MEDIA RESOURCES

Cox in the News:

Faculty Provide Expert Commentary on Holiday Business Trends

DallasNews.com (The Dallas Morning News)
“Time off pays off”
12/21/05
Henry Marsh, Business Leadership Center instructor, commented on the importance of balancing work and life, and the role that time off from work plays in helping employees achieve such balance. Marsh pointed out that employees often bring personal issues into the office, no matter how hard they try to keep them out, and that this can impact productivity.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Retailers offer after-Christmas prices to lure last-minute shoppers”
12/20/05
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the J.C. Penney Center of Retail Excellence, was interviewed for a story about the unusual marketing tactic of offering post-holiday prices before December 25. Fox remarked that the tactic signals to customers the reduced prices are the lowest prices, and waiting any longer to take advantage of reduced prices is not going to benefit customers.

KXAS-TV Channel 5 (DFW)
“NBC Five News”
12/20/05
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the J.C. Penney Center of Retail Excellence, commented on gift receipts whose values are reduced when the prices of the products purchased are subsequently marked down. Fox discussed the rationale behind gift receipts and explained how someone can know how much money to get back for one.

KTVT-TV Channel 11 (DFW)
“11 News Early Show” and “11 News This Morning”
12/19/05
Mike Davis, finance professor, pointed to last year’s sales and inventory as the primary reason there is a shortage of things like electronics, toys, and video games with six days to go until Christmas.

KTBC-TV Channel 7 (Austin)
“Fox 7 News 9:00”
12/16/05
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the J.C. Penney Center of Retail Excellence, was interviewed for a story about how a growing number of companies are targeting the 50+ year old consumer segment. Fox observed that consumers’ life stage often changes when they reach 50 years of age, and that when they become empty nesters approaching retirement they sometimes splurge a little bit.

KDFW-TV Channel 4 (DFW)
“Fox 4 News at Noon”
12/16/05
Dan Howard, marketing professor and department chair, discussed why people shop and how they react to shopping in light of a new study that shows why some people may be hooked on shopping based on how the activity affects their brain.

KDFW-TV Channel 4 (DFW)
“Good Day Dallas”
12/16/05
Dan Howard, marketing professor and department chair, commented on the psychological and scientific reasons behind why people feel compelled to shop.

Dayton Daily News
“Stores may sale into holiday peak”
12/14/05
Mike Davis, finance professor, commented on the unusual tactics retailers have been using this holiday season, the weird behavior of consumers, and the unpredictability of the final outcome. Davis noted there is a segment of “bi-polar” consumers who are experiencing cognitive dissonance about the conflicting economic reports, and still choose to spend where there are discounts.

Chicago Tribune
“Cubicles are alive – with the sound of shopping”
11/27/05
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence, explained why experts believe that “Cyber Monday,” the Monday after Thanksgiving, is likely to be a busy shopping day in many workplaces. Fox credited this speculation to the fact that people have high-speed internet access at work therefore, people will be purchasing all the things they saw over the weekend – online from their desks.

Sacramento Bee
“Despite economic fears, shoppers in spending spirit”
11/26/05
Mike Davis, finance professor, commented on the mixed signals shoppers are sending this holiday season. Davis pointed out that although many consumers are saying times are bad, they are spending like nothing is wrong especially with retailers’ big “door buster” and “Black Friday” deals.

St. Louis Today
“Retailers welcome back shoppers on Black Friday”
11/25/05
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence, discussed the strategy of early discounting at many retails stores this holiday season. Fox pointed out that the premature markdowns are aimed at least in part to get people to move quicker because as time has gone on, consumers are waiting longer to make their purchases because they believe the better markdowns come closer to Christmas day.

The Tom Martino Radio Show
11/25/05
Suzanne Shu, marketing professor, served as the featured guest on this nationally syndicated radio show to talk about gift giving. Shu spoke about the "chronic overspender" and advocated sticking to a budget.

KDAF-Channel 33 (WB)
11/24/05
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence, appeared on the local WB News at Nine to discuss retail returns, and how retailers handle restocking fees.

The Columbus Dispatch
“Major chains offering one-day deals on holiday to boost sales, to delight of some”
11/23/05
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence, commented on the fact that stores are starting their discounting earlier this holiday season to give consumers more incentive to shop earlier so that retailers can avoid having to mark down more merchandise at the end of the year. Fox also pointed out that retailers want to even out the holiday flow this year instead of getting swamped by consumers who usually wait for the discounts later in the holiday season.

The Wall Street Journal
“Retail – upscale experience, downscale prices”
11/21/05
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the JCPenney Center for Retail Excellence, commented on several reasons shoppers are finding new ways to shop for the same low price. Fox explained that many retailers are drifting away from the traditional mall and looking towards strip malls and stand alone locations due to the decline of mall traffic. Fox also commented on the fact that many retailers, especially grocery stores, are improving the way they track customers’ purchases and then rewarding those customers by giving them special discounts or more information about what was bought or what’s on sale.

The Allentown Morning Call
“A little something for yourself? Be careful”
11/20/05
Suzanne Shu, marketing professor, commented on several reasons many shoppers find loopholes in their household budgets and end up shopping for themselves during the holidays. Shu discussed how spending gains momentum with many shoppers during the holidays and once the spending starts it becomes easy to drift into buying for yourself and bundling it all together when you get home as “holiday shopping.” This article was syndicated in 18 other local publications nationwide.