Inside the Consumers’ Minds
For cosmetics and toiletries marketers who want to know how the tides of consumer sentiment are shifting over a period of time—for example, what products are they thinking of buying, which grooming needs are unmet, and what recent purchases are they happy with—Kline’s new Consumer Mindset Mapping service is the answer. Tracking consumers’ opinions quarterly in both China and the United States, this program utilizes state-of-the-art technology and methods for understanding subtle nuances of the effects of constant influences on human decision-making. If marketers want to stay on top of their game, they need to listen to consumers to understand why some brands succeed or lag behind and where to invest for the future in terms of research and development, as well as marketing. However, it is not only about listening, as marketers need to understand why consumers make the choices they do. Continue reading
New Year Resolutions – Health and Wellness
New year wishes and resolutions are closely tied to health and well-being. We wish for good health for others and want to get in better shape ourselves and therefore this phenomenon can translate into big bucks for many savvy companies promoting corresponding offers. Gyms are still full, and sales of health preparations increase. The digital helping hand also comes in a variety of apps, such as Fitocracy, Lose It, and My Last Cigarette. The most common new year resolutions include weight loss, quitting smoking, exercising, eating healthy, and a better work/life balance.Continue reading
Men Have Preferences, but They Differ Across the Globe
When questioning what skin care concerns men have, a recent study has revealed that men in the United Kingdom have relatively very few skin care concerns whereas Chinese men have the most. The major skin care concerns among men in the United States are acne/blemishes, while the highest skin care concern of men in Germany are dry patches and wrinkles.
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Healthcare Industry Shows Signs of Recovery
As 2012 comes to a close, the U.S. OTC market shows signs of modest growth and recovery. Several companies that were once small in size have grown to become medium to large players, mainly from acquisitions of groups of brands. The largest firms have become leaner and streamlined their brand portfolios. Continue reading
Consumer Products State of the Industry 2012
At the end of 2012, tendencies in the overall beauty industry suggest a continued recovery of the market following the recession. While the robust numbers on the global level are driven by the emerging markets, the mature markets post steady growth in almost all industry segments.
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Health and Wellness 2.0
Health and wellness devices are largely untapped and can be a burgeoning opportunity for healthcare, beauty, and technology manufacturers, finds Kline & Company’s new Health and Wellness Devices report. One of the trends driving the strong growth in this market is that consumers are looking to build healthier lifestyles in order to improve their quality of life and reduce medical costs. Health-conscious consumers are also slowly shifting their focus to home care using devices such as blood glucose and pressure monitors, heart rate monitors, pedometers, teeth whitening devices, etc.Continue reading
The Experts’ Scent – Fragrance Foundation Annual Event
Nearly 200 of the fragrance industry’s elite were in attendance at The Fragrance Foundation’s annual members-only State of the Industry event, held on November 15, 2012, at the Harvard Club in New York City. Carrie Mellage, Kline’s Director of Consumer Products practice, attended the event where she presented, among other data, the findings from Kline’s recent survey on fine fragrance.
Far Eastern Beauty Outpost
Two of Kline & Company’s team members from the Shanghai office, Rob Field-Marsham and Emma Yam, visited Cosmoprof Asia 2012, the most prestigious and trend-setting beauty event in the Asia- Pacific region, held in Hong Kong from November 14 to 16. This marks Kline’s first trip to the trade show’s Asian outpost. Held at the impressive Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with stunning views of Victoria Harbour, the event brought together exhibitors from 44 countries, covering five product sectors spread across 10 exhibition halls:Continue reading
Moving On – Understanding the American Shopper in Post-recession Era
A shocking 52% of Americans are struggling to afford the necessities, and for many even that is a stretch, according to the WSL/Strategic Retail’s report How America Shops®: Megatrends 2012
However, American shoppers are moving on and coming back to shopping. After years of economic slowdown, retail sales are slowly rising although the defining word for this new era is “moderate.” We see shoppers who are wiser in the ways of extracting value, more reserved about how much they feel they need, and more moderate in their aspirations for material things. They have moved beyond the fear seen back in 2010 and have reached a new acceptance that allows them to return to shopping, but with limits.Continue reading
A New Era in Beauty Retailing
Today’s beauty retail environment carries a unique set of challenges which we define and analyze in our Beauty Retailing USA: Channel Analysis and Opportunitiesreport. We have been busy searching for the latest market trends, retail approaches, marketing strategies, and shopper insights. To get a pulse on what’s relevant, we personally talk to hundreds of industry participants, scan blogs, scrutinize beauty publications, and attend conferences and tradeshows which ultimately empowers our clients’ retail strategies. Continue reading
