Kline published the second edition of Laundry Chemical Products USA.: Market Analysis and Opportunities recently, and the report contains a wealth of information on market sales, growth, forecasts, and insights from more than 500 structured surveys of professional end-use decision makers.
Commercial laundries were asked the importance of various emerging trends, and 55% rated energy saving/conservation as very important. Continue reading
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
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
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.
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.
On December 12, 2018, the U.S. Congress passed the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the Farm Bill. The bill legalizes the production and transportation of hemp and hemp products, among other things. The Farm Bill has been sent to President Trump, who is expected to sign off on it before the end of the year. Marketers of health and beauty products containing Cannabidiol (CBD), which can be sourced from hemp, have anxiously awaited passage of the Farm Bill in the hopes that it will expand the U.S. market for consumer CBD products. However, this market is still burgeoning, and uncertainty about the legality of marketing CBD products nationwide continues to perplex marketers and retailers.
The Farm Bill defines “hemp” as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” While the definition of hemp will include any part of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, it retains prior regulatory limits used to define industrial hemp by limiting permissible levels of THC concentrations to no more than 0.3%. Hemp and hemp products that meet this definition will be exempt from the definition of “marihuana” (or marijuana) under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, thereby removing it from the list of prohibited Schedule I drugs.
Unlike most of the large, traditional OTC players, small, independent OTC companies have recently recorded double-digit sales growth. These companies often outpace market growth by offering unique brands, uncommon and often natural ingredients, focused distribution, and a strong online presence, frequently combined with compelling digital marketing that resonates with today’s OTC consumers. Identifying these market disruptors and learning the factors that make them resonate with consumers and retailers is crucial. Continue reading
Oral contraceptives (OCs), known commonly as “the pill,” are prescription medications that prevent pregnancy. The most common brands of OCs contain hormone combinations of estrogen, progestin, and/or progesterone. These products have been used for years and were first launched on the U.S. prescription market in the 1960s. While OCs resulted in a new era of pregnancy protection for women, they were not without potential side effects to be considered, including risk of blood clots, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and breast cancer (particularly for women who smoke). To date, OCs have proven to be one of the most popular forms of birth control, due to ease of use, efficacy, and their good safety profile for most women. Continue reading
The U.S. OTC market is characterized lately by slow, steady growth of anywhere from 1% to 3% annually. There are small, independent companies, however, that have recently recorded double-digit sales growth. These companies often outpace market growth by offering unique brands, uncommon and often natural ingredients, focused distribution, and a strong online presence, frequently combined with compelling digital marketing that resonates with today’s OTC consumers. Identifying these market disruptors and learning the factors that make them resonate with consumers and retailers is crucial.Continue reading
The number of beds and facilities in the extended care industry has remained flat as nursing homes compete with at-home care and assisted and independent living facilities. However, extended care facilities is still an important end-use segment for suppliers of laundry chemicals, because sanitizing and disinfecting linens and garments are crucial in a setting with elderly patients and residents. Continue reading