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While no longer updated regularly, this archive reflects some of the themes and thinking behind Philip’s work.
Now For Something Slightly Different
A little consumer behaviour fun with almost moving pictures! Philip Graves
Time to Talk
When it comes to interpreting consumer behaviour people sometimes aren’t quite sure what they might be looking for, so I put together this audio to provide a starter guide to consumer behaviour, why it’s important and two or thr…
What Consumer Behaviour Reveals about Sexism
When it comes to observing consumer behaviour, or any aspect of human behaviour, there is an important tip you would do well to keep in mind. The process of observation needs to be as detached and objective as possible. It’s also wor…
Promotional Pens (and the like), Do They Work?
I recently discovered some research which dovetails quite nicely with the blog I posted recently on Unconscious Advertising. Researchers wanted to explore the impact of drug companies’ low-key promotional items on medical students; w…
How to Avoid Upsetting Your Customers
Mostly I think customer service is a matter of common sense; but as we all know common sense can be a surprisingly rare commodity. One of the biggest problems I encounter with customer service people is the procedures they’re shackled…
Reading Behaviour
A lot of my work in understanding consumers is based on watching consumer behaviour; people do give away quite a lot. One of the reference points I also use quite a lot is children. They aren’t so adept at hiding their feelings and t…
Is There Really No Such Thing as Bad Publicity?
Following on from my post on the unconscious nature of advertising, Duane Cunninghamasked whether it was fair to say that any exposure was good for a brand? The old chestnut of “there’s no such thing as bad PR”. Unsurpris…
Unconscious Advertising
Firstly, thanks for all your comments, I find them encouraging, constructive and inspiring. Secondly, Yann has raised another question. Questions are wonderful things and, yet again, Yann has raised something that causes me to think about …
The Unconscious Impact of Brand Exposure
Yesterday’s article, for all its mediocrity (sorry about that), did spark an interesting question from Yann. He questioned the extent to which the ads I was discussing would generate business for those companies. As I mentioned in my…