Consumer Catalyst

Understanding Super Bowl Ads: The Psychology Behind Commercials In this episode of Consumer Catalyst, Dr. Nicole Annette Sanders delves into the intricate world of Super Bowl advertising. She dissects why certain commercials stick in our minds, exploring eight primary advertising execution frameworks like storytelling, demonstration, and humor. The episode covers iconic ads from brands like Budwei...

In this episode of Consumer Catalyst, Dr. Nicole Arnett Sanders dives into effective, budget-friendly marketing strategies for small businesses. Covering topics like intentional social media use, leveraging micro-influencers, conversational email marketing, community collaboration, and creating evergreen content, Nicole provides actionable tips for maximizing impact without breaking the bank. List...

Why do we splurge on $60 beach towels and $12 bottles of water while on vacation—without a second thought? In this episode of Consumer Catalyst , Dr. Nicole Arnett Sanders unpacks the fascinating psychology behind vacation spending. From dopamine-fueled “vacation brain” to impulse buys, social proof at the shore, and the convenience premium, you’ll discover how our brains shift into high-spend mod...

In this deeply honest reintroduction, Nicole Arnett Sanders, PhD shares what it’s really like to wear all the hats — marketing professor, brand strategist, agency founder, business operator, and mom — while navigating imposter syndrome, creative burnout, and the pressure to keep showing up. She talks about what it means to be a millennial marketer in a Gen Z-driven digital world, how she bridges t...

Consumer Catalyst: The Psychology Behind Impulse Buying and Unplanned Purchases In this episode of Consumer Catalyst, host Nicole delves into the psychology behind impulse buying and unplanned purchases, exploring the key factors and emotional triggers that drive these behaviors. Using the context of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Nicole distinguishes between impulse and unplanned purchases, share...

This week on Consumer Catalyst , I’m Dr. Nicole Arnett Sanders, a retail strategist and consumer behaviorist, taking you on a deep dive into the psychology of shopping. Why do we splurge on some items but pass on others? How do brands like Amazon and Lululemon influence our decisions? It’s no accident—it’s consumer behavior in action. In this debut episode, we’ll explore how emotions, habits, and...