A selection of articles and essays on consumer behaviour, research, and decision-making.
While no longer updated regularly, this archive reflects some of the themes and thinking behind Philip’s work.
The Customer Loyalty Myth
The suggestion that customers can be loyal is odd. Think about it for a moment; who are you really loyal towards? Your family, your friends, your colleagues? Loyalty exists for a reason; it is the glue that makes us do the right thing so …
Why Discount Supermarkets aren’t All They Seem
The news today has been dominated by the announcement from the UK’s biggest supermarket chain that their profit fell by 6% to £3.3bn. Having just been invited to participate in a discussion on national radio about this news, what intr…
Using Morphine to Improve Survey Results
Back when I was a market research manager at Pizza Hut I sat through several research debriefs where a shot of morphine might well have made the experience more bearable. Invariably it was having tracking study results that caused me the gr…
Why Black Friday Sales are Here to Stay in the UK
“There’s a new shopping genie.” “Oh no there isn’t!” “Oh yes there is!” The genie in question has emerged with the force of a hurricane, granting shoppers’ wishes (which can be best summed up as giving them an extra excuse to spend money to…
Why Food Waste in the UK will Only Increase
Today the UK news has been dominated by research suggesting that the average British family throws away the equivalent of six meals a week. The research, by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), claimed that this would equate to thr…
Why You Might Name Your Child After a Killer!
Naming a child is one of life’s great pleasures. With the excitement of a new life arriving, comes the responsibility of ‘branding’ that life. It probably helps that this bit comes before all the screaming and sleepless nights! But how to…
The Rights and Wrongs of Cheating Customers
“Woah there mule!” as Yosemite Sam used to say, am I suggesting that it can be ‘right’ to cheat customers? Yes, I am (kind of). Let me explain. I recently had a complaint about a product. A few years ago I purchase…
Why Don’t People Switch Energy Supplier?
Five reasons why people don't switch energy providers, especially when prices increase.
Understanding Older Consumers
Life runs in a strange cycle. At the outset you’re an infant reliant on the care of your parents. As you get slightly older you begin to explore the world under their watchful gaze: which is just as well because, with no knowledge of the wo…