Chemical-free Floor Care: A Myth or the Near Future?
For many years, floor care machinery and cleaning chemicals have been complementary goods, together dealing with cleaning issues and adding value for end users. However, some suppliers have introduced new machinery that do not require chemicals to effectively perform cleaning tasks. To understand this market trend and find out whether it represents a threat to cleaning chemicals suppliers, we interviewed Laura Mahecha, Kline’s Manager of Industrial & Institutional (I&I) Cleaning Products Practice.Continue reading
What is Supporting Strong Growth of the U.S. OTC Market?
Driven by the market return of popular OTC brands from Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as the success of several Rx-to-OTC switch brands, the U.S. OTC market increases by a solid 4% in 2015, reveals our recently published Nonprescription Drugs USA report.
In October 2015, Johnson & Johnson announced that the FDA approved the reopening of the Fort Washington, PA, plant that had been shuttered since May 2010. Johnson & Johnson’s key brands, including Tylenol Arthritis Pain and Tylenol 8 Hour, are re-launched in 2015, supporting overall sales growth of the OTC drugs market. Steady distribution of Zyrtec and other key brands from the market leader, Johnson & Johnson, help propel sales in the OTC market.Continue reading
Six Key Things to Know about the Natural Personal Care Market
We have seen the natural and organic personal care market shift from a niche industry to a force of power over time, with naturals still gaining ground. As we continue to explore this market for the next edition of our Natural Personal Care Global Series report, early findings reveal another green year backed by an increasing shift of awareness from consumers towards choosing more natural products. The natural personal care market outpaces the growth of the cosmetics and toiletries market in the United States, with an estimated 9% growth in 2016 compared to the about 4% in general market in 2015. What’s behind this robust growth?Continue reading
The Changing Role of Building Service Contractors in U.S. Janitorial and Housekeeping Cleaning Products
There are over 54,000 independent building service contractors (BSCs) that clean and maintain commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities in the United States. Accounting for over 30% of the market’s sales, contract cleaners are the largest end users of janitorial and housekeeping cleaning products in the country.
Contractors have increased penetration and revenues; however, cutbacks and changes in floor care programs have affected this leading segment, in terms of chemical purchases. End users are operating under tight budget constraints with a focus on margins, resulting in resistance to price increases and reduced frequency of stripping and finishing floors.
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Kline’s Index of Base Stock Production and Re-refining Cash Margins Indicates Improved Profitability over the Past Three Months
In January 2014, Kline & Company, a worldwide consulting and research firm serving needs of organizations in the lubricants and base stocks industry, introduced its monthly Base Stock Margin Index, a characterization of recent cash margin contributions in the U.S. base oil market over the past 24 months.
The Index estimates cash margin contributions associated with U.S. Group II base stock production. It simulates EBITDA before the deduction of corporate SG&A expenses for typical VGO-based virgin base stock plants and RFO-based re-refineries.
“Since the last release of the Margin Index, Brent crude oil prices have increased by one-third,” noted Ian Moncrieff, Vice President of Kline’s Energy Practice. “Brent crude oil increased from an average of $33.70/Bbl in quarter one, to $45.52/Bbl in quarter two, and then held steady through the first two months of quarter three. While VGO feedstock price increases for conventional Group II refiners were similar to those for Brent (i.e., VGO cracks remained stable), re-refiners experienced a smaller increase in UMO feed prices from quarter one to quarter two, as used oil collector/aggregators were able to limit reductions in pay-for-oil fees required of used oil generators as heavy fuel oil prices increased.”Continue reading
Professional Hair Care Gets the Royal Treatment
A new generation of treatment products has propelled the salon hair care industry to hit a five-year high in terms of sales growth in 2015. Treatment products was the only product type to register a double-digit gain for the year, with growth nearly four times the industry average. Driven not only by bond multipliers—a brand new sub-category created singlehandedly by Olaplex that was quickly and fiercely replicated by countless others—but also by many deep nourishing treatments and multi-benefit products, as more emphasis is placed on healthier hair and scalps.
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Poised for Solid Growth, Probiotics Appeal to a Variety of Consumers and Health Issues
Over the past several years, the U.S. market for probiotics has emerged as one of the fastest growing consumer healthcare markets, consistently achieving double-digit sales growth. In 2015, according to our recently published Nonprescription Drugs USA and Natural OTCs: Impact of Non-drug Products on the U.S. OTC Market studies, the total market for probiotics is estimated at over $530 million, up above 15% since 2014. It is not uncommon for the category and some brands to achieve sales growth of 15% to 25% on a year-over-year basis. These high growth rates have been sustained by increased consumer awareness and more chronic use as consumers see the value in taking probiotics to increase their immunity rather than just help treat episodic digestive ailments. Furthermore, compared to more traditional digestive products, probiotics have relatively high retail price points, which helps drive overall sales for this market segment.Continue reading
Artful Manicures and Natural Nail Polish Formulae are Indispensable in 2016
Another exciting year is predicted for the global professional nail care market, which continues to offer seasonal color collections, new textures, and more natural formulations, all delivered through creative marketing campaigns. While 2015 was all about the revolutionary long-wear nail polishes, which contributed to a significant portion of this market’s sales, 2016 brings innovation to the next level.
Mirroring the booming natural trend in the personal care and hair care markets, professional nail care marketers are now turning their attention towards improving product formulations to make them vegan, as well as free of parabens, formaldehyde, DBP, and toluene. Marketers are increasingly focused on being able to integrate “3-Free,” “5-Free,” and “7-Free” claims into their marketing campaigns.Continue reading
Finding the Next Billion Dollar Buyout at the Indie Beauty Expo
More than 130 independent brands from around the globe, each with their unique concept and story, took over New York City’s Metropolitan Pavilion last week for this year’s Indie Beauty Expo (IBE). The event showcased the latest trends and new brands that are waiting to be discovered and hoping to follow in the footsteps of IT Cosmetics, GlamGlow, and NYX.
Natural beauty was certainly the theme at IBE, with more than 100 brands marked as green, clean, or both. Besides the obvious nature-inspired aesthetic, skin care products galore, and fascinated shoppers, here are a few brands that we thought were noteworthy:Continue reading
What’s Trending in Freestanding Beauty Stores? We Already Know…
The boutique retailer channel is one of the fastest growing channels in the beauty industry, being a hotbed for a multitude of brands that are looking to create a more personalized, unique beauty experience, as well as fortify their position on this highly competitive market. This week, we interview Carrie Mellage, our Vice President of Consumer Products, who shares some early highlights from our upcoming Boutique Beauty Retailers: Channel Analysis and Opportunities report series.
First of all, what is a boutique retailer?
We use the term “boutique retailer” to refer to retailers where the brand is the retailer, and that brand is the only one sold at that store. They are also called “freestanding stores” or “vertically-integrated specialty stores.” Think MAC freestanding stores or L’Occitane.Continue reading
