Major Forces Shaping the Consumer Health Industry

Spending on consumer health is increasing globally, with a focus on preventive measures and wellness campaigns. Demographics and consumer lifestyles are two forces shaping the industry. For instance, the aging global population is leading to more elderly consumers with specific health needs. Urbanization is also a force; as consumers become busier, self-medication becomes a popular alternative to doctor visits. Stephanie Prymas, Consumer Health Research Analyst at Euromonitor, gives a detailed overview of the consumer health industry in this podcast.

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Personal Wipes Targeting Men in the US Home Care Market

The personal wipes category in the US is fairly stagnated, with women being the main purchasers of these products. In order to reinvigorate the category, companies are launching products marketed strictly for men. For example, “Dude Wipes” targets young, active male consumers who may not have time for a shower between work, the gym and social events. With rising product awareness, Euromonitor expects more manufacturers to launch similar products.

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Medical Tourism Growing in Eastern Europe

Medical Tourism, which is the act of travelling to another country for a medical procedure, is one of the fastest growing categories in travel in Eastern Europe. Many Europeans prefer to travel to Eastern Europe over other medical tourism destinations such as Singapore and India due to cheaper travel costs, the closer proximity of Eastern Europe and the cultural similarities. Dental treatment and cosmetic surgery are some of the more popular reasons for visiting the area, and Euromonitor predicts medical tourism value growth will increase by 24 percent in the next five years.

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Commodities Roundup: May 2013

Wheat futures dropped by two percent in May and was a frantic month for traders. During the first three weeks of the month, production output was upgraded and wheat prices were lowered. However, a strain of genetically modified wheat was discovered on farms in Oregon in the US, and several Asian countries withheld wheat orders as a result. The ensuing confusion caused prices to rise. Francisco Redruello, senior foods analyst at Euromonitor, also discusses corn, sugar, cocoa and skimmed milk powder in this monthly roundup.

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Selling Models in Retail Hygiene

The patterns of how consumers purchase hygiene products are changing as technology progresses. For instance, internet retailing of nappies / diapers has risen sharply in recent years. In fact, 40 percent of all diapers sold in South Korea are via online transactions. Ian Bell, Head of Tissue and Hygiene Research at Euromonitor, explains future opportunities for selling models, including thoughts on a contract based diaper service.

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Parenting Lifestyle Trends for 2013

As women delay having children and the overall age of first time parents continues to rise, kids are still coming first in the family despite the lingering effects of a global recession. However, there is a price to pay for this, as parents are working longer hours and more jobs to keep their children well clothed and fed. Daphne Kasriel, Consumers Editor at Euromonitor, dives into this trend and many other global parenting trends in this podcast.
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Michael Kors Exceeds Coach in Sales Growth for the First Time

Michael Kors exceeded Coach in absolute sales growth for the first time ever in 2012, sparked by a 67% increase in North American sales. Part of the success of the Michael Kors brand is due its evolution into other accessories such as watches. Competition between these brands will remain fierce in the upcoming years, with Coach expected to combat Michael Kors by introducing new products that target middle aged consumers.

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Home Care Packaging Design in Japan

The home care market in Japan caters to its aging population by recognizing not only that these consumers have the most money to spend on products, but they are also increasingly physically restricted. For instance, Kao Corporation released the Attack Sheet in 1999, a laundry detergent in a sheet format, which is a lighter alternative than a heavy container. Kao has recently released a highly concentrated detergent, which is easier for older consumers to purchase and move.

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Belarusian Grocer 'Fresh Market' to Enter Lithuania

Fresh Market, a grocery store owned by Ipsun in Belarus, is set to expand to Lithuania in 2013, expanding into residential areas and offering fresh items such as fruit, meat and fish. The grocery market in Lithuania is already highly concentrated, but Fresh Market hopes to gain a competitive advantage by tapping into a smaller, convenience store-type format. Fresh Market's long term performance will likely depend on product diversity.

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Understanding Balance of Payments in Countries Worldwide

The balance of payments (BOP) refers to a county's international transactions and judges how a country interacts with the rest of the world. Daniel Tarling-Hunter, Economist at Euromonitor, explains how the BOP is divided into current, capital and financial accounts, analyzing several countries through their balance of payments.

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