Star Wars 9: Kinepolis transforms your cursor into a laser sword
For the last episode of the Star Wars saga (“Skywalker’s Ascent”), Kinepolis’ French and Belgian websites have adopted a galactic look. In addition to adorning themselves with graphic elements that evoked the universe of Star Wars, fans were also surprised to see their cursor turn into a laser sword (see screenshot opposite). A brilliant marketing stunt that we have immortalised in the video below. ....
INPI data portal: free data for your market research
Where to find data for your market research? This is a recurring question, and it must be admitted that for competition research, there was not a lot of data available free of charge in France. The launch of the INPI data portal changes this situation. Indeed, a large part of the data on French companies was marketed on a large scale through sites that resold INPI data. The best-known site, Societe.com, for example, has a licence,...
#Gransharing: this Zalando popup store revisits the intergenerational link
On 14 and 15 December, 2019 Zalando opened the pop-up store #Gransharing in Brussels (rue Antoine Dansaert 64). This pop-up store was designed to celebrate and promote the intergenerational bond around the hashtag #gransharing. Sarah van den Eertwegh, PR manager of Zalando, explained to me that her company had set up a panel of 16 elderly people (the “grannies”) in order to rebuild a link with the younger generations...
Retail: Levita’s levitation of objects in the shop window
Always looking for new trends in the retail world, this year we returned to interactive window displays, which are increasingly used by brands to differentiate themselves from their competitors and offer a unique experience to their customers and attract shoppers. Today, two magicians (Clément Kerstenne and Philippe Bougard) put their tricks in-store and create shop windows that levitate objects. Philippe and Clément tell us about...
You can shop at Sephora without being disturbed
The consumer is becoming more and more independent and has less and less need for salespeople for his purchases. Sephora has understood this well and has even developed an ingenious system to ensure that customers are not disturbed. A paradox as it goes against most beliefs on the subject, that contact between salespeople and customers makes it easier to sell. But we have to admit that behaviours are changing. Has the time come when...
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[Podcast] Effects of bad buzz on firm’s performance : a look back at the Bicky Burger case
For the launch of our podcast on marketing and entrepreneurship, we received Karim Debbah, Media Manager of the Belgian Advertisers’ Union (UBA), the organisation that defends the interests of 1045 brands in Belgium. This podcast (currently in French), centred around the Bicky Burger case, also allowed us to address the issue of provocation in advertising. From the Benetton ads created by Olivero Toscani to the Bicky Burger...
Personalising customer relations: how to gain trust and data?
The recommendation algorithms promise marketers to achieve their Holy Grail: that of personalised relationships with all their customers at a reasonable price. Since the quality of customer relations is a decisive factor for customer satisfaction and loyalty, algorithmic recommendations, therefore, represent the promise of quality interactions with customers and meaningful marketing actions. However, large-scale customisation can only...
Study of the digital divide: who are those who do not have access to the Internet
In today’s post, I want to tell you a true story, that of a request for a market research project that came to us a few weeks ago. This request (from an Indian digital agency acting for a renowned client) is symptomatic of the methodological problems we face every day. Also, there was a real lack of knowledge of the fieldwork. This “anecdote” will also be an opportunity for us to talk about a real social problem, the...
Ferrari, Lamborghini, … who are the firms which buy luxury cars in France?
Did you know that in France, companies (and not necessarily large ones) buy Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin cars? Would you like to know more about these companies that are doing so well? Follow us in a little data mining exercise. Introduction Between 2014 and 2019, several hundred super- and hypercars have been registered by French companies: just over 200 Ferraris, a hundred Lamborghinis, Bentleys and...
market research in France: and what if you use ODIL?
If you are an entrepreneur, this article should be of interest to you. Today, we are offering you the opportunity to discover a tool that will allow you to carry out free market research in France. If ODIL (the name of the tool) will not allow you to carry out the entirety of your market research, it will nevertheless let you get started and will provide you with the first essential data to understand the characteristics of the...
FMCG: consumers’ purchase behaviors are increasingly different
In our last article, we showed how new tools, based on “data”, allow large FMCG groups to keep up with market developments and consumer expectations. In today’s article, we reveal the effects of the evolution of the FMCG (“Fast-Moving Consumer Goods”) market on consumers’ purchasing habits. A recent study (August 2019) by the University of Chicago unveils an unexpected phenomenon: the rise of niche...
Pagani’s attention to details creates a unique customer experience
Last month I had the chance to visit the Pagani car factory in San Cesario Sul Panaro near Modena. In the heart of the Italian “Motor Valley”, Pagani has been producing coveted hyper-cars all over the world for almost 30 years at a rate of 40 units per year. The base price of the latest model: €2.2m (excluding VAT and excluding options). Horacio Pagani, the creator of the eponymous brand, has developed a company of 150...
Where can I find the statistical data for my market research?
Where can I find data and in particular the statistics for market research? This is a question that many people ask themselves when they begin their research, especially when the budget is tight, and they are looking to conduct market research for free. Because having a method is not enough, it is also necessary to have data to use. However, at the beginning of the market research (desk research), it is essential to have reliable data...
10 mistakes to avoid when drafting a quantitative questionnaire
Writing a quantitative questionnaire, doing an online survey; all this has become very simple in the age of the Internet. Too simple, no doubt, because errors appear at the very moment of writing the quantitative questionnaire. Read also: Creating a questionnaire for quantitative market research We have listed for you the 10 mistakes that you should avoid when writing the questions of a quantitative questionnaire Using complicated...
How to do market research for free?
To do market research for free, don’t limit yourself to an online survey. Combine different market research techniques in this sequence: Carry out desk research to get a first view of the market dynamics. Use free resources, such as professional reports and scientific publications. Complete the PESTEL analysis. Use the information from the desk research and complete it with official statistics, also free of charge. Carry out...
Gmail: a friend who wishes you well (but who will not let you go)
Gmail has just launched a new feature: dynamic emails. This new feature, described in a Google blog post, introduces a subtle innovation that contributes a little more to the creation of an ecosystem from which we cannot leave. Under the guise of improving the Google user experience and its multiple subsidiaries seek to keep users captive at all costs. Explanations in today’s article and feedback on the featured snippets...
Market research : how to study your market when going abroad?
I was pleased to be invited by Hub.Brussels on 14 June 2019 to give a workshop on how to do a market research for export. The workshop was part of the export week 2019 that was jointly organized by BECI and Hub.Brussels. 3 essential techniques to carry a market research when going abroad Based on the B2C guide to market research and B2B guide to market research we published earlier this year, I presented the 3 essential steps of a...
Market Research: how much does it cost?
Here is a question we are always asked: “How much does market research cost?“. And our answer is always the same: “The cost of any market research is the same as the price of a car. It can be a small city car or a Rolls-Royce, a second-hand car or a new one. It is up to you to decide”. That answer is not very satisfactory, is it? It is obvious that this is a tailor-made exercise and that the customer’s...
Market research: the evolution of credit card ownership in Europe
If you need to realise market research in the financial sector or on more generally on a B2C market, the data below may be of some help. I compiled data on credit card ownership in Europe to better understand the dynamics of this market and complement the article I wrote on payment methods used in Germany (by the way, did you know that for the first time Germans have not been using cash predominantly for their purchases in 2018: it...
Customer satisfaction: can it be measured based on facial emotions?
During a recent programme on a French television channel (BFMTV), Paul Hermelin, the big boss of Cap Gemini, described the fantastic current technologies that were impacting his group and mentioned a project that surprised me. With the help of Cap Gemini, a cruise-ship operator has allegedly set up a facial recognition system to measure the emotions of its customers on board the ship(s), to be able to determine their customers’...
Net Promoter Score (NPS) : to include in all satisfaction surveys or not?
How to design a customer satisfaction survey? An in particular, should a NPS (Net Promoter Score) question always be included in a satisfaction survey? While we at IntoTheMinds highly recommend to do so, I had to to re-think my position last week when I saw a post on Linkedin that argued a NPS question in a Microsoft satisfaction survey was nonsense because people don’t actually speak or recommend operating systems. Let’s...
The secrets of conducting market research or how to ensure the success of your (future) business: Part 1
This article on market research is brought to you by the market research agency IntoTheMinds. It is the first of a series of 3 devoted to conducting market research (you will find the 2nd article here, and the 3rd here). We also remind you that in 2018 we wrote a comprehensive guide to conducting market research. You will learn, step by step, how to progress in understanding your market. This guide will give you the essential keys...
The secrets of conducting market research or how to ensure the success of your (future) business: Part 2
Carry out your market research using professional techniques! This article is proposed to you by the market research agency IntoTheMinds. Find here episode 1 and episode 3, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. Don’t forget to consult our online guide for your market research. It is free of charge, and we have condensed as much knowledge as possible on the subject. Download the PDF version. Summary...
The secrets of conducting market research or how to ensure the success of your (future) business: Part 3
How to do market research? You will find the answers in this article, offered to you by the market research agency IntoTheMinds. Find here episode 1 and here episode 2. We completed this series of articles in 2018 with the creation of an online market research guide that you can access free of charge on our website. For any question, request or quote for market research in Belgium, France or elsewhere, do not hesitate to contact us....
Market research: changes for consultancy subsidies in Brussels
The rules concerning the consultancy subsidies (which apply to market research projects) have just changed substantially for the Brussels region (see here the official website in French or in Dutch). On 31 January 2019, a new regional decree was passed which, although it does not really modify the conditions of attribution, dramatically affects the amount of the subsidies to the consultancy up to then granted. Three significant...
Customer experience: This Lisbon store uses a magical recipe to make you buy
Rarely have I seen a store that used marketing so efficiently to unconciously make people buy. “O Mundo Fantastico Da Sardinha Portuguesa” is a a store located on Praça Rossio (Rossio square) in Lisbon which seels sardines in box. Boxes are colorful, bear the mention of a year and a few facts about that year. Different colors are associated to different decades. O Mundo Fantastico Da Sardinha Portuguesa uses several...
World Packaging Organisation: our eye on the Awards
The well-known World Packaging Organisation (WPO) will announce the winners of the World-Star Packaging Awards 2019 next month, on the 15th of May. Considering the role of packaging on purchase decisions, we have chosen some of the finalists and analysed their packaging for you. Country Designer / Manufacturer Product Originality Packaging trend 1. Finland Jospak Oy Food trays 100% recyclable and customisable Eco-friendly...
SEO 2019: A look at the fundamentals
Having recently attended a conference focusing on SEO, I thought it very appropriate to share with you the lessons to be learned for 2019. This article will detail the points raised by the various speakers who shared their knowledge of natural referencing. Summary Know and optimise your website The link Between SEO and Content Marketing In brief, the essential points of a good SEO for 2019 Know and optimise your website Before...
Ryanair: can provocation pay on the long-term?
It has been a long time (3 years to be exact) since I had travelled on Ryanair. Not having been particularly attracted by the customer experience I have avoided this company as much as possible, but last weekend it was the only one serving the city I had to go to. Departure on time; arrival on time; the contract was filled with all the inconveniences we know and to which I will not return. However, that is not the purpose of this...
Audi e-tron : a track to test it at Munich airport
The new Audi e-tron is the first 100% electric SUV of the Ingolstadt-based brand. It’s quite unique and competes head-to-head with the new Jaguar i-Pace (which just got the prize of Car of the Year 2019). Audi promoted its new vehicle in a very clever and spectacular way at the Munich airport. While on business trip in Bavaria I was pleased to discover a temporary installation outside the airport terminal. Audi had installed a...
Delhaize Fresh Atelier: analysis of a retail concept and new openings
In November 2018, the Ravenstein Gallery, near Brussels Central Station, saw the emergence of the new retail concept of Delhaize, the Belgian mass retail company belonging to the Ahold group, called “Fresh Atelier”. The city of Louvain (Leuven) has also hosted a Fresh Atelier in the Diestsestraat since December 2018. This new store concept aims to refocus on consumers’ expectations, both in terms of their consumption...
Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld, an outstanding artist and a marketing genius
Karl Lagerfeld is no longer with us. A fashion genius, he was also an extraordinary multi-talented and accomplished artist whose many facets were reflected in his artistic practices. The first paradox for this man who did not claim to be an artist for Chanel and who reiterated that the preservation of the “artistic” director in his role depended on the number of bags sold. A way of reminding us that it is above all...
Interactive showcases: the innovative tool that retailers have always dreamed of?
The creation of attractive storefronts is an integral part of the marketing plan in the retail sector. In the digital age, retailers are moving towards interactive displays. Storefronts that adapt to their environment and create interaction with this environment while keeping essential functions such as displaying the brand’s new products, promoting ongoing discounts, and much more. In this article, we will review the status of...
Online questionnaires in market research: beware of convenience samples
We have recently devoted an article to the mistakes that should not be made when carrying out online market research (what is commonly called an online “survey”). One of these errors was the use of a convenience sample. In today’s article, we return to this term and explore the subject further to enable you to achieve more reliable results when conducting your market research. Convenience sample Rented panel...
Customer satisfaction : Bpost Bank makes basic marketing mistakes
Admittedly, interest rates are at their lowest. Certainly, the savings of Belgians have never been so high. Indeed, the banking sector is under pressure. And yes, bpost is not doing well. But is it really enough to explain that Bpost Bank, the Belgian postal bank 50% owned by Bpost and 50% owned by BNP Paribas, is making such gross marketing errors by unilaterally and in the shadows deciding to make its customers pay their cash...
Facebook’s hidden strategy to increase your addiction
As part of my good resolutions for 2019 I decided to further reduce my use of social networks which take my precious time away. Banning Facebook during the month of January was my first step to achieve my objectives. To resist the temptation I logged out from all my devices to make it more difficult to access Facebook. In 2018 I also drastically reduced the number of notifications to avoid those temptations. It seems however that...
