More than one in five (22%) U.S. consumers admit they are self-conscious about redeeming coupons at the grocery store, according to research by marketing firm ICOM Information & Communications. However, 57% of respondents who admitted they were self-conscious about redeeming coupons at the grocery store in the past said that they no longer care as long as they are saving money.

Apprehension tied to using coupons in the checkout line is also waning in key demographic segments. Of consumers 35 years old and younger, 26% said that they have reduced inhibitions about coupon usage in the past six months. Nearly 20% in this demographic said they used to be self-conscious but are no longer because of the economic benefit and 6% said that they are less self-conscious. Almost 23% of respondents who have suffered a direct financial loss have become less self-conscious about redeeming coupons at the register.

“In a down economy even the most stubborn consumers are receptive to money saving offers,” said Mark Hertenstein, ICOM vice president of sales, in a statement. “This is a perfect time for brands to engage desirable consumer segments with offers that appeal to their frugal mindset.”

Commissioned by retail analytics firm Precima, the survey was sent to 45,000 U.S. households with 3,013 responding nationwide.

Also, 43% of shoppers say that they’ve used more coupons in the past six months. This data comes as a followup to ICOM’s April 2008 survey that asked consumers if they were likely to use more or fewer coupons in the event of economic downturn. According to that survey, 67% of consumers planned more coupon use in a recession.

http://supermarketnews.com/marketing/ar/survey_coupons_0213/

While the audience was composed primarily of execs from small to mid-sized grocers, many of the ideas were appropriate for a variety of types of retailers. The top five ideas, as voted by the audience, were:

1. Maintain your quality standards: Never lower quality just to achieve a better price. This one can be seen as surprising on two levels; the expectation that retailers would go for some of the more futuristic ideas as a means to differentiate themselves, and because we know that many are sorely tempted to lower quality to cut costs in this economy.

2. Offer the best market price on a key market basket: Establish the standard market of food basics. That this idea ranked so high points out how tough the economy really is, and how important smaller grocers believe it is to compete with Wal-Mart.

3. Improve shopper marketing: Encourage shoppers to visit every aisle with signage, sampling, and incentives. This idea was a bit of a surprise as a high ranker as well, as it indicates a “back to basics” approach in engaging the customer in-store.

4. Use shopper feedback to increase loyalty: Use improved communications to enter a more meaningful dialogue with customers. From Twitter to mobile technology to the old-fashioned idea of walking around and talking to customers, the panel and audience believe engaging in a constant dialogue with shoppers is important.

5. Initiate a school outreach program: Teach children how to budget and shop, skills that could be passed along to parents.

Other ideas that didn’t make the top five but were intriguing included: hosting community events in your parking lot to drive traffic; establishing a party registry similar to a bridal registry; enabling employees to hand out “surprise” discounts and coupons in-store; and running cross promotions with local groups.

While other retailers may be more interested in online marketing, social media, mobile technology, etc. it seems that local grocers are more inclined to engage with their communities, improve in-store service, and keep their quality and prices right.

(Source: RetailWire.com, 02/06/09)

February 05, 2009:

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys”R”Us, Inc. and the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund today announced they have increased their support of Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to funding global biomedical research for autism and raising public awareness about the disorder and its effects on individuals, families and society.

This year, the company’s more than 260 Babies”R”Us locations nationwide will join Toys”R”Us stores in a nine-week in-store fundraising campaign to coincide with Autism Awareness Month in April. In 2008, Toys”R”Us stores raised $1.5 million to support crucial autism research and advocacy.

For the third consecutive year, Toys”R”Us, Inc. employees nationwide will participate in the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism program, a series of more than 75 fundraising walk events held in communities across the country. To kick off the 2009 partnership, including national sponsorship of the walk program, the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund awarded Autism Speaks a $400,000 grant. Since the partnership began in 2007, the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund, Toys”R”Us, Inc. and customer donations have combined to provide Autism Speaks with more than $3.7 million.

“As a company dedicated to children and families, we are proud to have both our Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores support Autism Speaks this year,” said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys”R”Us, Inc. “With so many children affected by autism spectrum disorders and still very little known about any causes or cures, we are hopeful our fundraising and awareness campaign can contribute to solving the autism puzzle.”

“Our partnership with Toys”R”Us, Inc. continues to help raise both awareness for autism spectrum disorders and money for important research and advocacy, and we are thrilled to have Babies”R”Us stores participating in the campaign this year,” said Mark Roithmayr, President of Autism Speaks. “Experts advocate screening for autism twice by the age of two, so we are grateful for the opportunity to reach parents of babies and toddlers and educate them on this new research. Early detection and intervention are key to a better quality of life for children with autism and their families.”

Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism Events

Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us employees nationwide will participate in more than 75 fundraising walk events in cities coast-to-coast by forming walk teams in their local communities as part of the 2009 national sponsorship of this program. Beginning this month and continuing through November, this series of signature fundraising and awareness events is expected to attract thousands of participants and provide families, friends and professional caregivers an opportunity to contribute to, and show support for, the fight against autism. Last year, Autism Speaks raised more than $29.3 million through its Walk Now for Autism events. The complete schedule of Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism events can be found at http://www.autismspeaks.org/ .

In-Store Fundraising Campaign

From Sunday, March 1 through Friday, May 1, to coincide with Autism Awareness Month in April, more than 800 “R”Us stores across the country will collect cash donations in an effort to help solve the autism puzzle. Donations also will be accepted through the company’s dedicated Autism Speaks microsite, http://www.toysrus.com/AutismSpeaks . The campaign will be supported with an aggressive marketing program, inclusive of in-store signage and advertising, in an effort to raise awareness among customers and employees alike.

All money raised during the campaign will go directly to Autism Speaks to fund important autism research programs and help provide a voice for children affected by the disorder. With 67 children diagnosed with autism each day, the disorder is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and social abilities, and also by repetitive behaviors.

About Toys”R”Us, Inc.

Toys”R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer. Currently it sells merchandise through more than 1,550 stores, including 847 Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores in the U.S., more than 700 international stores in 33 countries, which includes licensed and franchise stores, and through its Internet site at http://www.toysrus.com/ .

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is the world’s largest autism advocacy organization, dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and served as vice chairman, General Electric, and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years. Autism Speaks merged with the Autism Coalition for Research and Education (ACRE), the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and Cure Autism Now (CAN), bringing together the nation’s leading autism advocacy organizations. For more information about autism and Autism Speaks, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org/ .  

Source: PR Newswire

How awesome would something like this be for SE Michigan?

Chicago Area AMC movie theaters will offer a special screening of “Hotel for Dogs” Saturday as part of their Sensory Friendly Films series.

Geared toward families affected by autism, the series aims to provide an accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience.

The movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down. Moviegoers will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the film.

We are looking for additional committee members. Email the SE Michigan walk manager at semichigan@autismspeaks.org to attend our next meeting. To register for the walk visit http://walknowforautism.org/semichigan