Frank Mayer and Associates bloggers caught company president Mike Mayer refilling his coffee mug and posed a few questions between sips for our inaugural FMA Retail Blog.
Do you have any predictions about the retail landscape in 2012?
I expect consumer confidence will continue to gain strength through 2012. I believe it will be a gradual rise but nonetheless positive for retailers and consumer product companies. Against this economic backdrop consumers’ shopping behavior will push retailers to unify all channels and provide a better experience in-store. In-store merchandising has a key role to play in that environment.
One of the trends I think we’ll continue to see is the increased use of tablets and other hand-held devices to assist shoppers. Some of our “retail ready” products like iPad stands and counter-units and tablet security and charging stations address this trend.
What advice would you give retailers who are trying to keep shoppers engaged in the store?
Offer consumers free and relevant services to keep them engaged and in-store longer. The little things will bring the big things!
Increasingly, active shoppers are mobile shoppers. We are staying on top of technology at FMA and we stand ready to advise any of our clients who are striving to keep bricks and mortar shopping a valuable, convenient and innovative experience for their customers. Technology applies to the self-service business, with kiosks that offer online services or introduce the consumer to mobile applications, or the display business, where QR codes and, eventually NFC, will connect to digital content.
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions at Frank Mayer and Associates?
Not necessarily a resolution but an on-going mantra of providing our clients with branded creative, unmatched responsiveness and thorough execution from project start to finish.
…and to work hard but keep it light. We donned pink aprons and flipped pancakes to raise money for the Race for the Cure this year. I expect we will continue to find fun ways to serve the community in the year to come.
What do you do personally to recharge your batteries during the course of the year?
Any activity that takes me outdoors helps to recharge my energy levels. People might think that living in Wisconsin I would want to get away to a warmer place, and the beach certainly has its appeal, but I like exploring the North Woods and skiing in the Rockies with my family too.