetz, Social Commerce Strategist, on 23rd February 2022. You can opt to watch the on-demand webinar right here, otherwise let’s get to it! It’s no secret that social commerce is big, and only getting bigger. Influencer marketing is growing at a staggering rate.
Retail research: What's the state of retail today?
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Recapping the Bazaarvoice Retailer Summit 2021
Honestly, if you didn’t attend the Bazaarvoice Retailer Summit 2021 you missed out. It’s not every day you have the chance to hear from multiple marketing and retail leaders. In the same place. At the same time. (At least not for free!) From our own CEO Keith Nealon to guest keynote speaker Sucharita Kodali, our speakers brought the (virtual) house down. But we get it. People are still playing post-lockdown catch up. Life is busy. So not everyone could tune in to the main event.
Top 5 beauty trends for 2021
Beauty trends have evolved majorly over time. The ‘50s were all about bold eyes and red lips. The ‘70s saw the emergence of minimal makeup with shimmery eyes. The ‘10s were dominated by smokey eyes, heavy contouring, highlighting, and matte lips. And today? To find out the latest trends and sentiments around cosmetics and skincare in 2021, Bazaarvoice recently surveyed over 10,800 Influenster members. The highest composition of respondents were Millennials, followed by Gen Z, Gen X, and then Boomers.
Review criteria: What matters to shoppers most?
There is so much to choose from when shopping online these days that it can be overwhelming. A product recommendation is the best way to narrow down which items best meet your needs and what you should buy. That’s where ratings and reviews come in. 89% of shoppers “always” or “mostly” consult ratings and reviews before making a purchase, and 78% say product reviews influence their purchasing decisions most, according to a Bazaarvoice survey of the Influenster community.
Amazon's annual shopping event is a Prime Day for other brands and retailers
It’s that time of year again, Amazon Prime Day is upon us! After being delayed from Summer until October last year, it’s now set at an earlier date than ever before, arriving on June 21st and 22nd. In years past it’s been dubbed as the unofficial kick off of the holiday season, or ‘Black Friday in July’. While this year’s earlier date might detract from holiday shopping, I have no doubt that shoppers will still come out in droves.
Social media: As much for shopping as for socializing
Since the pandemic began, we’ve sat at home on our couch bingeing everything from Tiger King to Love is Blind (remember that show?!) But we’ve also spent a lot of time mindlessly scrolling. According to our research, 84% of consumers agreed or strongly agreed that their time on social media has increased significantly since the pandemic started. And to complete the holy trifecta of couch-sitting, streaming and scrolling, a lot of people were also shopping.
Prioritizing sustainability is the only way to sustain success in retail
Climate change is no longer a possibility for the future — it’s here now. From once-a-century pandemics to unprecedented weather disasters, the effects of climate change are very much something we’re already living with. Dealing with these issues, and a general love and respect for the environment, has made many people much more eco-conscious than they’ve been in the past.
How to get ahead on social media in 2021
With cities under lockdown, civil unrest, and uncertainty brewing throughout 2020, many consumers were forced to stay home and conduct business as usual online. As a result of people now living digital lives, social media has become an integral part of their free time. To meet consumers where they are, brands are flocking to social media to connect with their target audience. But, with so many brands floating the social media gates, how can one stand out among the rest?
DIY and home improvement consumer trends
We’ve been spending a lot of time at home lately. Most of the past 12 months, in fact. Sadly, that’s just a side-effect of living through a global pandemic. We won’t mention the pandemic by name because everyone’s sick of hearing about it by now, but let’s just say it rhymes with shmovid. The fact that we’ve been spending so much time at home got us wondering how the world looks at DIY.
Best practices Archives | Bazaarvoice
Best practices A guide for retail merchants: 5 steps for creating a solid UGC strategy Read post Best practices 8 questions to ask to build trust with a new UGC provider Read post Best practices How the best brands won the 2020 holiday shopping season Read post Best practices The psychology behind successful user-generated content marketing Read post Best practices Picking a trustworthy ratings and reviews provider: Moderation Read post Best practices Holiday preparedness is the gift that...
Report: The 2021 Shopper Experience Index
While some argue that 2021 is just months 13-24 of 2020, the start of the decade is (thankfully) behind us. With the close of that chapter comes a slew of insights. Brands, retailers, and shoppers faced a year unlike any. Quick pivots both professionally and personally lead the way for new strategies, partnerships, and needs. The brands and retailers that stepped up and found new ways to meet their customers’ needs excelled. And shoppers were vocal about what worked and didn’t.
Six feet apart but still together: How Valentine's Day is being celebrated in 2021
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The impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce in 2020
Last updated: May 2022. 2020 — the year we’d rather forget that taught us lessons we can never unlearn. Whether you’re a brand or retailer, e-commerce expert or brick-and-mortar master, pivots were made. And while certain industries took a hit due to the pandemic, other industries thrived. Overall, e-commerce survived the year trending upwards. We started publicly tracking this data last March on the Bazaarvoice Network of 11,500+ brands and retailers.
Online shoppers need to see it to believe it, and to buy it
Jury’s out – e-commerce is in. As the pandemic shuttered physical stores and forced everyone inside, online shopping became not only a necessity, but second nature. Instead of flocking to stores, shoppers are scrolling through online brand and retail sites and their social media feeds. Everything can now be purchased with the swipe of a finger.
A look back at 2020 shopping trends
Looking back on 2020, one thing is certain: The year didn’t plan out like anyone expected. The unprecedented events of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the health and safety of billions globally, and changed nearly everything about how we work and live. As a result, many shopping behaviors have shifted. Over the past few months, we’ve discovered that nearly half of shoppers have changed what they look for in apparel, food, beverage, health, and beauty items because of COVID-19.
5 ways COVID-19 has changed food and beverage shopping habits
If you’ve opened Instagram in the past several months, you’ve seen at least one sourdough loaf, a banana bread, and a fancy home cooked meal. For many people, their home has become their office, gym, living space, salon, and everything in between. We’ve seen that more time at home means extra time in the kitchen. And, that’s changing how consumers shop for food and beverage products.
The gifts on your wishlist this year
Who doesn’t love receiving presents? In a year where we’re all looking to spread a bit more joy, shoppers are building their wishlists and checking them twice. We found shoppers are less likely to gift experiences this year and are leaning more heavily towards physical gifts – 71% of shoppers are planning to buy physical gifts this year for loved ones. Shoppers are also looking forward to receiving tangible products as gifts as well.
6 ways COVID-19 shifted health and beauty trends
One of the many ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our daily lives is that our homes have turned into health and beauty sanctuaries. Home now doubles as a fitness space, self-care center, and a place to try out new skincare, makeup, and hair routines. These evolving habits have inspired new health, beauty, and wellness trends, and it’s changing how people shop for these products. Brands should take note that many of these behaviors will likely stick around post-pandemic.
How brands adapted social strategies throughout a turbulent 2020
As 2019 came to an end, there was no shortage of predictions for what the new year would bring for social media. But none of them could have forecast what ended up happening. A few months into 2020, most of the world was quarantining in the midst of a pandemic. Suddenly, people were online more than ever, but it didn’t feel appropriate to push products. Not long after, the Black Lives Matter movement dominated headlines, and countless brands took a public stand on social.
5 consumer behaviors #trending in 2020
There is no doubt that 2020 will be a fascinating chapter written into history textbooks. A year that has been so surreal, polarized, self-reflective, and all at a time where it’s quite apparent we’re ready to move forward for the better.
What shoppers are looking for this holiday season
With winter holidays getting near and uncertainty pressing on from COVID-19, it’s no wonder that shopping behaviors may differ from years before. From increased safety and health measures to economic distress and civil unrest, these factors impact our lives in many ways, including how consumers spend their money. Understanding the 2020 holiday shopper is crucial for your business to find success this season.
How COVID-19 is still impacting shopping behaviors
When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March, few expected that six months later we’d still be dealing with its effects, or that it would have such an impact on every aspect of our lives, including how we shop.
Behavior that sticks: How COVID-19 permanently changed how we shop
Just about everything in our lives has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And retail is no different. Every industry vertical within the retail space, has been forced to pivot quickly and drastically, as stores worldwide temporarily or permanently closed and customers flocked to e-commerce en masse.
How shopping on social media evolved during the pandemic
In a recent blog post, we explored how consumers’ social media behavior has changed during the pandemic. While under lockdown and working remotely, people in North America and the UK are consuming social media a lot more than they were before the pandemic (no surprise there!). But what about shopping behaviors? As brick-and-mortar stores around the world have either temporarily closed, are limiting capacity, or completely shut down, have consumer shopping behaviors changed? The answer is yes.
How shoppers are spending for back-to-school in light of COVID-19
In the past, this is the time of year when students, parents, and teachers would prepare to embark on a back-to-school shopping journey. But with all of the uncertainty around what’s in store for education in the year ahead as a result of COVID-19, we’re not convinced that’s the case. Especially considering back-to-school advertising in July is down almost 50%, compared to this time last year.
The state of social media behavior in 2020
From an ever-evolving pandemic and countrywide shutdowns, to political conversations and civil unrest, our day-to-day behaviors look a bit different in 2020. Grocery shopping, going to the gym, and even (especially) scrolling through social media are completely different now than they were in early March. With all of these societal changes, the role of social media continues to serve as different outlets of expression, escapism, and information.
How the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting beauty routines
“The only times that I wear makeup and style my hair now is for a Zoom happy hour with my friends” is a sentiment that most of us can relate to during our extended time at home.” From rethinking how we socialize with friends and how we do our jobs, to how we cut our hair and how we work out, the pandemic has changed almost every aspect of our work and personal lives.
How shoppers are using social media for commerce
Social media has become integral to the shopping experience. From product discovery and purchase, to feedback and customer loyalty, social media is present at every stage of a buyer’s journey. We’ve finally reached the era where brands and retailers understand the need for having a social media manager – the latest shift in the social landscape is having social media managers who are prepared to help seal the deal for buyers and assist them in buying.
Age, location, gender: Which impacts consumer shopping preferences more?
Shopping preferences are as varied as the products they’re regularly buying. While there’s some commonalities among consumers, everyone’s shopping cart is as unique as they are. A shopper’s age, gender, and location all have an impact on how they shop as well. Consumer shopping preferences To better understand what shoppers are looking for, how they’re buying, and how they’re interacting with user-generated content such as ratings and reviews, we surveyed over 5,500 consumers around the globe.
Pets and purchases: How pet owners shop for their furry friends
Everyone loves their pets. How could they not? Pets are often a source of comfort, joy, and entertainment – especially in the current climate. We were curious just how bonded people are to their pets, and how pet owners shop, so we surveyed over 14,000 women members of the Influenster community to find out. From designer pet accessories to luxurious visits to the spa, the rise of pet humanization continues to boom.
How women are shopping differently during COVID-19
During this unusual time of either an abundance of free time or no time at all while trying to balance homeschooling, maintaining relationships, and work, it’s no surprise that women are adapting their behaviors to suit their new realities.
Report: 2020 Shopper Experience Index
Every year, the shopper experience evolves. Some years, at a natural cadence – slowly, as trends emerge over the course of 12 months. But in a year like 2020 with a global pandemic looming over shoppers and business owners alike, the shopper experience is evolving at a rapid rate. Instead of slowly winding and changing, we saw COVID-19 act as an accelerant, kickstarting shopper behaviors that were in their incipience and accentuating other behaviors already well in progress.
A celebration of procrastination: Green Monday 2019 trends
About 60% of Americans plan to do their holiday shopping online, and with only about two weeks until Christmas, Green Monday saw an even bigger spike in shopper activity this year than last. Coined by eBay in 2007 and named for the amount of money consumers spend on holiday shopping, Green Monday is the second Monday in December.
Joyeuses Fêtes! How consumers holiday shop around the world
Achats de vacances, urlaubseinkauf, holiday shopping. No matter where they live, holiday consumers do it every year — and at this point, some have already started. Ahead of this holiday season, we surveyed 2,500 holiday shoppers in the US, UK, France, and Germany and analyzed shopping data from last year’s holiday season from across our network of 6,200 brand and retailer websites to see what shoppers across the world have in common.
10 tips to prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
For retailers and brands alike, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are by far the biggest shopping days of the year. While Black Friday in July, Green Monday, and Panic Saturday have entered the holiday shopping mix, the days bookending Thanksgiving weekend are still the two most popular days for consumers to purchase holiday gifts.
Health and beauty: What UK consumers want from the booming industry
Health and beauty is fast becoming one of the strongest retail sectors in the UK, and the top sector for growth. According to research from GlobalData, the UK health and beauty market is forecasted to grow 16.6% between 2018 and 2023 alone. With the explosion of new health and beauty brands in recent years, and even traditional brands and retailers throwing their hat into the ring, this growth comes as no surprise.
Holiday shopping is now a six-month season
Like the retail industry as a whole, the holiday shopping season is continuously evolving. While doing research for this blog, I found an article from 2016 that spoke to the then-current state and history of holiday shopping. It states that Americans start holiday shopping “as early as October” and says the holiday season is “commonly defined as November and December”, but in just three years, that has already significantly changed.
Black Friday in July: 6 tips to prepare for Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day has completely changed the shopping calendar. Every year the event grows larger; last year, Prime “Day” spanned 36 hours. But Prime Day shopping extends far beyond Amazon. Competing retailers like Target and Best Buy have learned to capitalize on this summer shopping surge by creating “Black Friday in July” sales to rival Prime Day and attract eager online shoppers.
FYI for DIY: 5 facts every DIY retailer needs to know
2018 was a trying year for DIY retail in Europe. For example, total DIY sales across the UK fell 40% year-on-year, according to the CBI. The growth of online shopping poses a considerable challenge to DIY retailers across Europe, who have been slow to establish and optimise their online presence. Moreover, in countries where Amazon is present, consumers are veering towards that marketplace to make their DIY purchases, over the brand or retailer itself.
Consumers are the real influencers: 3 trends in amplifying consumer-generated content
While the retail landscape has transformed significantly over the years, one core truth remains a constant. Consumers want to hear authentic opinions to validate their purchasing decisions. Not that long ago, this was often an in-person exchange of information — chatting with friends, family, or store employees about their favourite products and services.
Report: Half of in-store purchases start with online customer reviews
Far from the sensational headlines clamoring about the imminent “retail apocalypse,” the vast majority of consumers prefer brick-and-mortar stores to e-commerce. But the coupling of mobile and e-commerce is quickly changing consumer behavior in the aisles. In our latest study, we set out to uncover how consumer behaviors in the aisles are evolving with the proliferation of smartphones and e-commerce.
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