The Spin on Vinyl Records
Who would have thought vinyl record collections would still be going strong after all these years! I recall many years ago when I moved out of my parents’ home, I took my record collection with me and stored it away, maybe taking some out once in a while for a spin (of course, I had to buy a record player first!). Just looking though my collection brings back so many memories.
Vinyl resurgence
Many factors play a role in the resurgence of vinyl records. According to stagemusiccenter.com, vinyl records are a great way for people to connect to the past. They bring back feelings of nostalgia, and also provide a unique listening experience unmatched by digital music. Another reason for the resurgence of vinyl records is the high-quality sound they produce. Vinyl records can also be seen as a way to slow down and appreciate music.
We all know vinyl records are collector’s items, particularly the rare or limited-edition ones. The revival of vinyl has also led to a renewed interest in independent record stores. They offer a wide selection and unique atmosphere where you can browse through stacks of records and maybe find that one special album you’ve been searching for.
Do you buy vinyl records? If so, where do you buy them most of the time (online, local record stores, garage/yard sales, mass merchandise stores such as Target or Walmart, etc.)?
Vinyl records and CDs
According to Popular Science magazine, after decades of being a music lover’s “go-to”, the popularity of the vinyl record was taken over by the CD back in 1987. For the next 35 years CDs were the preferred method of listening to music, mainly due to their convenience, portability, and durability. It was easy to keep CDs in good shape and easy to travel with them. As vinyl record owners know, it’s not easy keeping an album in “perfect” condition.
Vinyl record sales
According to theverge.com, a report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) indicated that 43 million vinyl records were sold last year! That’s 6 million more than the number of CDs sold in 2023. This marks the second time since 1987 that this has happened, and reflects the steady 17-year-running growth of vinyl sales.
Vinyl also beat out CDs in sales revenue – $1.4 billion compared to $537 million from CDs. The RIAA’s report also showed that CD revenue was up, but people actually bought about 700,000 fewer CDs in 2023 than the year before. Of course neither of these comes close to the music revenue gained from digital streaming (paid subscriptions, digital radio services, etc.).
Scanning info for NCP panel members
As with all other purchases, if you (or other household members) buy vinyl records and/or CDs that have a UPC barcode on them, please give them a scan and report the purchases. All purchases count and helps NCP get a clear and accurate representation of our panel members’ shopping habits and preferences. Thank you!
If you have your own collection of vinyl records, which albums are some of your favorites? Let me know if the comment section!
Regards,
Taylor
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
NCP Spotlight: Panel Members in Arkansas
Arkansas was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, as the 25th state. The state capital is Little Rock, which is also the state’s largest city.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau, the estimated population of Arkansas is just over three million people. It’s the 34th most populous state in the country, and the 29th largest state by land area.
Official Arkansas State Symbols
Every state has their own unique symbols, from birds to flowers to songs and more! Here are some of Arkansas’ official state symbols:
– Bird: Mockingbird
– Flower: Apple Blossom
– Insect: Honeybee
– Tree: Pine tree
– Vegetable: South Arkansas vine ripe pink tomato
– Beverage: Milk
– Food: Pecan
– Gemstone: Diamond
Find more information about Arkansas’ state symbols here.
Fun Facts about Arkansas
You can dig for diamonds in Arkansas! The state is home to the only public diamond mine in the country: Crater of Diamonds in Murfreesboro. Park rangers provide digging tips, and you get to keep anything you find.
Mispronouncing the state’s name is actually illegal, though there’s no penalty for saying it incorrectly. It’s pronounced Ar-kan-saw, even though it looks like “Kansas.”
Arkansas is home to several famous businesses. Walmart was founded in Rogers in 1962. The world’s largest poultry producer, Tyson Foods, is headquartered in Springdale.
According to CoolKidFacts, the world’s first cheese dip was invented in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1935. The World Cheese Dip Championship is held annually in Little Rock.
Famous people from Arkansas include Johnny Cash, the author John Grisham, Bill Clinton, and Maya Angelou.
NCP Panel Members in Arkansas
Want to learn more about your fellow panel members in another state? Here’s how our Arkansas panel members answered some of our survey questions!
How long have you been a panel member?
– 29% of survey respondents have been members for 15 or more years!
– 23% have been members for less than a year.
– 36% of respondents were born in Arkansas and have lived there their entire life.
Is the area you live rural, suburban, or urban?
– 58% live in rural areas
– 33% live in suburban areas
– 9% live in urban areas
Do you have children?
– 77% of respondents have children
– Of those, 23% have children living in their home
Shopping habits of NCP Panel Members in Arkansas
Do you think peoples’ shopping habits differ based on where they live? We’re curious about this, so we asked our panel members questions about how, when, and where they shop, along with some other questions about their habits.
Here’s what our panel members in Arkansas had to say about their shopping habits:
– 70% of respondents shop both online and in-store, with 27% shopping in-store only.
– 70% of respondents tend to shop at the same stores.
– 67% of respondents mostly stick to their list when shopping, but sometimes make impulse purchases.
– 70% of respondents shop alone, with another 18% shopping with a spouse or partner.
When it comes to choosing where to shop, 64% of panel members shop at mass-merchandise retailers. Another 21% primarily shot at grocery stores. Price, location, and convenienceare the top factors that influence where people decide to shop. Most of our Arkansas panel members shop 1-3 times per week.
Nearly all of our survey respondents- 85%- look for ways to save money while shopping, with digital coupons and store loyalty programs being the most popular options. Other respondents shop at multiple stores, use the store sales flyer to plan their list, subscribe to store emails, and clip paper coupons.
Convenience while shopping
While ordering groceries and other items online has long been an option, the COVID-19 pandemic made delivery and pick-up a lot more common for people.
Here’s what Arkansas panel members had to say about it:
– 45% never order groceries online and pick up at the store, while 33% do sometimes.
– 60% never order groceries online to be delivered, while 27% do sometimes.
We also wondered if the weather influenced a person’s choice between online and in-person shopping. 35% of respondents said weather doesn’t impact their decision, with 26% saying they prefer in-person shopping regardless of the weather.
And finally: self-checkout. Some people love it, others hate it. According to our survey, 29% of respondents always choose self-checkout, with another 43% indicating they frequently choose it. 18% of respondents rarely use it, and 11% never do.
Interests of NCP panel members in Arkansas
Here are a few other fun facts about Arkansas panel members from our survey!
More than 60% of respondents engage in outdoor recreational activities regularly or occasionally. The most popular outdoor activities are hiking and walking- it was a favorite for 80% of panel members. A few of the unique answers panel members wrote in include frisbee golf, hunting, and shopping at yard sales.
We asked panelists which sports they follow, and 42% said football. Another 20% follow basketball, and one smart grandparent said “anything my grandson plays!”
We also wanted to know: what place would you recommend to visitors in your hometown or state? The most popular type of attraction panel members recommend is natural parks and reserves. Here are some of the answers we got from panel members:
– Crystal Bridges Museum
– Lake Charles
– Downtown Bentonville First Fridays
– Bull Shoals Caverns
– Hot Springs National Park
– Eureka Springs
Did you learn anything new about Arkansas? How do your shopping habits compare to panel members in Arkansas? We hope you enjoy learning about panel members in other states. Stay tuned for the next one!
Join NCP!
If you’re not a NCP panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog for more information.
Regards,
Taylor
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
More From NCP:
In The Know: Favorite Pastimes
The results are in regarding panel members’ favorite pastimes! From reading and music to puzzles and word games, our survey revealed your top hobbies, interests, and games. Get ready to be inspired and discover what makes our NCP community so dynamic!
Top Interests of Panel Members
According to our survey results, these are the top five interests of panel members who responded:
- Music
- Food and drink
- Books
- Shopping
- Entertainment
Hobbies
Do you have any hobbies? We asked panel members what their favorite hobbies are, and these are the top results:
- Reading
- Music
- Traveling
- Games
- Crafts
Favorite Games
And finally, we wanted to know what types of games our panel members enjoy! The top five games for our respondents are:
- Puzzles
- Cards
- Word games
- Board games
- Trivia
That’s it for this edition of “In The Know!” Got a topic you would like to see covered at “ITK” Let us know!
If you’re not a NCP panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog for more information.
NCP Spotlight: Panel Members in Arizona
Up next in our new series on the NCP Blog, Spotlight on States, is Arizona!
Arizona was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1912 as the 48th state. Phoenix is the state capital and the state’s largest city. Arizona is bordered by the states of Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and California.
According to the US Census Bureau, the estimated population of Arizona is 7,431,344 (2023 est.), making it the 14th most populous state.
Official Arizona State Facts and Symbols
– Nickname: The Grand Canyon State
– State Bird: Cactus Wren
– State Flower: Saguaro cactus blossom
– State Tree: Palo Verde
– State Song: The Arizona March Song
– State Motto: “Ditat Deus” (God Enriches)
You can find more information about Arizona’s state symbols/facts here.
Fun Facts about Arizona
Let’s take a look at some fun facts about Arizona that you may not know from The Fact Site:
– Arizona was a part of Mexico before it was a US state.
– One of the best-preserved meteorite craters is in Arizona, the Barringer Meteor crater (known as the “Meteor Crater”) is one of the best-kept of such sites in the world.
– Arizona doesn’t observe daylight savings time.
– The Saguaro cactus is native to the Sonoran desert, Arizona, and can grow to 40 feet tall! Arizona state law protects the Saguaro and harming them in any manner is illegal.
– Arizona’s climate tends towards the extremes. The city of Phoenix, Arizona, holds the record for the most days in a year over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
NCP Panel Members in Arizona
Let’s learn about your fellow panel members in Arizona! Here’s how our Arizona panel members answered some of our state highlight survey questions.
How long have you been a panel member?
– 35% of survey respondents have been members for 15 or more years!
– 10% have been members for less than a year
Is the area you live rural, suburban, or urban?
– 18% live in rural areas
– 58% live in suburban areas
– 24% live in urban areas
Do you have children?
– 70% of respondents have children
– Of those, 19% have children living in their home
Shopping Habits of NCP Panel Members in Arizona
Do you think peoples’ shopping habits differ based on where they live? We’re curious about this, so we asked our panel members questions about how, when, and where they shop, along with some other questions about their habits.
Here’s what our panel members in Arizona had to say about their shopping habits:
– 62% of respondents shop both online and in-store, with 33% shopping in-store only.
– 64% of respondents tend to shop at the same stores.
– 72% of respondents mostly stick to their list when shopping, but sometimes make impulse purchases.
– 68% of respondents shop alone, with another 23% shopping with a spouse or partner.
When it comes to choosing where to shop, the vast majority of Arizona panel members -80%- primarily shop at grocery stores or mass-merchandise retailers. Price, convenience, and location are the top factors that influence where people decide to shop. Most of our Arizona panel members shop 2-3 times per week and do most of their shopping on Wednesdays.
About 76% of survey respondents look for ways to save money while shopping, with digital coupons and store loyalty programs being the most popular options. Other respondents shop at multiple stores, use the store sales flyer to plan their list, subscribe to store emails, and clip paper coupons.
Convenience while shopping
Ordering groceries and other items online to pick up or be delivered has become more popular over the years.
Here’s what Arizona panel members had to say about different aspects of shopping:
– 67% never order groceries online to pick up at the store, while 22% sometimes do.
– 66% never order groceries online to be delivered, while 26% sometimes do.
When asked if weather influenced their choice between online and in-person shopping, 42% of respondents said weather doesn’t impact their decision, with 34% saying they prefer in-person shopping regardless of the weather.
When asked about self-checkout, 19% of respondents said they always use self-checkout, with another 43% indicated they frequently use it. 27% of respondents said they rarely use it, and 11% said they never use it.
Interests of NCP panel members in Arizona
Here are some more fun facts about Arizona panel members from our survey!
Their most popular outdoor activities are hiking/walking and swimming. Of the other interests panel members wrote in, the most popular were gardening and fishing.
When asked which sports they follow, 37% said football (the majority responded none).
We also asked what type of place or tourist attraction would they recommend to people visiting their state/hometown. The most popular responses were National parks and reserves and Restaurants/culinary places/local markets.
Panel members also wrote in some specific places they recommend visiting, here are their top three suggestions:
– The Grand Canyon
– Sedona
– Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
We hope you learned something new about Arizona! How do your shopping habits compare to panel members in Arizona?
Stay tuned for the next state spotlight on…Arkansas!
Join NCP!
If you’re not a NCP panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog for more information.
Regards,
Taylor
More From NCP:
NCP Spotlight: Panel Members in Alabama (April 16, 2024)
Coming Soon: NCP Spotlight on States (April 9, 2024)
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
The Flowers of Spring
There are so many beautiful flowers blooming now! It’s uplifting to see all the varieties and colors to remind us that warmer weather is on the way.
Our office building has a nice atrium area where tulips bloom at this time every year. It’s so pretty, I took a picture to show you!
Do you have any favorite flowers, especially ones that are blooming now in the springtime? Let me know in the blog’s comment section!
Spring Gardens
According to realsimple.com, for most gardens, a mix of perennials and annuals is usually the best in terms of cost, as well as time and effort. So what’s the difference between annuals and perennials? Annuals die off when temperatures get too cold, which requires you to plant new ones the following spring. Perennials will come back and regrow year after year.
I’m not very good at gardening, but I do love to stroll around gardens and arboretums and look at (and photograph) all the beautiful plants, trees, and flowers. It’s a peaceful escape for me. Are there any arboretums or gardens in your area that you like to visit? Do you have a garden at home? If so, please leave a comment for me, I would love to hear from you.
Spring Flowers
Let’s take a look at some of the more popular spring flowers from pioneerwoman.com. Each with their own unique colors and features.
Tulips – A classic spring flower, it’s ideal to plant them in the fall so they’re ready for spring. Tulips come in many colors and shapes.
Daffodils – Cheerful yellow flowers that are a sure sign spring has arrived. They require very little care. Plant them in the fall in a spot that gets lots of sun exposure.
Grape Hyacinth – A tiny-but-mighty little bulb, produces charming purple or white flowers every year.
Crocus – Have cup-shaped, colorful blooms, some of the first to appear in spring.
Lily of the Valley – An old-fashioned perennial, its tiny white bells dangle on long stems and have a sweet scent in mid-spring.
Iris – Comes in many different forms and colors, they have sword-like foliage and dramatic-looking flowers.
Forsythia – Brilliant yellow flower that is a low-maintenance and fast-growing shrub. It starts blooming in early spring, but is best planted in the fall in full sun.
Azalea – One of the most popular flowering shrubs. These trumpet-shaped flowers can be found in lavender, white, salmon, and red.
Lilacs – Cone-shaped clusters of four-petalled flowers. These fragrant blooms will likely bring bees to your yard in springtime.
Snowdrop – Small, bell-shaped, fragrant flowers with white outer petals and green tips. One of the first to bloom in the spring, often blooming when there’s still snow on the ground.
Scanning Info for NCP panel members
Select the “Floral” category in the NCPMobile app’s Non-Barcoded Items list to report any plant or flower purchases that don’t have a barcode, or have a barcode that the app won’t accept (refer to the Barcode Reference Booklet if you use NCP’s handheld scanner). This includes fresh cut flowers, corsages, bouquets, houseplants, outdoor plants, etc.
Don’t select this category for purchases of UPC-barcoded items such as plant food, potting soil, fertilizer, artificial flowers/plants, planter pots/containers, gardening tools, etc. Please scan these items as you normally would.
Spring has sprung! Go out and enjoy it!
Regards,
Taylor
“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” — Ruth Stout
More from NCP
Go Outside And Get In The Garden
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
Celebrate Earth Day with Reusable Products
Earth Day is next week on April 22!
On April 22, 1970, an estimated 20 million Americans took to the streets and parks to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Since that first Earth Day, the celebration has evolved into the largest civic event in the world as billions of people work to protect our planet.
The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Planet vs. Plastics. According to earthday.org, their goal is to phase out single-use plastic items and to encourage a 60% reduction in all plastic products by 2040. So, today I want to share with you some ideas for reducing single-use plastics in our daily lives by investing in their reusable counterparts.
Do you do anything special to celebrate Earth Day? Leave a comment and let me know, I’d love to hear from you!
Easy reusable product swaps
Have you ever thought about all the items you use on a daily basis, and where they end up? So much of what we buy ends up in landfills, such as plastic packaging used on products to food waste and more. There are lots of options for replacing disposable items with reusable options! Here are a few I’ve incorporated in my household.
Water Bottles: Instead of buying bottled water, I have several reusable water bottles on hand at home. Many places now offer water bottle filling stations, so you can refill your bottle. Many convenience stores will now let you refill your own cup or bottle with soda from their fountain machines instead of using their plastic or styrofoam cups.
Shopping bags: Reusable shopping bags have been popular for quite some time, and many cities have started banning plastic bags at stores. It can be hard to get in the habit of keeping bags in your car- and putting them back in the car after unloading groceries in your house! But, once you get used to it, it’s a great way to cut down on your use of plastic bags.
Produce bags: You can also buy reusable produce bags to carry in the grocery store, replacing the plastic bags used for bagging individual fruits and vegetables!
Straws: Reusable straws are another popular item to help reduce plastic waste. You can find them made of metal, silicone, glass, and other materials. Plus, there are many types of folding reusable straws that are easy to keep in your car, purse, or pocket. Just remember to clean them after you use them!
Paper towels or napkins: My household goes through so many paper towels, and I’m hoping to switch to reusable towels this year. It’s as simple as purchasing a package of cleaning cloths and using those instead of reaching for the paper towels. They can easily be washed and reused many times. I’ve already stopped buying paper napkins for regular daily use, and instead we use cloth napkins.
Sandwich and other plastic bags: Plastic bags are great for packing lunches, separating snacks, and storing small items. But, they can add up to a lot of plastic waste. Reusable silicone bags are a great option to replace disposable bags. They’re easy to wash, last a long time, and you can find them in almost any size.
Looking for more ideas? You can find a list of 36 reusable versions of household items in this article from Reader’s Digest.
Added benefits of reusable products
Not only does purchasing reusable versions of products help reduce waste, but it can also save you money. It might cost more upfront to invest in products like silicone bags or cloth napkins. But, when you consider the long-term cost of buying plastic bags and paper towels, you’ll likely find the reusable items to be cost-effective.
Don’t forget the aesthetic value: I always find my mood lifted a little when I carry my groceries in a cheerfully-printed bag instead of a boring plastic sack. You can add stickers to a water bottle to personalize it. Or, buy cloth napkins in colors to match your home decor.
What types of reusable items do you already use in your household? Do you plan to swap any disposable items for reusable versions? If so, remember to scan the barcodes of those items and report the purchases to NCP. Leave a comment and let us know what you think! I’d love to hear more ideas about how to reduce waste, especially plastic.
Happy Earth Day!
Regards,
Taylor
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
More From NCP:
NCP Spotlight: Panel Members in Alabama
Welcome to a new series on the NCP Blog, our Spotlight on States! Each month, we’ll share a new post about one of the 48 states where National Consumer Panel has members.
Let’s kick off this series with Alabama!
Alabama was admitted to the Union on Dec. 14, 1819, as the 22nd state. Montgomery has been the state capital since 1847. Alabama is bordered by Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida, along with the Gulf of Mexico in the southwestern corner.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau, the estimated population of Alabama is 5,024,279, making it the 24th most populous state.
Official Alabama State Symbols
Every state has their own unique symbols, from birds to flowers to songs and more! Here are some of Alabama’s official state symbols:
– Bird: Yellowhammer
– Flower: Camellia
– Insect: Monarch Butterfly
– Vegetable: Sweet Potato
– Fruit: Blackberry
– Tree: Southern Longleaf Pine
– Reptile: Alabama Red-Bellied Turtle
– Mammal: Black Bear
Find more information about Alabama’s state symbols here.
Fun Facts about Alabama
Huntsville, the largest city in the state, is known as the rocket capital of the world and is nicknamed “Rocket City.” It is home to NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. The Apollo 11 rocket that launched astronauts to the moon was made in Alabama.
The world’s first electric trolley system was introduced in 1886 in Montgomery.
The first operational windshield wipers were invented in Alabama! Mary Anderson is credited with inventing them in 1903, according to The Fact Site.
According to CoolKidFacts, Alabama is the second-largest producer of peanuts in the United States with more than 900 farms. Around 400 million pounds of peanuts are farmed each year.
Famous people from Alabama include Nat “King” Cole, Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron, Helen Keller, Rosa Parks, and the actor Channing Tatum.
NCP Panel Members in Alabama
Want to learn more about your fellow panel members in Alabama? Here’s how our Alabama panel members answered some of our survey questions!
How long have you been a panel member?
– 32% of survey respondents have been members for 15 or more years!
– 16% have been members for less than a year.
Is the area you live rural, suburban, or urban?
– 42% live in rural areas
– 46% live in suburban areas
– 12% live in urban areas
Do you have children?
– 75% of respondents have children
– Of those, 22% have children living in their home
Shopping habits of NCP Panel Members in Alabama
Do you think peoples’ shopping habits differ based on where they live? We’re curious about this, so we asked our panel members questions about how, when, and where they shop, along with some other questions about their habits.
Here’s what our panel members in Alabama had to say about their shopping habits:
– 67% of respondents shop both online and in-store, with 30% shopping in-store only.
– 63% of respondents tend to shop at the same stores.
– 74% of respondents mostly stick to their list when shopping, but sometimes make impulse purchases.
– 64% of respondents shop alone, with another 24% shopping with a spouse or partner.
When it comes to choosing where to shop, the vast majority of Alabama panel members -86%- primarily shop at grocery stores or mass-merchandise retailers. Price, convenience, and location are the top factors that influence where people decide to shop. Most of our Alabama panel members shop 1-3 times per week.
Almost 80% of survey respondents look for ways to save money while shopping, with digital coupons and store loyalty programs being the most popular options. Other respondents shop at multiple stores, use the store sales flyer to plan their list, subscribe to store emails, and clip paper coupons.
Convenience while shopping
While ordering groceries and other items online has long been an option, the COVID-19 pandemic made delivery and pick-up a lot more common for people.
Here’s what Alabama panel members had to say about it:
– 58% never order groceries online and pick up at the store, while 32% do sometimes.
– 65% never order groceries online to be delivered, while 29% do sometimes.
We also wondered if the weather influenced a person’s choice between online and in-person shopping, but for most Alabamians, it doesn’t seem to be a factor. 37% of respondents said weather doesn’t impact their decision, with 26% saying they prefer in-person shopping regardless of the weather.
And finally: self-checkout. Some people love it, others hate it. According to our survey, 20% of respondents always choose self-checkout, with another 41% indicating they frequently choose it. 28% of respondents rarely use it, and 11% never do.
Interests of NCP panel members in Alabama
Here are a few other fun facts about Alabama panel members from our survey!
The most popular outdoor activities are hiking and walking. A few of the unique answers panel members wrote in include horseback riding, bird watching, and croquet.
We asked panelists which sports they follow, and 55% said football.
We also wanted to know: what place would you recommend to visitors in your hometown or state? Here are some of the answers we got from panel members:
– Huntsville Botanical Gardens
– U.S. Space & Rocket Center
– Gulf Shores beaches
– Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
– Vulcan statue
– Helen Keller’s birthplace
Did you learn anything new about Alabama? How do your shopping habits compare to panel members in Alabama? We hope you enjoyed this first post in our new series. Stay tuned for the next one!
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
More From NCP:
The Wonderful World of Toys
Toys bring out creativity and encourage the use of imagination. Although there are lots of different toys available now then when I was a kid, some of the old toys are still hanging around. Walking through the toy aisles in a store can bring back fun childhood memories of toys that may be long gone, or may still be around but look a little bit different now.
Do you remember what your favorite toy was as a child? Do you have children or grandchildren who have favorite toys? Let me know in the comment section, I would love to hear from you!
Benefits of Toys
Playing with toys provides many benefits to children. These benefits include building social skills, teaching patience, boosting imagination and creativity, enhancing fine motor skills, enhancing thinking and language skills, and more.
According to kidscareclub.com, infants love toys that can be reached for, held, shaken, and make noise. For toddlers, toys that teach balance and coordination, as well as themed toys such as puzzles are a fun addition. For 2+ years, toys that encourage pretend play spark imagination, these include dolls and strollers, toy kitchen items, etc. As children grow, there are more and more different kinds of toys that can be introduced to them.
History of Some Classic Toys
I thought it would be fun to take a look at the history of some classic toys that I’m sure you’ll recognize!
Silly Putty – A stretchy pink glob that comes in a plastic egg. Invented by General Electric engineer James Wright who was trying to create an inexpensive substitute for synthetic rubber.
Super Soaker – A high-powered water gun that claimed to be able to shoot water up to 50 feet away. Invented by nuclear engineer and part-time inventor Lonnie Johnson. He had an accident with a heat pump that sprang a leak shooting a blast of water across the room. This prompted him to invent the super soaker toy.
Play-Doh – A molding toy that feels like a cross between clay and bread dough. Invented by Kutol Products, an industrial cleaning product company. Kutol Products was losing market for its non-toxic clay-like compound used to clean coal dust off of wallpaper. The company owner’s sister-in-law tested the clay-like compound as a molding toy with her nursery school class and Play-Doh was invented!
Slinky – A bouncy spring coil famous for “walking” downward. Invented by mechanical engineer Richard James while attempting to come up with an instrument to stabilize naval ships during World War II.
Magic 8 Ball – A pool ball-shaped fortune telling toy. Invented by Albert Carter, son of a Cincinnati clairvoyant.
Toy Sales
According to Circana, dollar sales of toys declined 8% in 2023, but the toy industry overall has experienced a $5.7 billion increase in sales since 2019.
Circana tracks 11 supercategories of toys:
Outdoor & Sports Toys
Games/Puzzles
Infant/Toddler/Preschool Toys
Building Sets
Dolls
Plush Toys
Explorative & Other Toys
Action Figures & Accessories
Vehicles
Arts & Crafts
Youth Electronics
Three of these categories experienced growth in 2023. Outdoor & Sports Toys was the largest supercategory with a 16% share of all toy dollars. Building Sets had the fastest growth. Plush Toys had the second-largest dollar gain.
NCP Panel Members – If you buy toys that have a UPC barcode on the packaging, please remember to report those purchases to NCP! Thank you!
Regards,
Taylor
s
More from NCP:
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much.
Coming Soon: NCP Spotlight on States
We have a new series coming to the NCP Blog: our NCP Spotlight on States! Last month, we sent a survey to panel members asking questions about where they live and their shopping habits. Lifestyles can vary depending on where you live, and we want to learn more about these differences among our panel members- and we thought you might be interested in them, too!
Starting next week, we hope to highlight one or two states each month. We’ll share fun facts about the state, such as their state symbol, state bird, or how many people live there. And, we’ll include information provided by our panel members!
Some of the questions we asked in the survey included:
-How long have you been a National Consumer Panel member?
-Do you have children?
-What type of store do you shop in the most?
-Do you shop alone or with others?
-How often do you use self-checkout?
-What outdoor activities do you enjoy the most?
-What specific place or tourist attraction would you recommend in your state?
In future blogs, you’ll learn more about your fellow panel members across the U.S., along with interesting information about the states they live in.
What state would you like to learn more about first? Do you think the shopping habits and lifestyles of panel members in different states will vary much? Leave a comment and let us know!
We hope you’ll enjoy this new series on the NCP blog, and that you’ll learn some interesting things about your fellow panel members and where they live. Stay tuned for the first state spotlight!
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
More From NCP:
In The Know: Spring Cleaning
NCP panel members.. hold onto your brooms and dustpans! We’ve conducted an enlightening survey on the ins and outs of spring cleaning, and the results are in. From the frequency of cleaning to the use of scented products, get ready to dive into the sparkling world of tidying up!
Spring cleaning traditions
Why do people like to take on “spring cleaning?” There are a lot of reasons; here are the top three reasons panel members reported:
– To declutter and organize
– To make the home feel and smell fresh
– To create a healthy living environment
Of the panel members who responded to the survey, the majority-37%- do not have a specific spring cleaning tradition. 32% of respondents take part in spring cleaning every year, while 31% of you sometimes participate.
Many of you spend time throughout the year cleaning and organizing, not just during the spring season. According to our survey, 55% of respondents declutter and organize their home occasionally through the year. Another 27% frequently declutter; while 17% rarely spend time on this activity. A tiny percentage- 1%- never declutter or organize.
Where do you spring clean?
These are the top five areas of the home that are given the highest priority when spring cleaning, according to our panel members:
– Bedroom
– Kitchen
– Living Room
– Yard/deck/patio
– Garage
When spring cleaning, 80% of respondents focus on specific areas or rooms only, while 18% of you tackle the entire home.
Most of you seem to have a routine that works for you, as 48% of respondents expect to clean and organize the same as you did in previous years. Only 8% of respondents expect to clean less, while 44% of you expect to clean more.
But, at least you have help! At least, most of you do. According to the survey, 44% of respondents have other household members help with spring cleaning tasks. As for the rest of you, 19% indicated they live alone, while 37% of panel members don’t have help from other family members.
Time spent cleaning
Spring cleaning can be as big of a chore as you want it to be- or not. We asked panel members how long it takes to complete your spring cleaning tasks, and here’s what you said:
– 38% take 1-2 weeks
– 27% take less than one week
– 19% take 2-3 weeks
– 8% take 3-4 weeks
– 9% take more than 4 weeks
Some rooms of the home take longer than others to clean, whether it’s because of the size of the room, how frequently it’s used, or the number of items in the room. Panel members reported that these three rooms take the most time to clean:
– Kitchen
– Bedrooms
– Bathrooms
We also wanted to know: what are the top obstacles you encounter when spring cleaning? These are the top three obstacles panel members reported:
– Finding the motivation to begin
– Keeping the home clean for an extended period of time
– Difficulty deciding what to keep or discard
Spring cleaning products
There are so many cleaning products available, it can be hard to choose what to use and where to use it. It’s important to determine what product features are important to you and your household, and then look for products that meet your requirements.
Panel members reported these five features as most important to them:
– Multi-purpose use
– Effectiveness/strength
– Price
– Scent
– Ease of use
A large number of survey respondents like to use scented products, and we asked what types of scented items you like to use after you’ve completed your spring cleaning tasks. Here’s what respondents said about scented products:
– 27% don’t use scents
– 23% use plug-ins
– 23% use candles
– 9% use essential oils, sprays, etc
And finally, we were interested in one final type of product: air purifying systems. This has become a popular item over the past few years, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Of our survey respondents, 65% don’t currently have an air purifier, while 30% of you do have one. Another 5% indicated they plan to purchase one.
That’s it for this edition of “In The Know.” Got a topic you would like to see covered at ITK? Let us know!
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
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In the Know
Holiday
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