GULF SOUTH INDEX: Back to School and Back in the Game, The Return to the Classroom and Sports
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the public’s view of many industries has improved, especially for those businesses that contribute to the necessities of daily life, according to a new Axios/Harris poll, which ranks the top 100 companies.
According to the study, 81% of consumers feel that large companies “are even more vital now to America’s future than before the pandemic.”
Those leading the way are businesses that help solve problems or provide goods and services related to the relief from the pandemic. Companies topping the list are grocery stores, including Publix, Wegmans and Kroger, and delivery companies like UPS, FedEx and Amazon.
Businesses focused on cleaning supplies and kids, such as Clorox, Hersey’s, Disney and Procter & Gamble Co. made the top 25 in terms of growing trust. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ also rank in the top 25 as streaming has become a popular pastime throughout this health crisis.
Consumers also favorably approve of companies that address social and societal issues.
Those that didn’t fare so well: telecom companies, social media giants and airlines. Facebook and Twitter are in the bottom 10 of the rankings and have lost favorability since the pandemic started.
BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING GOES ONLINE
Even with the uncertainty surrounding the start of this school year, the back-to-school shopping must go on as parents prepare to make altered purchases to accommodate new learning scenarios amid the pandemic.
43% of parents say they feel somewhat stressed about school purchases this year, while 32% say they are excited to tackle the task according to a new survey by Morning Consult. This is relatively on par with last year when 38% reported feeling stressed (for apparent different reasons) and 40% said they were excited.
70% of parents expect to spend the same or more on back-to-school shopping this year compared to 2019 and almost half plan to shop online.
Based on a Morning Consult survey conducted from July 10-12, 2020 with a sample of 540 parents of children ages 5-23. The report also includes results from a survey conducted August 01-03, 2019 with a sample of 587 parents of school-aged children.
Parents also expect to deviate from their normal purchases and to spend less on clothing and more on electronics as virtual learning and the option to learn outside the classroom means electronics are essential.
Where are people doing most of their shopping? Walmart. The retailer is the favorite among consumers for back-to-school essentials this year.
Based on a Morning Consult survey conducted from July 10-12, 2020 with a sample of 540 parents of children ages 5-23. The report also includes results from a survey conducted August 01-03, 2019 with a sample of 587 parents of school-aged children.
IT’S BEEN A LONG FOUR MONTHS WITHOUT SPORTS
Throughout the pandemic, something big has been notably missing from our lives and our screens: sports. But now, the major leagues are starting up again, to the delight of fans across the nation. After a grueling four months of no play, sports and the brands that advertise during sporting events are coming back to life. Prior to the return of golf and NASCAR, NBC Sports conducted a sports deprivation study by surveying fans and performing in-depth interviews to show just how much sports influence consumers’ lives and the affection viewers have for the brands advertising during the games.
The results show that consumers look to sports for emotional engagement, comfort and escape.
The study revealed that viewers love sports advertisers too. 78% of those surveyed said brands that advertise during live sporting events play an important role in the overall fan experience.
Advertisers are feeling the love for the game too. Fox Sports recently announced that it has sold out more than 90% of its Major League Baseball regular season ad inventory and NBC Sports is reporting that Sunday Night Football sales have been stable and strong.
THE GULF SOUTH INDEX
The Gulf South Index is a cooperative project between The Ehrhardt Group, a public relations, content, issues and crisis firm, and Causeway Solutions, a nationally recognized research and data analysis company, that are both based in the Gulf South. When the rest of the country may be zigging, we want to know if the Gulf South will zag and why, sharing that insight with you.
See anything interesting here? Feel free to share with your friends and colleagues.
Want to know more about the findings from today? Contact us at info@tegpr.com.
HOW DID WE FIND THIS STUFF OUT?
We cannot comment on the methodology of the surveys and research we did not conduct, which is why we do our best to link to the source articles or studies that we share here.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the public’s view of many industries has improved, especially for those businesses that contribute to the necessities of daily life, according to a new Axios/Harris poll, which ranks the top 100 companies.
According to the study, 81% of consumers feel that large companies “are even more vital now to America’s future than before the pandemic.”
Those leading the way are businesses that help solve problems or provide goods and services related to the relief from the pandemic. Companies topping the list are grocery stores, including Publix, Wegmans and Kroger, and delivery companies like UPS, FedEx and Amazon.
Businesses focused on cleaning supplies and kids, such as Clorox, Hersey’s, Disney and Procter & Gamble Co. made the top 25 in terms of growing trust. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ also rank in the top 25 as streaming has become a popular pastime throughout this health crisis.
Consumers also favorably approve of companies that address social and societal issues.
Those that didn’t fare so well: telecom companies, social media giants and airlines. Facebook and Twitter are in the bottom 10 of the rankings and have lost favorability since the pandemic started.
BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING GOES ONLINE
Even with the uncertainty surrounding the start of this school year, the back-to-school shopping must go on as parents prepare to make altered purchases to accommodate new learning scenarios amid the pandemic.
43% of parents say they feel somewhat stressed about school purchases this year, while 32% say they are excited to tackle the task according to a new survey by Morning Consult. This is relatively on par with last year when 38% reported feeling stressed (for apparent different reasons) and 40% said they were excited.
70% of parents expect to spend the same or more on back-to-school shopping this year compared to 2019 and almost half plan to shop online.
Based on a Morning Consult survey conducted from July 10-12, 2020 with a sample of 540 parents of children ages 5-23. The report also includes results from a survey conducted August 01-03, 2019 with a sample of 587 parents of school-aged children.
Parents also expect to deviate from their normal purchases and to spend less on clothing and more on electronics as virtual learning and the option to learn outside the classroom means electronics are essential.
Where are people doing most of their shopping? Walmart. The retailer is the favorite among consumers for back-to-school essentials this year.
Based on a Morning Consult survey conducted from July 10-12, 2020 with a sample of 540 parents of children ages 5-23. The report also includes results from a survey conducted August 01-03, 2019 with a sample of 587 parents of school-aged children.
IT’S BEEN A LONG FOUR MONTHS WITHOUT SPORTS
Throughout the pandemic, something big has been notably missing from our lives and our screens: sports. But now, the major leagues are starting up again, to the delight of fans across the nation. After a grueling four months of no play, sports and the brands that advertise during sporting events are coming back to life. Prior to the return of golf and NASCAR, NBC Sports conducted a sports deprivation study by surveying fans and performing in-depth interviews to show just how much sports influence consumers’ lives and the affection viewers have for the brands advertising during the games.
The results show that consumers look to sports for emotional engagement, comfort and escape.
The study revealed that viewers love sports advertisers too. 78% of those surveyed said brands that advertise during live sporting events play an important role in the overall fan experience.
Advertisers are feeling the love for the game too. Fox Sports recently announced that it has sold out more than 90% of its Major League Baseball regular season ad inventory and NBC Sports is reporting that Sunday Night Football sales have been stable and strong.
THE GULF SOUTH INDEX
The Gulf South Index is a cooperative project between The Ehrhardt Group, a public relations, content, issues and crisis firm, and Causeway Solutions, a nationally recognized research and data analysis company, that are both based in the Gulf South. When the rest of the country may be zigging, we want to know if the Gulf South will zag and why, sharing that insight with you.
See anything interesting here? Feel free to share with your friends and colleagues.
Want to know more about the findings from today? Contact us at info@tegpr.com.
HOW DID WE FIND THIS STUFF OUT?
We cannot comment on the methodology of the surveys and research we did not conduct, which is why we do our best to link to the source articles or studies that we share here.