By Barbara Rugen

Often marketing and research and development don't speak to or understand each other, but there are three principles of innovation research that both sides can work on together to develop products that consumers want and understand. All three principles rely on consumer observation and interviews, and all help ensure that innovations develop in terms of consumer needs; consumer attitudes and experiences; and consumer purchase criteria.

By Stephen Jackson
 
Trust is the essential currency of effective sales and marketing. Large companies spend tens of millions of dollars to build a brand. A brand is nothing more than a promise kept. Promises kept form trust in the customer's mind.

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Consumer attitudes and perceptions concerning reward programs are shifting in response to the current economic environment. Instead of waiting for points to build up, 44 percent of consumers prefer lower-value rewards that provide more immediate gratification, such as rebates applied to a statement, discounts or gift cards.

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