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About Us

Our Team: Seasoned Professionals.  Our Promise: Actionable Insight

  • Actionable research and strategy to Fortune 500 consumer service and retail companies in accelerating topline growth, building customer loyalty and increasing marketing productivity
  • Strategic counsel to investors and developers looking to maximize returns in the Retail and other Consumer service sectors
  

Our People: Client-side experience. Cutting edge expertise.

Craig Johnson, President

  • Partner, Marketing Corp of America/Interpublic (IPG)
  • Partner/Director of e-Commerce, Peppers & Rogers
  • CEO, Celutel, Inc. (CLTL)
  • President, PSI International (PIN/DUK)
  • CEO-Infrastructure Development International
  • Technology Management Group, Booz Allen Hamilton
  • VP-Marketing, regional Consumer Electronics retailer
  • Operations group, Apparel retailer 
  • Former Tokyo resident and Chair-Japan Society of Indiana
  • Expert witness on consumer/pricing in 10 states
  • Guest columnist, Barron's, Chain Store Age  
  • Board-Alzheimers Association (CT)
  • MBA Stanford, BA Yale

 

Jean Schlemmer

  • Executive VP-Asset Management, General Growth Properties, the nation's second largest Retail REIT
  • Chief Corporate Development Officer and earlier VP-Leasing, General Growth Properties
  • Gabbert & Peck, developers of the Galleria, Edina, MN 
  • Cedar-Riverside Associates
  • Over 30 Years of Experience in Retail Real Estate
  • Member, International Council of Shopping Centers
  • BA University of Minnesota


Parke Johnson

  • Director-Thought Leadership and Thematic Marketing Programs, Legg Mason
  • Director-Product Marketing, Legg Mason 
  • Director-Product Marketing, Citigroup Asset Management and Smith Barney
  • VP-Smith Barney Corporate Finance
  • BS Skidmore College

Bob Ference

  • President, Strategic Insights & Solutions 
  • President, Information Resources Division, Marketing Corp. of American/Interpublic (IPG)
  • Partner and Managing Director, Brand Equity Practice-Marketing Corp. of America
  • Director-Strategic Planning, Heublein
  • Prior consumer insight and marketing strategy and execution experience at Pepperidge Farm and Kraft Foods

 

James Bieri

  • Principal, Stokas Bieri Real Estate
  • Formerly President, Bieri & Co. 
  • 35 years of experience in Luxury and Specialty retail leasing, focusing on new concept launch and fleet build-out strategy
  • Creator of The Bieri Market Reports/Top 25 Markets
  •  Member:  ABA, ICSC, Urban Land Institute
  • BA Western Michigan, JD Detroit College of Law

Jack Smyth

  • VP-Product Management, CompuCom 
  • Dir-Planning, HP Customer Service (HPQ)
  • Dir-Tech Support Call Center, Compaq
  • CEO, The Learning Company
  • MBA Stanford, BS/IE Cornell

 

Paul Weinberger

  • Partner, Technology Management Group
  • Energy Practice, Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Senior Technology Analyst, UTC (UTX)
  • Senior Engineer, Burns & Roe
  • R&D Group, Combustion Engineering
  • ME Cornell, BS/ME, Cooper Union

 

Our Insights....In the Media

  • Mid-Spring Retail Sales Update and Outlook:  Bloomberg TV Apr 16, 2012

  http://www.bloomberg.com/video/90740733/

  • Best Buy CEO Transition:  Wall Street Journal Apr 10, 2012

  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303815404577335551794808074.html

  • Dollar Stores Thrive, But Family Dollar Still Catching Up:  Bloomberg TV Mar 27, 2012

  http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2012-03-27/family-dollar-dollar-general-dollar-tree-stocks

  • Pain at Gas Pump Decreases Consumer Spending:  CNBC Mar 26, 2012

  http://www.cnbc.com/id/46857155

  • Costco Thrives in Today's Retail Environment:  Wall Street Journal Feb 29, 2012

  http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120229-709078.html

  • Rising Gasoline Prices and Consumer Spending:  PBS/Nightly Business Report Feb 22, 2012

  http://www.nbr.com/transcripts/full-episode-transcript-feb-22-2012-20120223

  • Impact of Energy Prices on Retail Recovery:  WWD Feb 17, 2012

  http://www.wwd.com/business-news/forecasts-analysis/gas-hikes-could-imperil-retail-rebound-5708160

  • January Retail Sales Implications for 2012:  WWD Feb 14, 2012
        http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/financial/apparel-sales-flat-5680540
  • 2012 Customer Growth Partners Consumer Forecast:  Chain Store Age Feb 10, 2012

  http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/customer-growth-partners-predicts-robust-spending-2012

  • Customer Growth Partners 2012 Retail Forecast:  Supermarket News Feb 9, 2012
        http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/analyst-predicts-robust-year-retail 
  • Luxury Retail 2012 Outlook, US and Global:  Bloomberg TV Jan 31, 2012

  http://www.bloomberg.com/video/85297504/

  • JC Penney Challenges and Outlook: Barron's Jan 21, 2012

  http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052748703879704577167032619347906.html

  • Retailers in for Steady, Modest Growth in 2012:  ThomsonReuters Jan 16, 2012

   http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/16/us-usa-retail-idUSTRE80F1MI20120116

  • December Retail Sales up in December with Margin Pressure: NY Times Jan 6 2012

  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/business/retailers-post-sales-gains-but-discounts-hurt.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

  • Holiday Sales Recap and Department Store Comeback:  Bloomberg TV Jan 5, 2012

  http://www.bloomberg.com/video/83769806/

  • Men's Apparel Posts Healthy Holiday Gains:  WWD Dec 29, 2011

  http://www.wwd.com/menswear-news/retail-business/e-commerce-drives-gains-for-mens-holiday-sales-5445782

  • Holiday Sales Recap:  CNBC TV Dec 27, 2011

  http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000064432

  • Day after Christmas "Black Monday" Shoppers Splurge: CBS Evening News Dec 26, 2011

  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7392947n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

  • Macy's Spurs Department Store Sector: Investors Business Daily Dec 19, 2011

  http://news.investors.com/ArticlePrint.aspx?id=595012&p=1

  • November Retail Sales Are on Target:  New York Times Dec 2, 2011

 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/business/economy/retail-sales.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=craig%20johnson%20november%20retail%20sales%20are%20on%20target&st=cse

  • Consumer Spending Is Back:  CBS Evening News Nov 28, 2011

 http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7389871n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

  • Black Friday Recap:  Bloomberg TV Nov 28, 2011

  http://www.bloomberg.com/video/81751878/

  • Black Friday Weekend Sets New Highs:  WWD Nov 27, 2011

  http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/marketing-consumer-behavior/black-friday-off-to-strong-start-5390341

  • Sears Suffers as It Skimps on Stores:  Wall Street Journal Nov 17, 2011

 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204517204577042442598865710.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_Top

  • Apparel Inflation and Retailer Pricing Power:  WWD Nov 16, 2011

  http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/financial/apparel-inflation-climbs-5373104

  • Holiday Preview and JC Penney and Urban Outfitters Results:  Bloomberg TV Nov 14, 2011

  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-14/johnson-says-j-c-penney-is-poised-for-great-growth-video-.html

  • Retail Holiday Outlook:  Public Broadcasting/Nightly Business Report Nov 3, 2011

   http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/onair/transcripts/october_retail_numbers_holiday_scare_111103/

  • Customer Growth Partners Holiday 2011 Forecast:  CNBC Closing Bell Oct 31, 2011

  http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000054607

  • CGP Holiday Sales Outook:  WWD Oct 31, 2011

  http://www.wwd.com/business-news/forecasts-analysis/cgp-bullish-on-holiday-spending-5344523

  • Holiday 2011 Preview and Forecast:  Chain Store Age Oct 28, 2011

  http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/customer-growth-partners-holiday-sales-rise-65-554-billion

  • Retail Sales Outlook--Fall and Holiday (audio):  Bloomberg Radio Oct 17, 2011

 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-17/custom-growth-s-johnson-says-consumers-spending-smartly-audio-.html

  • September Retail Sales Rise:  WWD Oct 14, 2011

  http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/financial/retail-sales-rise-5295829

  • Fashion Comeback for the Holidays/Review and Preview:  Barron's Oct 10, 2011

 http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052748704514704576608971085535918.html

  • Retail Sales Topping Estimates, Confounding Consensus:  CNBC Oct 6, 2011

  http://mob.cnbc.com/us_news/44789204

  • Q&A: Retailer Holiday 2011 Early Preview:  Marketing Daily Sep 13, 2011

  http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.printFriendly&art_aid=158409

  • Back-to-School Sales Show Consumers are Still Spending:  CNBC Sep 2, 2011

  http://www.cnbc.com/id/44358893

  • Hurricane Irene to Have Limited Impact on Retail:  Just-Style (UK) Sep 1, 2011

  http://www.just-style.com/analysis/hurricane-irene-to-have-limited-impact-on-apparel-sales_id112052.aspx

  • Hurricane Gives Lift to Certain Retailers:  Wall Street Journal Aug 30, 2011

  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904332804576538861963980934.html

  • Retailers Assess Damage from Irene:  Women's Wear Daily Aug 29, 2011

  http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/retail-features/retailers-assess-damage-from-irene-5094403

  • Target Outperforming Walmart:  NPR Aug 19, 2011

  http://www.npr.org/2011/08/19/139793948/target-takes-aim-at-walmart-with-some-success?ft=1&f=

  • Consumer Spending, Walmart, Home Depot and Target:  Bloomberg TV Aug 16, 2011

  http://www.bloomberg.com/video/74044004/

  • Back to School Retail, Walmart and Target:  Bloomberg TV Aug 11, 2011

  http://www.bloomberg.com/video/73860040/

  • Department Stores Start Looking Cool Again:  Wall Street Journal Aug 4, 2011

  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903885604576486363068812574.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

  • Review and Preview:  CGP Bullish Back to School Forecast:  Barron's Aug 1, 2011

  http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052702304719804576468183251248872.html

  • June Sales Confirm CGP Back to School Forecast:  Marketwatch Jul 7, 2011

  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/positive-june-sales-give-encouraging-sign-2011-07-07?link=MW_latest_news

  • Customer Growth Partners Back to School Forecast: CNBC Jul 5, 2011

  http://www.cnbc.com/id/43641861

  • Cost Hikes at Retail:  WWD Jun 16, 2011

  http://www.wwd.com/business-news?module=tn#/article/retail-news/apparel-prices-rise-3657794

  • Apple Retail Stores Strategy:  Wall Street Journal Jun 15, 2011

  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304563104576364071955678908.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

  • Rebirth of Shopping Malls:  Fortune Magazine Jun 13, 2011

  http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/13/a-rebirth-of-shopping-malls/

  • Walmart Performance and Outlook:  Bloomberg TV May 17, 2011

    http://www.bloomberg.com/video/69855366/

  • Macy's Biggest Bargain:  Its Shares:  Barron's May 2, 2011

  http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052970203579804576285202390631650.html

  • Killer Combo of High Gas, Food Prices at Tipping Point: CNBC Apr 21, 2011

  http://www.cnbc.com/id/42704213

  • Inflation Trims Discretionary Budgets: Supermarket News Apr 12, 2011

  http://supermarketnews.com/news/Inflation_Budgets_0412/

  • Wal-Mart Merchandise Goes Back to Basics:  Wall Street Journal Apr 11, 2011

  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704776304576253252673697210.html

  • Aldi and Walmart Small Store Format:  New York Times Mar 30, 2011

  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/business/30aldi.html?_r=1&ref=business&pagewanted=print

  • Best Buy and Smaller Stores:  Wall Street Journal Mar 25, 2011

  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704425804576220391321433866.html?KEYWORDS=best+buy

  • US Retail in Asia:  TIF and COH vs. MAT, HD and BBY:  Barron's Mar 14, 2011

  Review and Preview p. 16:  "Of Toys and Tiger Moms--Lost in Translation?"

  • Walmart US Small Store Formats:  Business Week Mar 9, 2011

  http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-09/wal-mart-to-start-work-on-small-stores-next-week-in-arkansas.html

  • Walmart US--Convenience Gap and Innovation Gap:  Bloomberg TV Feb 22, 2011

  http://www.bloomberg.com/video/66937468/

  • Malls, Anchors Flourish:  Barron's Feb 19, 2011

  http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052970204442204576144540248637446.html
© 2012, Customer Growth Partners, LLC. Contact: cjohnson@customergrowthpartners.com, PO Box 874, New Canaan, CT 06840