This paper aims to identify how flyer formats interact with one another – whether they are competitive or complementary – and share how retailers and manufacturers can best use them to engage with shoppers. Brands can use this information to be
equipped to navigate the changing space of consumer media and ensure their flyer and coupon programs are optimized for maximum impact and efficiency.
2. 2 A Consumer’s Path to Savings: the role of flyers in today’s digital world | Metroland Media | BrandSpark International
A Changing Landscape:
The retail industry is evolving at a rapid and challenging pace. Loyalty
programs and big data are on the rise, offering boundless but complex insights.
Consumer needs are changing as shoppers have less time and tighter budgets.
Digital disruption continues to redefine what it means to have a winning
value proposition. Truly, retailers have never had to pivot their business as
quickly as they need to today. But amid these changes, one thing remains true:
consumers are still seeking out shopping information and making purchase
decisions every day.
To uncover how, and why, shoppers choose what to buy, Metroland Media
and BrandSpark International collaborated on a country-wide research study.
As a distributor of print and digital flyers and coupons, Metroland wanted to
understand how the evolving landscape of flyers impacted their business, and
the business of their retail partners. And as a regular observer of shopping
behaviours in Canada, BrandSpark was well-positioned to conduct and analyze
the results, and compare them to previous industry benchmarks.
With print and digital flyer and coupon formats growing in number, this paper
aims to identify how these formats interact with one another – whether they are
competitive or complementary – and share how retailers and manufacturers can
best use them to engage with shoppers. With this information, brands will be
equipped to navigate the changing space of consumer media and ensure their
flyer and coupon programs are optimized for maximum impact and efficiency.
A Consumer’s Path to Savings:
the role of flyers and coupons in a digital world
4. 4 A Consumer’s Path to Savings: the role of flyers in today’s digital world | Metroland Media | BrandSpark International
Omni-Channel Flyer and Coupon Usage:
An Overview
Historically, flyers and coupons have been driven
by the Canadian shopper’s need to find deals,
and retailers are no strangers to this behaviour.
For many years, BrandSpark International has
measured shoppers’ desire for great value, and
it is consistently one of the leading drivers of
purchase behaviour in our country; so much so
that Canadian shoppers are proud to tell fellow
shoppers when they discover it.
So how do shoppers find great value and ways to save money when they shop?
Nearly all shoppers (9 in 10) are using some form of flyer or coupon to help
them navigate retail environments before they shop. These forms may include
printed material, delivered to the home or available at a store entrance, and digital
flyers and coupons, which can be found through a retailer’s website or a flyer-
aggregating service (like Save.ca), either in a web browser or in a mobile app.
What may be most surprising is not the vast number of ways shoppers get
access to deals, but that most shoppers do not choose only one particular
format to consume – rather, they are using a combination of formats before
visiting the store.
When looking at the penetration of flyer
and coupon usage in three exclusive
formats (printed, web-based, and in-app)
we find that few shoppers are using
one flyer or coupon format exclusively.
This suggests that an omni-channel
communication strategy is needed
in order to increase the number of
touch-points a retail brand has with
its target market. With 7 in 10 using
a combination of print and digital flyer
formats, it is important to consider how
these channels are being used together:
• 28% are using all formats
(“omni-channel”)
• 37% are using some combination
of print + web-based
• Flyer apps are nearly always used in
combination with another format
6. 6 A Consumer’s Path to Savings: the role of flyers in today’s digital world | Metroland Media | BrandSpark International
Shopper Segments: Mindset Matters
To understand how a shopper’s mindset might affect their propensity to consume
flyers or coupons in a given format, survey respondents were segmented based
on their shopping attitudes and behaviours. These segments provide retailers,
manufacturers, and quick service restaurants with a critical backdrop as to how
and why shoppers behave the way they do, equipping them to optimize their flyer
and coupon programs and increase shopper engagement.
Segmentation was conducted by measuring the attitudes of shoppers along the
path to purchase, such as their enjoyment of the shopping process, their likelihood
of making unplanned purchases, and the importance of getting a good deal when
shopping, as well as other attitudinal factors. These shoppers were then mapped
along two key dimensions of what they look for during their planning phase before
shopping: opportunities for deals and savings; and inspiration for new purchase
ideas. This gave rise to the profiles of four exclusive segments:
Deal-Seeking:
Driven-by their need to save money, Deal–Seekers target stores and
products that will help them stay within a predetermined budget
– whether the need comes from lower discretionary income, or a
desire to be a “smart shopper”. Flyers and coupons are the means
by which they find deals, and create a shopping list to help prevent
impulse buying.
Inspired:
These are trendsetters who shop to enrich their lives, and often look
through flyers for new products, ideas and information. As with most
Canadians, saving money is important, but they are willing to pay
more for products that are of better quality and are better suited
to meet their needs. These shopping lovers often read flyers out
of sheer enjoyment, looking for that next new product to tell their
peers about.
Utilitarian:
Utilitarians are shoppers with little time and attention, and view
shopping largely as a task to complete. While deals and saving
money are valued by this group, they are primarily looking to make
their shopping trips as fast and simple as possible. They use flyers
as a tool to help build their shopping list, as they search for nearby
stores that carry the products they need.
Engaged:
An Engaged shopper is a shopaholic – and utilizes all sources of
information to help them save money and find the newest products.
These are savvy shoppers that are comfortable using both printed
flyers as well as the latest technology and apps to get an “edge”
while shopping, and have no problem visiting multiple stores and
spending extra time to get the best value wherever they can find it.
8. 8 A Consumer’s Path to Savings: the role of flyers in today’s digital world | Metroland Media | BrandSpark International
Shopper profiles
percent
index to
total
female 58% 0.91
male 42% 1.17
psychographics shopping strategy
defining psychographics
I go to multiple stores to get the best deals
I leverage the latest technology and apps
to save more on my shopping
I regularly review the promotions at retailers that I shop
top shopping strategy by category
flyer coupon usage
top 5 frequency of flyer/coupon usage
TOP USE FOR EACH FLYER MEDIUM
35 21% 1.24
35 – 44 58% 1.41
45 – 54 42% 0.77
+ 55 35% 0.90
$40 k 29% 1.11
$40 k – $79 K 35% 0.95
$80 k – $120 K 28% 1.08
+ $120 K 8% 0.73
rural 18% 1.06
town 26% 1.00
small city 21% 0.91
Big city 32% 1.00
dealseekingUTILITARIAN
percent
index to
total
female 65% 1.02
male 35% 0.97
35 12% 0.71
35 – 44 16% 0.94
45 – 54 27% 1.04
+ 55 45% 1.15
$40 k 25% 0.96
$40 k – $79 K 33% 0.89
$80 k – $120 K 26% 1.00
+ $120 K 16% 1.46
rural 18% 1.06
town 26% 1.00
small city 21% 0.91
Big city 32% 0.97
“I have a routine for
shopping these stores”
To determine what I am going to
buy on a planned shopping trip to a
particular store
When I know what products I need
to buy, but want to compare prices
between stores
When I know what products I need
to buy, but want to compare prices
between stores
“I usually plan exactly
what I am going to buy”
“I often select stores based
on deals offered at the time”
“I often select the restaurant based on the
menu items offered”
psychographics shopping strategy
defining psychographics
I often buy premium quality products even though they cost more
I will pay a little more for a new product if I think it may be better
than what is currently available
Flyers are a good source of information
top shopping strategy by category
flyer coupon usage
top 5 frequency of flyer/coupon usage
TOP USE FOR EACH FLYER MEDIUM“I often select based on
the store’s location”
To determine what I am going to
buy on a planned shopping trip to a
particular store
When I know what products I need
to buy, but want to compare prices
between stores
To determine what I am going to
buy on a planned shopping trip to a
particular store
“I usually plan exactly what
I am going to buy”
“I often select stores based
on the store’s location”
“I often select the restaurant based on the
menu items offered”
91%
70%
68%
49%
40%
Read printed retail flyers
Used coupons from a
printed source (i.e. mail,…
Read retail flyers on a
computer
Used coupons
from a website
Read retail flyers in an app
Read prin
Used
printed so
Read r
Read retail
91%
70%
68%
49%
40%
Read printed retail flyers
Used coupons from a
printed source (i.e. mail,…
Read retail flyers on a
computer
Used coupons
from a website
Read retail flyers in an app
91%
63%
61%
40%
32%
Read printed retail flyers
Used coupons from a
printed source (i.e. mail,…
Read retail flyers on a
computer
Used coupons
from a website
Read retail flyers in an app
Read prin
Used c
printed so
Read re
Read retail
10. 10 A Consumer’s Path to Savings: the role of flyers in today’s digital world | Metroland Media | BrandSpark International
Where do Millennials stand?
Many marketers have carved out a strategy to attract the
Millennial segment, defined here as shoppers between the ages
of 18 to 34. While Millennials are often presumed to be self-
indulgent, it may be surprising to some that 68% fall into the
segments characterized by deal-seeking behaviour. Additionally,
46% of Millennials are “Engaged” shoppers, indicating that this
group is more involved in the shopping process than any other
age segment.
46%22%Deal-Seeking
18%Utilitarian
13%Inspired
of millennials are “Engaged”
grocery shoppers – more than
any other age segment.
20% Web
25% App
51% Print
4% Equal
Preference
12. 12 A Consumer’s Path to Savings: the role of flyers in today’s digital world | Metroland Media | BrandSpark International
Flyer Usage by Category
While it is common for shoppers to carry their habits with them
across retail categories, this study found that flyer and coupon
usage does vary depending on the category being shopped.
Four categories were observed in this study to demonstrate
different styles of shopping: routine-based shopping occasions
in grocery, less frequent and project-based occasions in home
improvement, and inspirational purchases in department or
clothing stores. Additionally, the quick service restaurant (QSR)
sector was included to help understand how an industry often
driven by consumer needs for convenience and savings was
affected by a rise in digital couponing.
To note, the selection of retail categories is not meant to provide
an exhaustive generalization of shopping behaviour, but a
means to understand and demonstrate how shopping and flyer
usage habits vary between contrasting categories.
An analysis of the path to savings - the steps a shopper takes
to find the products they want to buy while maximizing value
for money – suggests that how each step is supported by flyers
and coupons varies by category and shopper segment. Further,
the value of each flyer format is dependent on the mindset or
behaviour of the shopper in question.
Quick-Service Restaurants
While consumers of the QSR category have a very different path-to-purchase than
shoppers of other traditional retail categories, coupons and flyers have remained a
cornerstone of these brands’ marketing communications due to the importance of
location targeting. Hungry consumers typically have multiple options available to
them at any one time, making competition for traffic a challenge for operators.
Location and proximity aside, informing potential consumers about new menu items
as well as deals and other promotional offers is critical to growing business. As most
consumers (64%) are deciding what to buy before entering the restaurant, reaching
consumers during the pre-visit stage is crucial to drive traffic. Printed coupons (82%)
are the primary promotional medium being leveraged by consumers in this category.
Restaurant websites and coupon apps are used as well, but to a lesser degree (36%),
followed by coupon aggregating sites viewed on a computer (21%) and viewed on a
mobile device (16%).
Restaurants should experiment with communication that offers a mix of new and
on-deal menu items to drive interest. With only 27% of shoppers completely agreeing
that their selection of which restaurant to visit is based on deals offered at the time,
quick service restaurants have the flexibility and opportunity to integrate more
inspirational and creative content into their coupon programs.
PRINT
APP
DIGITAL
14. 14 A Consumer’s Path to Savings: the role of flyers in today’s digital world | Metroland Media | BrandSpark International
Key Takeaways for
Canadian Retailers
While this report brings to light some of the complexities of an effective flyer
and coupon strategy for retailers, there are a few key learnings that smart
marketers can use to engage their target shoppers – wherever they are along the
path-to-savings. Here are 3 things to consider as you evaluate your approach to
marketing to shoppers before they visit the store.
Plan to spread content across multiple
formats: the most lucrative shoppers
are omni-channel users.
Marketing spend optimization is not a new concept, and today’s
retailers are working harder than ever to determine how
to improve the ROI of their media investments. Some have
experimented with shifting investments to digital channels
while other have tested spreading investment across multiple
channels.
This study demonstrates that shoppers navigating their path
to purchase are leveraging a combination of print and digital
formats to find inspiration, find the right product, compare
product prices, and identify the store they should visit.
Given that shoppers are using an omni-channel strategy before
making a purchase, retailers should use one as well. Even as
digital flyer and coupon formats grow in popularity, retailers
must consider that these communications are complementary
rather than competitive – and will need to plan to use multiple
flyer and coupon channels in order to attract visitors to their
store locations. The results of this study suggest that retailers
and quick service restaurants can optimize their content
development and distribution by aligning their creative material
with the unique value their shoppers and consumers are looking
for at each stage of the path to savings.
1
16. Metroland Media Group Ltd. is a dynamic media company with a long and proud history of creating community
connections across Ontario. From its award-winning print publications, some of which date back more than a
century, to a steady flow of new digital products, Metroland is intensely focused on leadership in local media.
Through a combination of marketing solutions, including print, direct marketing, digital and consumer shows,
Metroland Media connects tens of thousands of businesses with consumers in their communities. As a trusted
Canadian media company, Metroland is uniquely positioned to help advertisers of all sizes reach local audiences
in innovative and engaging ways.
BrandSpark International uniquely combines action-driven consumer insights with marketing credentials and
new product launch services. We are strategic thinkers that fuse our passion for insights with our clients’ need
to drive results. Our multi-disciplinary team takes a customized approach to solving your marketing challenges
with a dedicated client service focus. BrandSpark Research focuses on insights that decode the shopper
mindset, specializing in understanding their retail and e-commerce paths to purchase. BrandSpark Marketing
Services runs leading CPG voted by consumer awards programs; Best New Product Awards and BrandSpark Most
Trusted Awards. Shopper Army is our consumer-facing platform that engages shoppers through new product
curation, product testing, social amplification, and e-commerce integration.
for more information, please contact: Tim Whelan, Marketing Manager, Metroland Media, twhelan@metroland.com