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Lew Bentley

All the posts published
Superpremium
Superpremiumisation. Once you get over how to say it, you will start to see it all through the supermarket. It is the trend to very highly-priced products appearing where reasonably priced staples have traditionally dominated. In the humble milk category, you can buy a litre of Countdown milk for $2.51, or a litre of Lewis Road for $5.20. 2 litres of Tip Top ice cream will cost you $6.95, while…
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EDM Banner
Curiosity. It’s what separates great marketers, entrepreneurs and business leaders apart from mediocrity. Curious business minds are centred on what their customers really want, what they feel, and what the quality of their experience is really like. Warts and all.  They want to know because in today’s world of hyper-competitive markets, over-supply, easy substitution, and constant disruption, you have to be on your game and true to what shoppers want…
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Staycation
We're starting to have those conversations again. You know, the “What are you up to for the summer break?” type. The culturally correct kiwi answer to this question is, of course, something along the lines of a chance to get away to a beach, or maybe a lake, to reconnect with the family and the dog, get out in the boat if you like that sort of thing, paddleboards, ride…
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pexels-liza-summer-6347535
Unmet Needs are like the Holy Grail in marketing. Those two little words spell green field opportunities and untapped potential. But, the gloomy reality is, the realm of Unmet Needs is certainly desirable but is difficult and challenging. The reality is that most of us, most of the time live in a world of met needs, or even saturated needs in a flood of over-supply. Do we need another coconut water?…
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pexels-tim-douglas-6567581
Uncover what really drives demand for your shoppers.
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WorldLeadership1
As they say, pressure makes diamonds. This should mean that there are lots of gems being made right now as we learn to cope with this ghastly virus. I hope so because in a few short week's lives have been lost, radical change has overwhelmed everyday life, most businesses are being challenged, and entire industries have been completely frozen. In times like these leaders really need to step up and…
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SameSameDiff
For most of us, the supermarket is a natural part of everyday life. Sure, there is a minority who buy through modern alternatives like subscriptions services, or click and collect, or shop online with home delivery; but most of us still make regular trips to the supermarket for our shopping. Our relationship with our supermarket is like other long-term relationships in life. We like things to be steady and reliable…
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Homegrown
The other week we joined the kids at Homegrown in Wellington. The cream of local music on five stages in one long day. Epic. But why? What is it that makes festivals so appealing? Festivals have been a part of our human experience for countless generations. Nevus has been celebrated for 5,000 years and signifies the day Noah returned to the land. In Turkey, it is marked by people jumping…
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Retrofuturism
Retrofuturism is a great word. It combines the blend of old-fashioned ‘retro’ style, with the future anticipation of technology. The term was first coined in a review of Terry Gilliam’s film Brazil by Pauline Kael (somewhat appropriately in 1984). At its heart, retrofuturism examines the tension between the past and the future, and the idea that technology has the power to either empower or alienate. Technological advancements bring the disruption…
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LoveSuperMarkets
When you’re next in your local supermarket look around. Look at the people strolling up and down the aisles. Are they happy? Are they enjoying their shopping experience? Or are they unhappy? Do they resent being there, having to stock up and spend money? We asked a couple of hundred people in a nation-wide online survey what they love and hate about their supermarket and here are the highlights of…
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WhatBusinessAreYouIn
This is a simple but revealing strategic question. If you ask most business-people, they will typically answer in terms of what they do. They’ll say they’re in banking, or they make cleaning products or flooring, or they make frozen desserts. No doubt you have your equivalent answer. There is nothing inherently wrong about describing your business in this way. But there is a better way. You see, looking at your…
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Aldi
Over the past year or so we’ve seen some significant developments in the supermarket world. Countdown is taking on the guise of ANZ National Bank by looking more and more like a steady transition to one monolithic trans-Tasman Woolworths brand. The company name has changed, the brand logo is ready to go, and there is a lot of green paint splashing around.  The alignment of Woolworths Trans-Tasman internal agency is…
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Foodstagramming
From an early age, I learned about the social value of food. My late mum (bless her), committed many horrific food crimes when I was growing up. The arrival of the enormous wood-grained National microwave in the 1970s sparked her culinary nadir; destroying everything that went inside like some sort of nuclear kitchen holocaust. I still glow a bit under a certain light. Pure Delish But she did also pull…
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Sensory
Stop, and think about the entrance to your local supermarket for a moment. What do you see? Are you in the fresh produce department? Do you see large mounds of brightly coloured fruit? Then, are you drawn into fresh, red meat, or maybe the aroma-rich bakery? These are powerful and deliberate sensory marketing triggers that encourage us to buy more. Why do they work? It seems that our brains have…
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Bargins
A year ago there was an article in the New Zealand Herald claiming that “$6 out of every $10 spent on groceries was going on items which are on sale or promotion.” What’s more, we are internationally way ahead of the curve, with Australians spending $4 out of $10 on promoted items, the British $3, Germans $2 and the French just $1.80. This tallies with our traditional love of bargains…
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AlwaysOn
Another day starts and I see my in-box has its usual flood of 20-odd eDMs and texts desperately craving my attention. I’m barely awake and already I need to be on my game because apparently...  “Why am I waiting? I could be the winner of $10 million.” “How likely am I to recommend us to a friend or colleague?” I’ve been given “All these exclusive Akl travel offers”, even though…
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pricing
I can’t believe that I bought a $600 backgammon set. But somehow I did. Sure, I enjoy playing backgammon, and they can be beautiful things. But $600! How did that happen? The clues sit within this overview of that vital organ of business success: pricing. How we’re supposed to think about pricing The default belief about pricing, thanks to the economist in us all, assumes that price is a relatively…
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Groceraunts
I can tell you for sure that 2-day old pizza dough is better than 1-day old, which is way better than fresh dough. It’s definitely crispier, tastier and more ‘pizzarey’. I can’t speak for 3-day old, but 2-day is the bomb according to Tony, my pizza coach at Italian grocery specialist La Bella Italia. This was a key ‘learning’ I took out of my first foray into grocernaut dining in…
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Blockchain
... and why should I care?There’s a revolution bubbling under the surface that might just be as impactful as the internet has been over the past couple of decades. Our recent work with a new crypto community and exchange has given us a good look into the exciting future that lies ahead. It is called blockchain. For those who are unfamiliar with it, the blockchain concept was originated by a…
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Cans
I’m hopeless. As a foodie and a strategic planner for a shopper marketing agency a trip to the supermarket is never quick and always full of delight. I’m one of those people that gets lost in the aisles. I double-back. I triple-back. I rarely buy on price, although sometimes I do when I feel the need for a bargain. I love trying new things. I’m a sucker for tasty samples.…
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Deliver
For the past two years, Energi has carried out research on the Christmas shopping habits of New Zealanders. We’ve found out that although Christmas is supposed to be a universal time of joy and happiness, in reality, Christmas is quite polarising. ‘Santas’ are the segment that see Christmas as a favourite time and a challenge to outdo last year’s festivities. ‘Grinches’ just want it to all go away. And nearly…
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Lew Bentley | Energi Advertising