Last month, I promised we would keep you on the cutting edge of what’s happening in the private label world.
In this issue, we begin delivering on that promise. You’ll see we are moving our Corner Office Perspective to the Private Eye section, starting each issue with insights from industry leaders — in their own words. What’s more, we’ve added podcasts on PrivateLabelBuyer.com, so you can go there and hear even more of what these thought leaders have to tell you.
Our Corner Office Perspective interview this issue is with Thom Blischok of SymphonyIRI. He has some fascinating things to say about the new consumer, both here in print and in the podcast we did with him. The new normal is now, Blischok contends.
We also promised you exclusive insights, which we’re delivering in this issue with the first consumer survey commissioned especially for PL Buyer and its readers. We worked with Lightspeed, a noted research firm, to ask U.S. consumers what their private label buying habits will be as the recession ends and what they think of private label product quality, pricing and packaging. Our story here summarizes those findings, and you can visit our Web site, PrivateLabelBuyer.com, to download a copy of the full survey, which was sponsored by West Liberty Foods.
In brief, consumers say they will continue to buy private label; read our analysis starting on page 6 for more details. This survey is just the beginning of us offering you research you can’t find elsewhere.
I tackled our cover story on Trader Joe’s in this issue. Trader Joe’s is a company notorious for not talking to anyone about how it does business. Yet there are many lessons retailers could learn from the company’s successful private label program. We bring you those lessons in this story after talking to a wide range of industry experts, veteran Trader Joe’s watchers and even a former Trader Joe’s competitor.
We will never let a “no comment” reply stop us from bringing you the information you need to do your jobs better.
And, one important housekeeping note: Check out the call for entries for our annual private label packaging awards in the Private Eye section. I can’t wait to start the judging; I’m looking forward to reviewing your innovations and slick new designs.
I’d love to hear what you think about the cover story, as well as what you think about this entire issue. Feel free to write me anytime at frankj@bnpmedia.com.
Comments (0)