Aggressive Customer Behaviors Grow—Companies React

An aggressive male customer in a grocery store yelling

What’s behind the rise in aggressive customers? How are these incidents affecting workers? What are employers doing to protect their employees? Customer violence has become so prevalent in US retail stores and restaurants that workers are quitting in record numbers. Not only is this bad for companies, but it can have lasting effects on employees’ mental health. Here’s what’s causing the increase in customer aggression and what companies and states are doing about it.

Teresa Torres’s Opportunity Solution Tree for Product Discovery

A conference room with a white board that has sticky notes, a flowchart, and the words "opportunity solution tree"

What makes product discovery truly effective for your customers? How can you ensure your team stays focused on creating genuine value instead of just adding features? Product teams often lose sight of their core mission while building new features. In Continuous Discovery Habits, Teresa Torres introduces a powerful visual framework called the opportunity solution tree that maps out the journey from customer opportunities to tested solutions. Keep reading to learn how Teresa Torres’s opportunity solution tree can transform your product discovery process.

What Affects Consumer Behavior: The Science of Shopping

A woman in the aisle of a store, showing what affects consumer behavior

Why do you gravitate toward certain products in a store? What invisible forces guide your shopping decisions when you’re browsing the aisles? Paco Underhill revolutionized retail research through his book Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping. His work reveals insights into what affects consumer behavior, from store layout to product placement and everything in between. Discover the hidden psychology and scientific methods that shape your shopping experiences.

The Advantages of Network Marketing Business Models

A salesperson pitching a product to a woman at an event, explaining the advantages of a network marketing business

How do everyday people build substantial wealth? Is there a system that could help you create lasting financial freedom? Network marketing has emerged as a powerful business model that’s transforming lives, as detailed in Brian Carruthers’s book Making My First Ten Million. The advantages of network marketing business opportunities include the ability to generate residual income while building a team of motivated entrepreneurs. Learn how this revolutionary business approach can help you achieve your financial goals.

Do Performance Improvement Plans Work? The Pros and Cons

A drawing of two managers in suits looking through a magnifying glass to signify an employee Performance Improvement Plan

Does your company use PIPs? Do Performance Improvement Plans actually work? What are the alternatives? Companies’ use of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) to address employees’ work shortcomings is on the rise. Despite the dread they evoke and their well-known flaws, PIPs will likely remain prevalent as companies embracing AI demand greater efficiency from their remaining human workforce. Keep reading for a look at the pros and cons of PIPs, and some alternative management methods.

Continuous Product Discovery: Aligning Products With Needs

Four men on a team engaging in continuous product discovery in a conference room with laptops and a big screen

What makes a product successful beyond just getting it to market on time? How can companies ensure they’re creating something customers actually want? In Continuous Discovery Habits, Teresa Torres explores how companies can better align their products with customer needs. She introduces a systematic approach to continuous product discovery that helps development teams make informed decisions through regular customer feedback and structured planning. Keep reading to learn how continuous product discovery can transform your approach to creating products that truly resonate with your target audience.

The Psychology of Retail: How Spaces Influence Shopping

A man looking at a product on a shelf, representing the psychology of retail

Why do grocery stores place milk at the back of the store? What makes you more likely to pick up certain products while shopping? The psychology of retail spaces shapes every aspect of the shopping experience, as explored in Paco Underhill’s book, Why We Buy. From strategic product placement to carefully designed traffic patterns, retailers use scientific insights about human behavior to influence purchasing decisions. Keep reading to discover the fascinating ways stores are designed to work with your natural instincts and movements.

Product Brainstorming: Switch Between These 2 Different Methods

Three professional people thinking with light bulbs above their heads illustrates product brainstorming

What makes some product ideas better than others? Why do product development teams often settle for mediocre solutions? In Continuous Discovery Habits, Teresa Torres reveals the key to generating exceptional product solutions through strategic product brainstorming techniques. By alternating between individual and group ideation sessions, teams can maximize their creative potential and develop stronger solutions to customer problems. Keep reading to discover how product brainstorming can transform your team’s approach to problem-solving and lead to breakthrough innovations.

How Retail Environments Affect What You Buy in a Store

A sign that says "Welcome In!" on a window peaking into the retail environment of a store

Why do certain stores make you want to linger and explore? What makes some retail spaces successful at converting browsers into buyers? In his book Why We Buy, Paco Underhill reveals the science behind consumer behavior in the retail environment. His research uncovers how sensory experiences, emotional responses, and technological innovations shape the way people make purchasing decisions. Keep reading to discover the psychology and strategic design elements that influence your shopping habits.

Using Product Story Mapping to Uncover Underlying Assumptions

A man, seen from behind, looking at product story mapping on a white board

What hidden assumptions might be affecting your product development process? How can you systematically uncover these assumptions to create better products? Product story mapping is a powerful technique introduced in Teresa Torres’s Continuous Discovery Habits that helps teams visualize and analyze each step of the customer journey. This method reveals crucial assumptions that might otherwise remain hidden, potentially affecting your product’s success. Keep reading to learn how product story mapping can transform your approach to understanding customer needs and creating more effective solutions.