Content about The Futures Co.

October 1, 2012
Into the future: HIRI to host research conference

The Home Improvement Research Institute will set up shop in Chicago Oct. 17 for a series of research-related presentations. 

To be held at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, the event will kick off with an effort to read the future by J. Walker Smith, executive chairman of The Futures Company.

October 19, 2011
At HIRI summit, the focus is on numbers and growth

Chicago -- The unofficial quote of the day came from J. Walker Smith, executive chairman of The Futures Co.: "Screw the economy; you can still be successful in your business."

September 1, 2011
HIRI Summit will look into the future for trends

The future will factor heavily in the education offered during the two-day HIRI Home Improvement Industry Summit to be held Oct. 19 to 20 in Chicago at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, including a presentation from Walker Smith, executive chairman of The Futures Co.

February 1, 2011
The challenge of quantifying pocketbook patriotism 


Having worked heavily with marketing research for more than 30 years, I know just how useful it can be to make better business decisions, but like all tools there are limitations. One very important issue with marketing research is that we often measure peoples’ attitudes, but what we really care about is their behavior. In some cases, there is a very close link between the two and sometime not so much. Let’s consider two examples.