by carterjmrn | Jun 1, 2010 | Society and Culture, Uncategorized
The arena is Tokyo, Japan, the style-savvy information capital of the world. In this media-driven society, the hot topic of the morning news can quickly become the hot gossip of the entire country. This being so, stars may have it rougher than it seems as they try to...
by carterjmrn | May 10, 2010 | Carter Group Viewpoints, Uncategorized
After years of being billed as “the world’s 2nd largest economy,” it appears that 2010 may be the year in which Japan’s economy will officially be surpassed by China’s. Since GDP comparisons are made in dollar terms, foreign exchange movements may impact the exact...
by carterjmrn | Apr 13, 2010 | Society and Culture, Uncategorized
Walking up and down the streets of Shibuya on a Saturday afternoon, Yuuji Morimoto was surprised at what he saw. Things seemed quite different to the way they were 5 years ago when he left Japan to attend university in the United States. Everywhere he looked, there...
by carterjmrn | Mar 1, 2010 | Marketing Trends and Insights, Uncategorized
I was walking through Takashimaya in Nihombashi last week, and was impressed by its grandeur, efficient staff and presentation of luxury brands. However, I also noted its “emptiness” in terms of number of customers. Department stores, once the bastion of retail...
by carterjmrn | Jan 31, 2010 | Carter Group Viewpoints, Uncategorized
It is a breath of fresh air to start this New Year, especially when thinking back on the difference in the feeling now compared to this time last year. At that time, most businesses and consumers were literally reeling in the aftermath of the “Lehman shock,” picking...
by carterjmrn | Jan 10, 2010 | Research in Action, Uncategorized
Are we getting to the point where the consumer’s freedom of choice is compromised? The more progressive marketers among us have begun to talk about using consumer “conversations” as a prime source of market information and inspiration. Under this conversational model,...
