Category: Consumer Trends

Whether you’re ready or not, summer is winding down and many of us are dreaming of all things fall – pumpkin spice lattes, football games, cooler temps, and of course, Halloween. You may be surprised to find out that 69% of households in our coverage area plan to celebrate Halloween. Estimated Halloween spending was anticipated […]

One of the neatest things about working for a direct mail company is that we work so closely with the retail industry – we sort of have front-row observation seats every year with every major shopping event. We take note of what’s changing and how consumers’ spending habits evolve over time.  But where’s the fun […]

Labor Day is one of those holidays that falls on a Monday, giving many of us a 3-day weekend to enjoy the last remaining days of summer. It’s also a great holiday weekend for last-minute back to school shopping. Last year (2018), 71% of rural back to school shoppers still needed to purchase school supplies […]

Did you know Back to Class shoppers spend more per household on items for the upcoming school year than consumers spend on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day combined? The annual Back to Class season is a major opportunity for retailers to capture a sizable share of consumer’s wallets. Let’s take a look at […]

Independence Day on July 4th is quickly approaching. How will your business stay top-of-mind when consumers begin buying celebratory goods and supplies? Independence Day marks the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted, declaring the United States as an independent country. Many Americans celebrate with parties, fireworks, and decorations. Did you know 27% of households in […]

Father’s Day is June 16, and families nationwide will be shopping for gifts to celebrate a special man in their lives. Did you know 65% of rural households with children bought Father’s Day gifts for a father or stepfather last year, and 44% bought gifts for a husband? Rural households are spending more and more […]

One of the things we enjoy about working with other marketers in the restaurant industry is that we can dig deep into consumer surveys and get a glimpse into behaviors and attitudes of all kinds of people in different geographies. We especially enjoy seeing how younger generations differ from their parents and grandparents in our […]

Memorial Day is May 27 this year and honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. A traditional time for picnics, parties, weekend getaways and family get-togethers, rural consumers will be shopping locally for provisions: food, drinks, decorations, and more. Memorial Day is also a time for businesses to drive traffic with […]

Did you know Mother’s Day is May 12 this year? Many consumers plan to splurge on a special woman in their lives. How will you attract these shoppers to your business this Mother’s Day? Mspark consumers have steadily increased their spending for Mother’s Day since 2008, giving businesses plenty of opportunity to capture consumer budgets […]

With the holidays behind them and winter months dragging along, consumers will be looking forward to celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14th with friends, family, and co-workers. Valentine’s Day gives businesses an opportunity to drive traffic with direct mail advertising. Trying to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for someone special? The majority of consumers […]