Sounds great for the consumer, but it was problematic for the company because it delayed the repeat purchase cycle.

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The invisible portion of the purchase cycle, as Optify refers to it, is a secret the buyers are keeping to themselves.

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The genesis of the shorter back-to-school purchase cycle is a consequence of increased levels of consumer expectations, retailers having spent more than a decade teaching consumers they can get something cheaper if they just wait.

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Instead, the journey revealed that the consumers spend a lot more time exploring, and in a post-purchase loyalty cycle.

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"It appears to be a cycle where it drives insurance companies to purchase even more reinsurance, " said Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat who is North Carolina's elected insurance commissioner.

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Finally, advertisers should consider the stage of the consumer purchasing cycle they aim to impact: do they want to create awareness, interest, or spark a purchase?

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Supported by a QE II asset purchase program still alive and kicking through the end of June, we estimate that this, our current monetary inflation cycle, will show a cumulative monetary infusion of about 37% by the time QE II is over, 77% the size of the last inflation cycle .

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