#1 Global Expert on Consumer Behaviour and author of “Consumer Behaviour: Buying, Having, and Being”
North America
Prof. Michael Solomon is a consumer behaviour expert. He studies everything to do with the behaviour of consumers and their interaction with the marketplace, including that with regards to fashion, food, the technology used, their music preferences, and how they pick their sofa.
According to Michael, “People don’t buy things because of what they do; they buy things because of what they mean. Our choices of products and services, whether food, furniture, or fax machines, reflect a pattern of consumption that jointly defines a lifestyle.”
Michael Solomon has literally written the book, several, in fact, on how to understand student behaviour. A much-lauded author, his textbook on the subject is used by universities that support the subject. “Consumer Behaviour: Buying, Having, and Being” is estimated as being the most widely used book on the subject across the globe. The book has also been translated into several languages.
Today’s consumers are looking for more than just a purchase, they’re looking for an experience. Add that to the fact that consumers want to be mindful about where their dollars are going and to which organizations are being supported by proxy of their spending. No one understands consumers better than Michael Solomon. He has helped leading brands around the world dial into what consumers are thinking, buying, supporting, promoting and talking about with their friends and families. He has his finger on the pulse of what’s trending and guides leaders on how to position their brand to gain the highest visibility, pivot when necessary, be nimble, and thrive in every economic shift. Bottom-line, Michael has set the gold standard for understanding consumer behaviour.
Michael, who holds a PhD in Social Psychology, is a Professor of Marketing at the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, U.S.A. His work in the field of consumer behaviour has seen him receive the Cutty Sark Men’s Fashion Award for his research on the psychological aspects of clothing. He is the editor of The Psychology of Fashion and co-editor of The Service Encounter: Managing Employee/Customer Interaction in Service Businesses.
Besides his academic responsibilities, Prof. Michael Solomon is a frequent media contributor, with his articles appearing in various magazines such as Psychology Today, Savvy, and Gentleman’s Quarterly. He has also been quoted in numerous national magazines and newspapers, e.g. Glamour, Self, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. Michael has also made a number of appearances on both radio and television, commenting on human behaviour issues. Amongst his appearances, he includes such shows as “The Today Show” and “Good Morning America.”
Michael Solomon is an in-demand speaker who has addressed business groups across the globe, including South Korea, Peru, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Poland, and Brazil. Someone who is at the forefront of marketing thought that emphasizes the importance of how products and services are experienced by those who by them, Michael has advised numerous companies on aspects of consumer research, lifestyle, and marketing.
"Michael Solomon is a great resource on today’s consumer and customer expectations. His presentation on building a brand that engages customers in the wild new world of marketing provided a wealth of needed knowledge to our direct selling executives."
"Michael is a constant source of inspiration and knowledge for any professional in any relevant market who wants to understand consumer behavior more deeply. His work is constantly being updated and his presentations bring powerful ideas that take us out of the comfort zone and pushes our need to act with more strength to develop strategies able to transform the culture of the companies and make them customer-centric organizations."
“Michael Solomon’s perspective is exactly what 21st century marketers need to succeed. His presentation at HOW Marketing Live provided a relevant and easy to understand foundation for a world where the lines between marketing and design are blurring and everyone needs to think like a marketer.”
“Michael was perfect for what we were looking for. He was a great mix of academia and practitioner. He was flexible onsite with timing issues and that was greatly appreciated. Many from the Audience gave great feedback and referenced thought provoking examples that they could use. Many would recommend Michael to others.”
“I highly recommend Michael Solomon to be a speaker at any event where you want to educate and entertain your audience. Michael has a wealth of knowledge in the consumer space that was very relevant to our audience of retailers. Not only was he poignant with them, but I received overwhelmingly positive responses from the attendees. The use of media in his presentation also added some flair that took the data from your standard presentation to something memorable.”
“I found Dr. Solomon to be a great asset to the programme through his willingness to adapt the focus and content of his presentation to suit the audience as well as the timely delivery of the presentation in advance of the conference…. I wouldn’t hesitate to ask Dr. Solomon to speak at future events as I am confident that he would deliver excellent value for the conference.”
“I hope you were able to see how many in the audience — and on the dais — were taking notes. We were extremely delighted with your presentation.”
“…an enlightened resource on consumer motivations and shopping habits…. he brings forth new consumer insights that resonate with our diverse audience… I highly recommend Mike Solomon as a speaker if you want your audience to be truly engaged as they learn about fresh, trend-setting consumer insights that are impacting how marketers can use technology to better connect with today’s consumers.”
“Prof. Solomon…was able to make us think of new ways to use consumer behavior to frame our own activities…. He was able to inject humor to maintain attention yet did not deviate from the basic task at hand that was to educate and provoke thought.”
“The man is a scholar who is current and street-wise.”
“I knew Michael’s presentation was a big success when our attendees took out their phones and started snapping photos of his slides! Michael’s presentation includes a mix of history, pop culture and statistics that kept the room engaged. We thank him for this high quality seminar!”