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. Listeners will walk away with practical steps and fresh ideas to enhance their marketing efforts an...

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 mode the moment our toes hit the sand. Whether you're a curious consumer or a savvy marketer, this ep...

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 theory and real-world application in her classrooms and consulting work, and why she hit pause to ...

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, shares intriguing insights from her PhD research, and provides practical tips for both marketers and ...

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 subconscious triggers drive up to 95% of purchase decisions. You’ll also learn actionable tips to ...