Brick and Mortar is Back with Experiential Boutique Retailers
The beauty retailing environment has undergone revolutionary changes over the past years, from the omni-channel approach to retailing, to department stores revamping their beauty sections, and to the rise of boutique beauty retailing. While specialty stores are one of the leading and fastest-growing channels for beauty, boutique beauty retailers are the shining stars, bringing to consumers unique sensorial experiences while learning more about their preferences, needs, thoughts, and passions.Continue reading
Kline Analyzed U.S. Crop Protection Programs Available to Distributors, Retailers, and Growers in 2018
By program effectiveness, Corteva, Bayer, and BASF are the top three companies with the most distributors, according to Kline’s recently published report, Effectiveness of the U.S. Crop Protection Company Channel Incentives. Bayer ranks first in more of the horseshoe (specialty) markets while Corteva is more in the Midwest. Monsanto was also in the top three, but only with some distributors. Companies surveyed for the study were ranked by distributors and retailers who provided us with a ranking by the effectiveness of companies’ incentive programs.Continue reading
Performance vs. Cost: Demand Trends in Synthetic Latex Polymers
The market of synthetic latex polymers assumes a unique set of characteristics in every geography, from performance of the economy, purchasing power of the population, and industrialization to demand patterns, competition from alternate technologies, and performance of the polymers in specific end uses.
North America and China both represent the largest markets of synthetic latex polymers by volume, each accounting for an approximate 25% share of global consumption. Meanwhile, India, which has a much smaller share of around 5% of global consumption, is the fastest-growing market for synthetic latex polymers in the world. It is these three key geographical markets of North America, China, and India that Kline studies in depth this year in its continuous Synthetic Latex Polymers Global Series: Business Analysis and Opportunities program.Continue reading
Digital marketing and customer acquisition crucial to driving OTC brand growth
There is no doubt that e-commerce is a rapidly growing channel in the OTC market, but this channel still makes up a relatively small percentage of actual OTC sales—well below 10% of total sales for most OTC categories. However, digital marketing can have profound effects on brand performance even within traditional brick-and-mortar retail channels. Some estimate that digital presence and marketing for OTC brands will impact more than 75% of all sales. For many consumers, their path-to-purchase for OTC remedies often looks like many other categories where the need for the product is immediate. It may begin online with a search for price comparisons or product information but likely end with the actual purchase happening in-store.Continue reading
Four Questions Salon Hair Care Marketers Must Ask in 2019
As 2018 closes, we are looking back at the salon hair care market’s performance wondering what changes the year has brought to the industry and where did the market land in comparison to its historical performance. Between 2017 and 2018, the salon hair care industry grew at a steady pace of around 3%, although the category and country market performance varied. For example, while the U.S. market shows some slowdown compared to previous years, the Chinese market blossoms, driven by the development of e-commerce. In light of the recent changes on the global landscape, some of the key questions salon hair care players should be asking themselves include:Continue reading
How Re-refining Will Remain the Mainstay of the Industry
Written by Milind Phadke, Vice President, Energy
Since the recession of 2008, global lubricant basestocks supply and demand have been on divergent paths. Demand growth, beyond the recovery to pre-recession levels, has stalled, but supply growth continues. All the new supply coming to the market is primarily high-performance Group II, III, and IV basestocks. As a result, the global basestocks market has become a buyers’ market. Lubricant blenders, especially independent blenders, can select basestock suppliers and products that best suit their business needs (reducing blending costs, product performance, reducing supply chain complexity, and other such objectives).Continue reading
Cha-Ching: China’s Professional Skin Care Sales Are on the Rise
The Chinese professional skin care market grows by nearly 7% in 2018, higher than the global market growth of 6%, according to Kline’s just-published China volume of our annual Professional Skin Care Global Series report. China continues to be the largest market for professional skin care products, accounting for approximately 40% of global sales in 2018. Significant growth of the medical care providers and retail channels primarily drives overall sales of the Chinese market.Continue reading
A good night’s sleep remains an elusive goal for many consumers
Quality sleep is a major issue for many Americans. According to data compiled by the American Sleep Association, 50 to 70 million adults in the United States suffer from a sleep disorder. Insomnia is the most common with short-term issues reported by 30.0% of adults and regular insomnia by 10.0%. Sleep disorders tend to become aggravated with age, as 40.0% of people aged 40 to 59 years report short sleep duration, compared with 37.0% people in the 20 to 39 years age group. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 43.0% of Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 rarely or never get a good night’s sleep on weeknights, and 60.0% experience disruptions in their sleep every night or almost every night.Continue reading
Food safety compliance is paramount, and Iot drives growth in the European foodservice cleaning market
Both consumers and foodservice professionals alike share concerns over food-borne illness and preventing such outbreaks. The cleanliness of food preparation areas, surfaces, and wares used to prepare and serve food are of utmost importance. In fact, food safety compliance was the single most important issue among over 700 foodservice professional respondents surveyed recently by Kline. Employee training was a close second in terms of importance with other trends, such as minimum wage increases, Internet of Things (IoT), green cleaning, labor-saving devices, the impact of social media on their business, and online reviews, being of secondary importance.
Consumer Trends and Growth Potential of Natural OTCs
The market for natural OTC products continues to see double-digit year-over-year sales growth, while the traditional OTC market struggles with only 2%-3% growth each year. Kline defines natural OTCs as drug-free, non-monograph products that may contain natural, plant, or herb-based ingredients. Natural OTCs can be homeopathic products and often make claims of support, prevention, maintenance and/or treatment of minor ailments. What seems to work for natural OTCs is honesty and transparency of ingredients. Millennials are driving demand for natural OTC products that have natural ingredients and help treat minor ailments without harmful ingredients or unwanted side effects. Millennials are also becoming parents and are also demanding natural products for their children.
