http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/articles/index/ en tim.chow@ipsos.com Copyright 2012 2012-01-25T21:42:16+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/kings_of_convenience http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/kings_of_convenience#When:10:53:47Z

]]> Vending machines have been around for ages, but there’s no end to the things they sell, or how they are presented to consumers. The most important part to remember is, convenience conquers all. Industry, Retail, 2011-11-16T10:53:47+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/schools_in http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/schools_in#When:16:52:10Z

]]> With markets in Europe and the US looking grim, the retail sector is doing its best to make a comeback. The back-to-school segment, where new gadgets are becoming must-buys for school, is scoring top marks. Industry, Retail, 2011-09-19T16:52:10+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/your_phone...the_new_store http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/your_phone...the_new_store#When:15:41:19Z

]]> Consumers often look at brands to fulfill their needs. Now, as mobile shopping becomes hot, brands can engage their consumers via their phones to get more involved with the brand. Area of Expertise, Product Development, Industry, Retail, Technology, 2011-07-27T15:41:19+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/the_price_is_right http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/the_price_is_right#When:01:31:29Z

]]> It comes as no surprise that price is a main factor in a consumer’s attitude to products and brands. As such, most consumer research focuses on the relationship between consumers and price. Does the product cost too much or too little? The most common occurrence of this is the simple price-demand curve, and while it is clearly important, a decision as important as setting a product price needs to include other considerations as well. Area of Expertise, Product Development, Industry, Retail, 2011-02-27T01:31:29+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/the_lowdown_on_high_street http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/the_lowdown_on_high_street#When:15:11:44Z

]]> High fashion houses are widening their consumer base by collaborating with high street chains. With more and more crossover, do high fashion houses risk losing their chic edge? And what does the accessibility of high-end labels mean for the casual consumer? Industry, Luxury Goods, Retail, 2011-02-26T15:11:44+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/cosmetic_changes http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/cosmetic_changes#When:15:11:11Z

]]> As environmental concerns become more and more mainstream, the cosmetics market is showing some interesting new trends. Now, some of the fashion industry’s biggest names are taking the initiative by going green. Area of Expertise, Communications, International, Industry, Retail, 2011-02-26T15:11:11+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/collect_and_go http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/collect_and_go#When:22:15:57Z

]]> Prior to the boom of social media such as Facebook and Twitter, group online shopping in Asia was never that popular. But with internet evolution and consumer sentiment rebounding collective buying is gaining full force to offer consumers more value for their money.
Though the business model is simple – teaming with merchants to offer low prices to consumers so long as a minimum buy is reached, the aim behind each website differs. Overall though, does collective buying inspire loyalty in brands? Area of Expertise, Branding, Communications, Customer Experience, International, Product Development, Industry, Advertising, Retail, 2010-11-02T22:15:57+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/india_where_to_now http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/india_where_to_now#When:22:05:12Z

]]> It's easy to have a changing relationship with India – people love its colourful culture and rich heritage but lament about its infrastructure that is struggling to keep up with the country's rapid economic growth.
The grumblings can be heard in the BW-Synovate Urban Infrastructure Survey commissioned by and featured in Businessworld magazine. The survey talked to 1,002 men and women aged between 25-45 in the five big cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, asking them for their views on their city's power supply, public transport system and more. Area of Expertise, Emerging Markets, International, Product Development, Industry, Advertising, Healthcare, Luxury Goods, Retail, 2010-11-02T22:05:12+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/women_on_top http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/women_on_top#When:20:29:14Z Ever seen those 1950s adverts preying on the dire need for housewives to ensure their spouse’s collars were whiter than sparkling white? "He wears the cleanest shirts in town!" declares blonde frau, tweaking her gratified beau’s bow tie. That sorta thing.

On a parallel theme, but rather more recently, sociologist Kate Fox in her seminal study Watching the English, reported a hapless husband returning from the supermarket toting a bottle of ketchup when he’d been despatched to buy tomatoes. His excuse – "it’s got tomatoes in it" – fell on stony ground.

Cue 2010 and a paradigm shift. Call it Girl Power, call it Women on Top, call it whatever you want, but there is a distinct trend for blokes to be the homemaker – more concerned with bargain blackberries than bargaining via their BlackBerrys – and leaving it to their spouse to bring home the metaphoric bacon. Area of Expertise, Branding, Communications, Customer Experience, Emerging Markets, Product Development, Industry, Retail, 2010-09-14T20:29:14+00:00 http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/the_style_spies http://www.synovate.com/changeagent/index.php/site/the_style_spies#When:22:08:55Z Monitoring the markets and working in the office all day leaves little time for a professional working man to stay in style. Yes, nipping off to a newsstand and buying a fashion magazine to read is an option. However, male fashion fans are finding it's much easier to visit their favourite websites, and get instant help from a willing army of fashion bloggers, who act as style spies.
Two years ago, before Bryanboy, Scott Schuman, Tommy Ton and other fashion bloggers made their major appearances on the web, the gentleman needed to spend time reading fashion magazines to discover up and coming trends. Today, men can quickly scan fashion blogs that immediately reveal the very latest in fashion. Fashion bloggers update their blogs frequently with practical information that is supplemented by photographs and advice. Area of Expertise, Communications, Industry, Luxury Goods, Retail, Technology, Travel, 2010-08-20T22:08:55+00:00