The Big Companies Know All

        Every time you purchase something at a store or post something on social media that information is used so that Statistical analyzers can go back and look at a customers purchasing patterns. Companies use this insightful technique to offer customers certain coupons and sales that fit their shopping habits. This is so companies can draw people in by finding the newest trends and predicting what big thing will be next. 

Statistical analysis has been used for companies like Target, Ikea, Walgreens and Sephora. In fact, Target had an incident where a teenager’s previous purchases were looked at and the people doing the analysis noticed what she was buying items mostly identifiable with a pregnant woman, so they sent her all of these coupons for maternity clothes, baby clothes and cribs. The father of this teenager was outraged by this, thinking target was trying to influence her to get pregnant. It turned out to be true that the girl was pregnant and target found out before the father.

Some customers can feel that this technique is invasive. If this process is used to a lesser degree of some sort, so customers don't feel like their privacy is being invaded, it could be very useful in keeping companies relevant and showing what products will help a consumer at a decent price.

By: Jordan Liddle

Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.

"13 Retail Companies Using Data to Revolutionize Online & Offline Shopping Experiences." Umbel. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.