No matter how old a person is, getting a great deal on a good product is nice. But a new survey from Brodeur Partners finds that when Gen Y goes shopping, it is expecting an entirely different experience than are Baby Boomers.

Gen Y, those between the ages of 18 and 34, are more likely to wonder “What does this brand say about me?” and “How can I share this with people I know?” Boomers, on the other hand, are much more focused on practicalities, such as price and quality.

For example, a Gen Y shopper is twice as likely to say that their favorite retailer delivers an experience they’d like to share. And the ability to “make me smile” is one-third more important to Gen Y than to Boomers. read more »

Looks like America is longing for the Great Pumpkin this year: A new study from the National Retail Federation predicts that Halloween spending will jump to $5.8 billion, with the typical adult plunking down $66.28 - up $10 from last year.

This year, it’s not just about the little ghouls. Four of 10 adults — the most in the survey’s history — plan to dress in costume, up from 33 percent last year. And 11.5 percent of those in the survey will get their pets into the spirit of the holiday. (Petsmart already has a photo contest going, and its Howl-O-Ween Shop is featuring a Martha Stewart Mummy Dog costume, tandem looks, so you and your dog can dress alike, and canine lobster suits.) read more »

When it comes to power-shopping our way toward economic recovery, a new report from American Express says well-heeled young women are leading the charge.

“There’s certainly more fearlessness about spending among younger, affluent shoppers,” Ed Jay, SVP/American Express Business Insights, tells Marketing Daily. “And there’s been pent-up demand. But what surprised us most is that the biggest spending increases for these younger women were for other people — on gifts, charities, and children — as well as on fitness.” read more »

Now that retailers have spent much of the recession steadily pruning back the options they offer shoppers, a new study from the Nielsen Co. says they may be in for a rude surprise: More than half of U.S. shoppers say they’ll switch stores if they notice a reduced product selection in consumer packaged goods. (As a case in point, Wal-Mart has reportedly recently added back between 300 and 400 items to its grocery shelves alone, based on customer reaction.) read more »

As its core customers emerge from the recession, business is good again at Staples, allowing the company to focus on its growth plans.

“Five years from now, we’ll be more focused on our delivery business, with a higher mix of technology, and sell more private-label products,” Ron Sargent, Staples’ chairman/CEO, told investors attending the 26th Sanford Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference. “There will be more services in our mix, because there is not a lot of inventory and the margins are great. And we’re going to grow internationally. We’re on a glide path to do all that.” read more »