Students to gather valuable consumer and business info

Media Release
4 Oct 2011

Students to gather valuable consumer and business info

Trying to compete with the internet for sales can be difficult for local retailers with many consumers checking for products and comparing prices before heading into traditional retail stores. Technology now exists for customers to use their smart phone devices to scan bar codes and check pricing before making purchases.

There are negative implications for the local economy when people use the internet, essentially shopping out of town. “Local dollars leaving our district impacts on a range of levels” says Towncentre Taupō General Manager, Traceylee Hooton, “Local businesses are the ones that support our schools, events and community groups and they add to the vibrancy that is the heart of our business community, our town centre”.

Locally owned and operated retailers constantly donate products and services to groups for fundraising opportunities and support a variety of events. They also employ locals and pay rates in our local community.

Using the internet to shop is firmly entrenched in a growing number of consumer’s retail habits and the emergence of bricks and mortar retail stores also selling in cyberspace is increasing.

In an attempt to discover how many Taupō locals use the internet to shop and the reasons why, Towncentre Taupō Inc is teaming up with students from the Business Administration Level 4 course at Waiariki Institute of Technology to survey some of Taupō’s consumer habits. “It’s a great way to engage with students that have a passion for business and discover how many Taupō residents are using the internet for shopping.” Commented Ms Hooton, “Another part to the survey is to canvas how many of our local retailers and businesses have on line stores with businesses being encouraged to fill in the online survey”.

“The opportunity for the students at Waiariki to take a real life look at local business and consumer behaviour, reporting back with valuable information is wonderful” says Maureen Crawford, Business and Administration Tutor at Waiariki Institute of Technology.

The survey will take place using both person to person and online methods as coordinated by Waiariki students. It would be great if people took a few minutes to complete the questionnaire if asked. The information gathered will be shared with local businesses, giving a much needed insight to consumer behaviour in our community.

ENDS

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