Pulse August 2015 | Page 14

PULSE POINTS CO M P I L E D B Y C H R I S T I N A B U S W E L L Online Shoppers More Likely to Disengage as Consumers SURVEY: Most Americans Do Not Regularly Use Sunscreen A A lthough more consumers are becoming online savvy, retailers face one grim reality: Online shoppers are less engaged as consumers compared to offline shoppers. The reason behind this, based on findings by Gallup research, is that many retailers are falling short on delivering the ideal online experience. When it comes to engaging customers, service and personal communication are often more important than the product itself. Findings showed that a third (32 percent) of online shoppers are disengaged or do not have a strong and positive emotional attachment to a brand. When it comes to engaging online shoppers, the findings clearly show that online consumers look for the nontangible aspects of the shopping experience, such as service, swift problem resolution and providing good customer communication. In fact, online shoppers favor these more than they value product attributes like competitive pricing and product options. How are you engaging your online clients or shoppers? Focus on providing them with the quality of service they expect, such as easy access to live chat sessions with a representative and aligned online and storefront channels for a seamless shopping experience. 12 PULSE n August 2015 ccording to research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the majority of Americans do not use sunscreen to properly protect themselves from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveyed participants on how often they use sunscreen when outside and exposed to the sun for more than an hour. Only 14.3 percent of men and 29.9 percent of women reported that they regularly apply sunscreen on both their face and other exposed areas of the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing a sunscreen with a label that states it is broad-spectrum, has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher, and is water-resistant. Using this data, there’s an opportunity for spa professionals to help raise skin health awareness and encourage guests to regularly wear sunscreen. Likewise, make sure to carefully select sunscreen products to carry in your retail area for your guests to use and purchase as part of their at-home skincare regimen. n