Radio Sales Today for Thursday, May 24, 2012

Thursday, May 24, 2012 | Edited by Daniel Moores

Summer Travel Outlook 'On Solid Footing'
Keywords: Vacations

For the second consecutive year, the outlook for summer travel continues to brighten with more than three in five U.S. adults (64%), or an estimated 154 million Americans, planning on taking at least one trip for leisure purposes during the next six months, according to the U.S. Travel Association's quarterly report "travelhorizons," which is based on a survey of 2,200 U.S. adults taken in April 2012 and is in partnership with MMGY Global.

Overall, the percentage of Americans planning to travel is up from 61% in April 2011 and from 56% in April 2010, according to the travelhorizons report.

Got a question? Call the Member Benefits Helpline at 800-232-3131 or email memberbenefits@rab.com.

RAB's In-Person Certified Radio Sales Management Class

RAB invites you to be a part of the in-person "Certified Radio Sales Management" course, June 12-14, in Minneapolis.

This intense three-day session will focus on key areas managers need to help keep their stations on a growth track...and themselves on a growth track for their career! The workshop is intended for anyone who has "manager" on their business card and is responsible for people and revenue.

For more information, contact Rob Boaden at 843/757-5066, or rboaden@rab.com.

Auto Radio Ads Have Greatest Influence Closest to Purchase

Category Update: Healthcare Companies

Baby Boomers: A Burgeoning Customer Market

On the Rise

More Consumers Dining Out on Sandwiches Boosts Category Growth

U.S. Mattress Sales Rose 0.2% in Units, 7.7% in Dollars Last Year
Keywords: Bedding/Home Textiles

The U.S. bedding industry recorded just a 0.2% unit sales gain last year, but saw a 7.7% jump in the value of wholesale bedding shipments, according to the International Sleep Products Association.

In its final report on 2011, the bedding industry's trade association said the specialty sleep segment significantly outperformed the innerspring segment.

Most Consumers Say Price Needs to be Right Before They Shop
Keywords: Consumer Behavior

Price trumps sales and special deals, customer service and convenience as a factor in deciding where to shop for the majority of U.S. consumers.

That's according to The NPD Group, whose monthly Economy Tracker finds that 85 percent of U.S. consumers say price will be an "extremely important/important" factor in deciding where to shop in the near future, 10 percent more than those who feel sales and special deals are important.

Research Quick Hits

Ninety-five percent of consumers are interested in products that come with rebates, while 80% of consumers actively seek out rebates, according to an annual consumer survey by rebate provider Parago. To read more

Growing competition is forcing many auto lenders to grant easier access to auto loans, especially in subprime, and that's good news for dealers and their customers. To read more

Women have flocked to social sites, and marketers are eager to reach them there. Not only do they participate in a number of social media activities at high levels, but they are also more likely than men on such sites to click on ads, according to an April release by Facebook ad management solutions provider AdParlor. To read more

As ductless technology grows in popularity, so does the number of air conditioning & heating contractors installing the systems. Contractors across North America have reported that adding ductless systems to their product offerings has been a profitable endeavor. To read more

According to a study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, store brands may be starting to improve on several product benefits typically associated with national brands, namely: quality, innovativeness, uniqueness and packaging. To read more

Daily Sales Tip: Watch What You Say

There are four verbal communication rules to remember in sales:

-- Use descriptive language
-- Use short sentences
-- Avoid buzz words and jargon
-- Avoid tag questions and qualifiers ("I guess," "I hope," "sorta," "probably")

When preparing your sales presentation, keep your points focused, so you don't ramble on in long sentences. Adding tag questions (like "I think this is a good proposal, don't you?") weakens your position, and using words like "umm" and "like" and "you know" detract from what you are saying.

Think about what you really want to say, and then say exactly what you mean.

Source: Communication/sales consultant Marjorie Brody

Job Postings

Miami - Vice President/Market Manager, Cox Media Group




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