IP Library Granted Patent US 8,364,516
Granted Patent B2
US 8,364,516 · App. 12/493,643 · Granted Jan 29, 2013

Methods and apparatus to determine the effects of trade promotions on subsequent sales

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,364,516
App. No.
12/493,643
Granted
Jan 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to determine the effects of trade promotions on subsequent sales are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes determining a plurality of decremental effect factors, each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of weeks, wherein at least some of the decremental effect factors are indicative of a downward trend in sales of a product that was under a promotion condition during a first one of the plurality of weeks. The example method also includes determining a plurality of decremental effect terms, each decremental effect term equal to the product of a corresponding coefficient multiplied by a corresponding one of the decremental effect factors, and determining a pantry loading effect term based on the plurality of decremental effect terms. Further, the example method includes determining a pantry loading incremental sub-volume based on the pantry loading effect term, and generating a report including the pantry loading incremental sub-volume.

Claims (29)

1. A computer implemented method of determining and reporting on a pantry loading effect on sales of a product under a promotion, comprising:

calculating, with a pre-model generator, a plurality of lift terms, each lift term indicative of a lag effect during a plurality of weeks and calculated by dividing the log of sales of the product during the promotion by sales of the product absent the promotion;

retrieving, with a base driver data generator, a plurality of decremental effect factors, each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of weeks, wherein at least some of the decremental effect factors are indicative of a downward trend in sales of the product that was under the promotion during a first one of the plurality of weeks, and wherein the plurality of decremental effect factors include the plurality of lift terms;

determining, with a scoring processor, a plurality of decremental effect terms, each decremental effect term calculated by multiplying a corresponding coefficient by a corresponding one of the plurality of decremental effect factors, wherein the plurality of decremental effect terms include LIFT store-UPC coefficient terms, each of which is calculated by multiplying a corresponding store-UPC coefficient term by a corresponding one of the plurality of lift terms;

determining, with the scoring processor, a pantry loading effect term by summing the LIFT store-UPC coefficient terms;

determining, with an incremental driver data generator, a pantry loading incremental sub-volume based on the pantry loading effect term; and

generating a report including the pantry loading incremental sub-volume.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising determining the plurality of decremental effect factors and terms when at least one of a temporary price reduction of the product has been detected or a promotion of the product has been detected.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the temporary price reduction has been detected when the price of the product is below a threshold price.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of decremental effect factors are associated with the sales of the product within a single store.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of decremental effect factors is equal to zero when an actual sales volume of the product for the week corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of decremental effect factors is greater than zero and the actual sales volume is greater than a base units sales volume.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , wherein the base units sales volume is representative of the sales volume for the product that would have occurred during the week corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of decremental effect factors absent the trade promotion during the first one of the plurality of weeks.

7. An apparatus to determine a pantry loading effect on sales of a product under a promotion, comprising:

a pre-model generator to calculate a plurality of lift terms, each lift term indicative of a lag effect during a plurality of weeks and calculated by dividing the log of sales of the product during the promotion by sales of the product absent the promotion;

a base driver data generator to retrieve a plurality of decremental effect factors, each factor corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of weeks during the promotion for the product, wherein the plurality of decremental effect factors include the plurality of lift terms;

a scoring processor to calculate a plurality of decremental effect terms, each decremental effect term calculated by multiplying a corresponding coefficient by a corresponding one of the plurality of decremental effect factors, wherein the plurality of decremental effect terms include LIFT store-UPC coefficient terms, each of which is calculated by multiplying a corresponding store-UPC coefficient term by a corresponding one of the plurality of lift terms;

the scoring processor further to calculate a pantry loading effect term by summing the LIFT store-UPC coefficient terms;

and

an incremental driver data generator to calculate a pantry loading incremental sub-volume based on the pantry loading effect term.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 , further comprising a baseline volume manager to identify a downward trend in sales of the product based on the plurality of decremental effect factors, the product under the promotion condition during a first one of the plurality of weeks.

9. A tangible machine readable storage medium, excluding propagating signals, comprising instructions to determine and report on a pantry loading effect on sales of a product under a promotion, which, when executed, the instructions cause a machine to at least:

calculate a plurality of lift terms, each lift term indicative of a lag effect during a plurality of weeks and calculated by dividing the log of sales of the product during the promotion by sales of the product absent the promotion;

retrieve a plurality of decremental effect factors, each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of weeks, wherein at least some of the decremental effect factors are indicative of a downward trend in sales of the product that was under the promotion during a first one of the plurality of weeks, and wherein the plurality of decremental effect factors include the plurality of lift terms;

determine a plurality of decremental effect terms, each decremental effect term calculated by multiplying a corresponding coefficient by a corresponding one of the plurality of decremental effect factors, wherein the plurality of decremental effect terms include LIFT store-UPC coefficient terms, each of which is calculated by multiplying a corresponding store-UPC coefficient term by a corresponding one of the plurality of lift terms;

determine a pantry loading effect term by summing the LIFT store-UPC coefficient terms;

determine a pantry loading incremental sub-volume based on the pantry loading effect term; and

generate a report including the pantry loading incremental sub-volume.

10. A tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine the plurality of decremental effect factors and terms when at least one of a temporary price reduction of the product has been detected or a promotion of the product has been detected.

11. A tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to associate the plurality of decremental effect factors with the sales of the product within a single store.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 023159 / FRAME 0596) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 063012/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2021
From: NIELSEN CONSUMER LLC; BYZZER INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055742/0719 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER LLC
Reel/Frame 055557/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2021
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: NIELSEN CONSUMER LLC
Reel/Frame 055392/0311 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 023159/0596 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2009
From: ANDERSON, GREGORY D.; MANSOUR, JOHN P.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 022916/0300 →