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Our Thought Leadership
Strengthen your long-term strategies by incorporating macro trends and broader industry insights. In our blog posts we share our thought leadership on various aspects of the Consumer Experience Journey plus other topics to enhance your decision making.


2026 Macro Trends: Five Divergences Brands Must Navigate
Are you still planning for an "average" consumer that no longer exists? In 2026, the top 20% are spending freely while the bottom 60% have hit a ceiling. Retailers are splitting into value fortresses and experiential destinations. Brands are squeezed between insurgents and private label. This report maps five divergences hiding in your data - and what to do about them.
uzmakrauf
Jan 2117 min read


Bigger Decisions, Tighter Budgets: Why You Need a Learning Plan in 2026
A comprehensive framework for building 2026 learning plans that get funded. Includes 8-step process, client priorities, and strategies for CPG and CE brands to turn budget constraints into competitive advantage.
uzmakrauf
Oct 1, 20258 min read


The 7+1 phases of your Consumer Journey — Essential insights brands need to succeed
Identify the insights you need for 7 phases of your consumer journey to grow loyalty, ROI and sales. Transform your strategies for success.
uzmakrauf
Feb 21, 20244 min read


🔉 Podcast: Importance of Consumer and Market Insights
Uzma Rauf's "Consumer Insights Podcast" with Stravito delved into a variety of topics critical for marketers and insights professionals
uzmakrauf
Feb 2, 20241 min read


Unlocking Your Full Customer Journey: Why Comprehensive Understanding is Essential
For brands to thrive they must know and activate across all critical touchpoints of their Consumers full experience journeys.
uzmakrauf
Jun 13, 20234 min read


Go Beyond Demographics: Get Higher ROIs with Nuanced Consumer Journey Mapping
In today's dynamic business landscape, understanding your customers comprehensively is critical for driving higher returns on investment...
uzmakrauf
Jun 1, 20233 min read


Staying Ahead of the Curve: Decoding Unpredictable Customer Behavior
In the ever-evolving landscape of consumer behavior, one thing remains constant: change. Today's customers are more diverse, digitally...
uzmakrauf
May 24, 20233 min read


Trading Down or Trading Up: How Is Your Brand Managing Shifts in Consumer Loyalty?
Persistent inflation has sparked significant behavior changes across American income groups. The ongoing budget pressures have resulted...
uzmakrauf
May 12, 20232 min read


Consumers are bifurcated – some pulling back, while others spend more. Why?
With record high inflation, lower income households are now cutting back or trading down, while higher income continue to buy almost like...
uzmakrauf
Sep 1, 20222 min read


Do you know why managing Consumer Confidence is so critical for managing inflation?
It’s because people behave based on how they “feel”. If we feel things are going to get worse, and prices will go up ↠ we could start...
uzmakrauf
Aug 6, 20221 min read


How are insurgent brands winning disproportionately in Consumer Products?
Bain & Co define Insurgent brands as those with sales of $25 million+ and outgrowing their category 10 X. Their research (Mar 2022) found...
uzmakrauf
Aug 2, 20222 min read


To better sell to Black consumers, understand their heritage
Where people come from and grew up eating and doing, matters to them. Most ethnic groups have strong buying preferences tied to their...
uzmakrauf
Jul 7, 20222 min read


Purchase decisions are often based on emotion vs logic - do you know which moments matter?
Getting a consumer to have the best emotional outcome in their journey for each moment that matters is key to driving sales. Forrester...
uzmakrauf
Feb 5, 20221 min read


How does your BRAND resonate with today’s demanding, discerning customer?
With so much change, especially these last 2 years of the pandemic, it’s important to revisit your brand’s relevance for your customers...
uzmakrauf
Jan 4, 20222 min read


Asian Americans will be USA's largest immigrant group by 2055
US Demographics - Asian Americans growth
uzmakrauf
Dec 4, 20211 min read
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