InContext Blog Resources
3 Big Ways AI is Transforming Retail Management
September 4, 2019Machine learning, or artificial intelligence, is no longer a futuristic-sounding concept for most people. Smart home devices like smart thermostats and lights, navigation apps, or even music streaming services are all powered in some way by machine-learned algorithms, and millions...
Observational Shopper Research is Better in 3D
August 22, 2019Learning how customers feel about your store, your products and your brand is the universal goal of shopper research. What varies are the many different channels that insights teams can take to get there.Traditional methods including surveys, focus groups, purchase...
Why In-Store Planning is Similar to… Flying a Plane?
August 20, 2019Category management might seem a world away from a piloting an airplane, but there’s one aspect of the job that both professions benefit from–testing and training. When it comes to flying a plane, the FAA requires pilots to have extensive...
It’s in the Data: Brands & Retailers Can Be Confident in VR
August 15, 2019It’s not unusual for people to be a bit leery of the concept of virtual reality. Because it doesn’t yet exist in every household, the technology comes with a bit of a stigma—it’s something futuristic and sounds exciting, but the...
Yes, You Can Easily Integrate Virtual Into Your Current Research Process
August 8, 2019Trying anything new almost always comes with some trepidation. It’s easy to get comfortable with doing things one way and to avoid change. But honestly, retail today is not a stationary industry–it is a continuously evolving space, which means success...
4 Common Myths That Influence In-Store Planning
July 31, 2019Creating an inviting shopping experience requires smart planning, with the right balance of products, ease of store flow, and compelling in-store messaging. But when brand and retail teams have preconceived notions on how to achieve these things, it can be...
The Case for Virtual Store Research
July 24, 2019There is no shortage of innovative solutions in the retail space, because forward-thinking organizations understand that today’s processes require faster, more streamlined solutions than in year’s past. But understanding doesn’t always lead to implementation. How many are truly adopting those...
3 Key Steps to Effective Shelf Placement
July 9, 2019Research has consistently shown that the majority of purchase decisions are made in the store. Clearly, how a product is displayed on the shelf is one critical component in determining how effectively it attracts attention, wins a spot in the...
These Top 5 Retail “Trends” Are Becoming Retail Mainstays
July 2, 2019As brick and mortar retail stores regularly face new pressures to evolve with the latest shopper needs, they are increasingly leveraging the latest solutions to improve shopper perception and increase sales. While we often talk about what’s trending in the...
Here’s Why Category Managers are Turning to VR Technology
June 27, 2019Today’s responsibilities as a category management professional have never been so expansive. As Professor Janet Hartley told the told attendees at the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) conference in April, category management is a “really interesting mix of skills… You...
Want to Save $1 Million Dollars in Retail Costs? Consider VR.
June 18, 2019Yup, it’s true. One manufacturer was able to:Accelerate speed to marketReduce cost of innovationDrive topline growth…all while avoiding $1 million in unnecessary costs. Here’s how they did it.
How to Gain Trust When it Comes to Retailer Relationships
June 11, 2019Despite the increasing trend of private labelconsumer products on the shelf, the influx of direct-to-consumer options, and thetensioncreated by price increases, retailers and brands still need each other. Whilethese trends may have certainly shaken up the traditional relationship model, peoplestill...