Iconoculture, a consumer research and advisory company, has published its take on top consumer trends for 2012. Here’s a quick look at what they see in the crystal ball.

1. Saving. With Europe’s current debt crisis and the United States still lolling in the Great Recession, consumers are looking for security and control in their financial lives, and they’re turning to savings, convenience and dependability to stay sane. Takeaway: Do whatever you can to help your clients feel in control and offer them ways to save.

2. Shopping. The tech revolution is changing how people buy, both in the aisle and on the couch. Takeaway: you need to make sure you build fluid connections between you and your clients, whether it be social networks, mobile or the telephone.

3. The new 70. Boomers do not see themselves as aging or as part of an older age group. The new 50 is actually closer to 70. Takeaway: when planning events for the over-50 crowd, be careful not to hand out the Geritol and walkers. This crowd is hip, in shape and wants new experiences.

4. Easy Pay. No checks, cash or cards? No problem—not if you have an iPhone and are a customer of Commonwealth Bank. This Australian bank is getting set to launch an app that makes payments instantly and remotely. Takeaway: Picture getting paid by email, Facebook or mobile number—on the spot.

5. Follow fashion. A German company is now making a new clothing line with powdered milk. The cloth, called Qmilch, is reported to have positive effects on the skin. Takeaway: Look for innovative fabrics and other décor items as new technologies are born.

The looming uncertainty over the global economy  has turned consumers into more value-conscious, mobile, experience-hungry, social sharing, green enthusiasts. Add a touch of convenience for a rapidly growing urban population worldwide, and this paints a picture of the new global consumer. As we near closer to a new year, Euromonitor reviewed the key consumer and industry trends that defined 2011, and offers the following prospects for 2012:

• Economic woes will see more consumers looking up to ‘new’ non-monetary forms of status like altruism, connectivity, eco-credentials and acquired skills

• 2012 will push consumers into a deal ecosystem in which the chase, the control, the perceived savvy, and novel tech-led thrift-alerts – not just the saving – make up a good deal

• Although many consumers can’t afford to buy green, they expect brands to be trailblazers and to clean up their act! Brands like Patagonia are taking back used products for rewards, and recycling will shine

• Less will be more in 2012. Companies will be helping their customers to consume less of their products

• In 2012, opportunities to cater to millions of low-income urban consumers will be the biggest ever

• Crowdsourced problem-solving will trigger innovation – especially if participation is made simpler

• Consumer respect will be beamed at brands showing their human side; both in terms of transparency and caring initiatives

• Consumer vigilantes will have a sustained high profile - protesting in the physical and online worlds

• While the digital and physical worlds are converging via a mobile 24/7 net access, consumers want seamless access to positives of the digital world: convenience, control, choice etc. in the real world

• The ‘consumerization’ of health means that customers are now looking for health as a feature, product, experience or service

• Emphasis will be on conscious consumption in 2012 as consumers continue their search for a more meaningful life

• Where people shop for packaged food is, and will be, just as important as what they buy

• Collaborative consumption, renting goods instead of buying them, will be big in 2012

• Income inequality will be an increasing cause for concern in 2012. The richest 10% of households in 24 major economies account for more than 1/3 of their country’s income. The incomes of the richest 10% in the USA are 37 times higher than those of the poorest

• Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, will plague advanced economies in 2012. More than half of people aged 15-24 are without work in Spain

• Best case scenario will see retailing be worth US$13.2 trillion by the end of 2012. However, macro-economic issues will remain a concern

• Cross-border sales through internet stores are likely to put bricks-and-mortar retailers in all countries under pressure in the short term

• Grocery retailers set to enjoy faster growth than their non-grocery peers. Taking a greater share of their competitors’ sales will likely aid grocery retailers during the year

• Underlining the growing divide globally in terms of spending power, jewellers is expected to be the fastest growing channel in 2012, boosted by emerging markets, while warehouse clubs will be second

• Retailers are going to have to be increasingly aware of m-commerce in 2012

• Asia Pacific to overtake Western Europe as the biggest regional packaged food market in 2016

• With more mouths to feed, retail volume will continue to outpace retail value sales

• A growing prevalence of convenience and snacking  will make eating on-the-go the new “normal”

Rok 2011 spotřebitelům přát nebude

Jak bude vypadat rok 2011 v České republice? Podle analytika Raiffeisenbank Michala Brožky přijde zpomalení růstu české ekonomiky na 1,5 procenta a očekávaný pokles reálných mezd spolu se stále vysokou mírou nezaměstnanosti nad devíti procenty půjde pravděpodobně ruku v ruce také s poklesem spotřeby domácností. „Český spotřebitel zůstane i v příštím roce slabým článkem ekonomiky,“ uvedl Brožka.

Konstatoval, že nebýt vládních úspor, tak by růst HDP v roce 2011 patrně přesáhl dvě procenta. Na zpomalení se podepíše například i pokles investic do fotovoltaiky. Hlavní otázkou pro českou ekonomiku ale zůstává dle Brožky vývoj v zahraničí. „Je zřejmé, že česká ekonomika velmi těží z vysoké konkurenceschopnosti sousedního Německa ve světové ekonomice. Česká ekonomika je velmi otevřená a zahraniční poptávka je pro ni esenciální,“ sdělil analytik.

Německu by se mělo v příštím roce dařit. Poté, co během letošního roku stoupal hrubý domácí produkt odhadem o 3,5 procenta, přidá německá ekonomika v růstu podle aktuálních prognóz Commerzbank v roce 2011 ještě 2,6 procenta. Motorem růstu jsou dle banky dobré obchody německých exportérů na znovu se vzmáhajících asijských trzích. „Umírněné vyjednávání o mzdách v uplynulém roce a výrazné zvyšování produktivity způsobily, že německé výrobky jsou nyní velmi konkurenceschopné,“ řekl ekonom Commerzbank Ralph Solveen.

Dle mínění Michala Brožky v zemích eurozóny dochází ale k úsporám a dojde zde pravděpodobně ke zpomalení růstu. „Pro celou eurozónu očekáváme zpomalení hospodářského růstu v roce 2011 na 1,4 procenta z letošního tempa kolem 1,7 procenta,“ upozornil.

Klíčovou otázkou pro rok 2011 bude také zvládnutí dluhových potíží zemí eurozóny. Eskalace těchto problémů by podle Brožky mohla mít negativní dopad na reálnou ekonomiku eurozóny, a tudíž i na poptávku po českém exportu.

„Navíc by v souvislosti s dluhovou krizí mohlo dojít k otřesům na finančních trzích, které by zvýšily náklady na financování státu. Na druhou stranu je možné, že v příštím roce dojde k zlepšení ratingu České republiky, což by byl z hlediska financování státu pozitivní efekt,“ poznamenal Brožka.

Česká koruna by za rok mohla být vůči euru přibližně o korunu dražší, tedy kolem 24 korun za euro.

Téměř šestina obyvatel Česka měla v posledních dvanácti měsících alespoň jednou problém zaplatit pravidelné účty nebo si koupit jídlo či běžné spotřební zboží.

Akční nabídky lidem umožňují nepřecházet na levnější, neznačkové zboží.

 

US consumers will continue to show restraint and look for value pricing in their CPG shopping habits, while grocery consolidation will intensify and assortment wars will escalate, according to  The Nielsen Company, which recently  issued its list of top five predictions for 2010.

Following is a brief rundown of Nielsen’s major CPG trends this year:

1. Restraint Will Remain the New Normal: US consumers have unemployment and other economic concerns at the top of their mind, suggesting that trends in restrained spending will continue into 2010, reports Retailer Daily.

2. Value is  Top Priority: Coinciding with consumers’ focus on restraint is a focus on value. A desire for low pricing could threaten margins, and widespread discounting across the retail industry will require retailers and brands to differentiate themselves beyond price.

3. Store Brand Growth Will Continue: Store-brand CPG products are growing in terms of both dollar and unit sales, according to separate research by Nielsen. Unit sales are growing more quickly than dollar sales, likely reflecting retailers’ response to consumer demand for value pricing.

4. Grocery Consolidation Will Intensify: Local and regional grocery players, unable to drive profits in the soft economy, will become acquisition targets and some larger national and regional grocers will divest unprofitable formats and banners to strengthen investments behind their winning formats and banners.

5. Assortment Wars Will Escalate: Retailer efforts to simplify the consumer shopping experience by eliminating aisle and shelf clutter will cause market share land grabs for small and medium-sized brands in pursuit of elusive revenue growth. Retailers may lose sales as they shift away from in-store merchandising that drove impulse buying and built shopper baskets. Look for brands caught in the trap of greater store brand focus and assortment optimization to forge alliances with key retailers, enter or step up efforts as store brand suppliers, and/or explore direct-to-consumer sales, Nielsen said.

Related topics: Traditional, Retail, Signs of What's to Come, Packaged Goods, Financial, Behavioral Marketing,

Jan 6-10

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Moudré hlavy předpovídají, co bude zákazníky ovlivňovat v roce 2010