Consumer Habits: Why Having Children Changes Everything

Parents are, and always have been, a key consumer demographic. Becoming a parent changes everything, from lifestyle to new worries, to saving, to spending. Yet over recent years parenthood has experienced change, impacting how and why it is important to market to them. 

Will Zeebox Change TV Habits?

Since the unveiling of Zeebox in August 2011, it was been championed as the “future of TV”. The app’s own description on iTunes boasts;

- "it's brilliant. App of the week”- The Sun 

- "5 stars" - T3 

- "I can't recall the last time I've been so excited about an iPad app" - The Huffington Post 

- "Zeebox may change everything about the way we watch TV forever" - Stephen Fry

But, is Zeebox really that great? Does it have many commercial opportunities and does it impact TV habits?

The Faceless Crowd

There is a basic human need to be part of a group. We move through many on a daily basis. Individuals gather for countless reasons; from organized events to unintentionally on a busy street.

The increase of mass media also allows the rapid exchange of information and opinions around the world to form online groups. For example, #100daystogo is currently trending on twitter – a mixture of thousands of people and companies sharing their views and sponsorship offers on the Olympics. A perfect opportunity to influence the masses.

Is Too Much Choice a Problem for Consumers?

Today’s choice of products has never been so great. Tesco stocks 91 different shampoos, 93 varieties of tooth paste and 115 types of household cleaner according to The Economist. This should be great - conventional economic theory points to competition and choice as two important drivers for welfare and profits. 

Yet too much choice can have considerable negative effects. In 2004, Barry Schwartz wrote ‘The Paradox of Choice-Why More is Less’ arguing that wide choice causes anxiety for the consumer. Who wouldn’t be anxious when Starbucks offer 87,000 different drink combinations?

Social Media Users and Engagement: Why Engage With Brands on Social Media?

We commissioned original research in a study of 1,115 respondents via our website, to find out about social media engagement. We wanted to know how people interact and engage on social media and how important brands are to the experience. 

90% use social media to catch up with friends, while commenting on friends’ pages and photos are the most popular interactions. Sharing is prolific - almost half (43%) say getting news is one of the main reasons they use social media.