ConsumerPsychologist.com

Just a reminder that Google will often generate a rather convincing AI description (usually above the Internet pages subsequently listed) for completely non-existent concepts. In this example, the query combines a marketing concept with theoretical physics. Note that the actual page listings refer entirely to physics. It is not that the ideas could not potentially be synthesized, but rather that no one appears to have done so already.

🔎 category management decoherence paradox - Google Search

HUMAN Possibility (https://www.human-possibility.com/) is a new podcast launched and hosted by Professor Elena Hansen, an adjunct faculty member of the Marshall Marketing Department who teaches our Social Media Strategy for Business course. I am very touched to have been interviewed for the first episode. You can see the video trailer on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4L-UEXkH08) and listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-lars-perner-on-eccentricity-consumer-psychology/id1793847740?i=1000688008379) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/7Hy6dUmn192KGDrrLfqK1e). Elena and her students did an amazing job on the production!

Chef Katie Button discussing efforts to provide food to the community of Asheville with major damage to roads, the water supply, and other infrastructure.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAtpfj5xNcm/

The catastrophe and devastation in our area is beyond words. And even that is an understatement. I took a moment, yesterday - between strongly worded discussions with my insurance company - to reflect on where we are and my concern for how this situation will impact our food and beverage community, which makes up roughly 12.2% of Asheville’s workforce. If you have the means to donate, I have included links in my bio for the @NCRLA NC Hospitality Worker Relief Fund , @southernsmokefoundation donation page, and the @wckitchen Hurricane Helene donation link. We have been told it will be weeks until water is restored, which will continue to affect all aspects of everyone’s lives. And a consequence of this is that there is no way for restaurants to operate without access to water, both potable and nonpotable. Restaurants and the hospitality workforce are uniquely impacted by this situation, in additional to already suffering these same difficulties at home. We are grateful that World Central Kitchen stepped in so quickly to help Cúrate and La Bodega by Cúrate operate in some capacity.  WCK began shipping water and supplies to us to be used for meal distribution through their organization. These meals have been passed out to members of our community, air dropped into locations that are completely isolated, and delivered despite terrain barriers to those without the means to seek food and water. It feels good and is a relief to at least be productive and have the means to do something for my community. Thanks for listening and keeping our community in our thoughts, and PLEASE donate if you are able.

A waiter who tells a customer who orders the $5.99 special rather than a $24.99 premium dinner that "You should be ashamed of being such a cheapskate with utter lack of taste!" may receive a lower tip.

When visiting San Jose, Dionne might be disappointed to discover that 37% of her friends have cashed in on the rising real estate values and moved to Omaha.

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Black Friday Predictions and Observations:
• Normally, we would expect a significant amount of “pent up” demand as people are now able to shop again, but with lackluster deals in stores, this may not happen this year.
• Black Friday enthusiasm will probably be limited this year given both the heavy media coverage of supply chain problems and shortages and the actual limited supplies available.
• Since even fully vaccinated individuals still run some risk of COVID, being in crowded stores will be less appealing. This is especially the case for households where children are not yet fully vaccinated.
• Given the politization of COVID, some people deliberately seek out crowded experiences as a sort of “demonstration”—possibly defying mask mandates—but hopefully this will be limited.
• Ironically, although in-person shopping and going out in public was more difficult last year, online merchandise was still relatively plentiful.
• Black Friday advertisements seem to be rather scarce this year.
• Already before the pandemic, Black Friday shopping was waning in popularity. More and more, sales had begun early and a lot of deals were offered online. In addition, over the last thirty years, the model of holiday bargains has shifted. Mega-merchants such as Walmart and Target, large chains such as Best Buy, and warehouses such as Costco now buy very large quantities, placing orders far in advance in return for deep discounts. This means that unlike in the old days when holiday bargains often sold out quickly, there was generally enough for everyone, so the urgency of getting out early on Black Friday morning had waned. Although supplies actually will be limited this year, people are out of the habit.
• Related to the above, for many, it is much more convenient to buy online. It will be interesting to see if online merchants try to sell merchandise they do not actually yet have, possibly promising a delivery time that they may or may not be able to meet.
• With family members getting together for Thanksgiving, things can get tense and historically, Black Friday shopping has offered a bit of a “circuit breaker.” This year, Thanksgiving parties will probably be smaller than before the pandemic, so there may be less of a need.
• These are strange economic times. During recessions, it is generally a good thing if those who are better off spend heavily and stimulate the economy, but at the moment, this could boost inflation.
• Even if much of the current price spikes may be temporary as supplies catch up, many households will have less left over for holiday spending and many will likely worry about inflation.
• Whether by planning or lack of success in shopping, a lot of people may end up giving gift cards this year so that recipients can buy once supplies reach stores.

Join Professor Gerard Tellis, Director of the Institute for Outlier Research in Business, for his dynamic one-hour webinar “Innovation: Converting Challenge into Opportunity” on February 2nd at noon PST.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on human life in the US and around the world. Many businesses and organizations have suffered great losses; however, some have succeeded and even proliferated. All organizations, whether thriving or struggling, need to be innovative in order to convert the pandemic challenge into an opportunity.

Register here: http://ow.ly/RxU550DfQUT

On the surface, this looks like an article about a local transportation problem, but it is so much more. Some very powerful points about understanding one's customers and diffusion of responsibility!

Public transit ‘completely impossible’ for some trips around the DC region | WTOP When you think of transit, you probably think of the daily commute. But the pandemic may change the way it looks in the future.

Last Minute 2020 Holiday Shopping Outlook:

www.consumerpsychologist.com

During the last recession, many consumers seemed to go on a holiday "sympathy strike"--reducing their holiday spending in solidarity with those more severely hit rather than because they, themselves, faced serious hardship. As well intentioned as that may seem, the best thing for the economy would be for those who can afford spend heavily to do so to create a boost.

Half of Americans Plan to Reduce Holiday Spending as Second Stimulus Hopes Fade When Americans deck the halls this holiday season, their celebrations may look a little leaner than usual. Half of Americans expect to spend less for the holidays than they did last year, according to the Forbes Advisor-Ipsos U.S. Consumer Confidence Weekly Tracker. Twenty-three percent of respon