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Mintel’s Month in Retail highlights the stories that have made headlines in the European retail markets over the past four weeks, with exclusive analysis from Mintel’s expert retail team on potential implications.
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UK: John Lewis to extend trial of tradesman service
John Lewis’ tradesmen service programme,
Home Solutions, is set to expand to six other cities as part of the next trial phase. Home Solutions
lets customers book various John Lewis-approved tradespeople online, such as plumbers, gardeners and electricians, in order to help them install John Lewis products in their home.
“Mintel's
Marketing to Men UK 2017 report found that almost half of 25-34 year olds think that home improvement projects are best left to the professionals. This lack of confidence means that younger generations are much more likely to call in a professional, but it can be difficult to know who to trust. John Lewis is leveraging its reputation to give its customers the confidence to spend on their homes, safe in the knowledge that a reliable tradesperson will carry out the work.”
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International: Amazon launches campaign for own-brand fashion label
Amazon has formally launched its first UK own-brand fashion label, Find. Whilst the products have been available since April 2017 for UK Amazon Prime customers, it is only now that the full range of clothes, 500 items of womenswear and 200 pieces of menswear, has been released to non-Prime users in the UK.
“It will take time for Amazon to establish itself as a trusted fashion brand in the UK, but its level of innovation, with the launch of Prime services such as try before you buy and its digital stylist device Echo Look, mean it has the potential to become a
disruptor in the fashion market.”
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UK: Asos launches own-brand beauty range
Online fashion and beauty store Asos has launched its own beauty line, called Asos Make-Up. The 46-piece range featuring lipstick, contouring palettes, eyeshadows and bronzers will be priced £5 - £12. Asos is also working with Snapchat on a special lens that will allow customers to recreate some of the looks from the “
Go Play” advertising campaign that will be launched alongside it.
"The move is a natural extension of the brand and is likely to resonate with Asos’ young customer base. However, without a store presence, it could be difficult to attract buyers. Whilst research for
Mintel’s Beauty Retailing UK 2017 found that 28% of 16-24s have bought beauty online in the last year, just 3% have done so at a clothing specialist. Meanwhile, research for the same report found that
more than half of beauty consumers like to browse and test new products in-store. However, continued innovation by Asos in the Beauty and Personal Care market, including the trials with an augmented reality beauty app, will help drive interest in its own-label."
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International: eBay promotes physical media
Online retailer eBay has rolled out a dedicated section of its online marketplace called
The Entertainment Shop, focusing on the popularity of physical media such as
vinyl records, retro video games and comic books. According to eBay, eight million searches for vinyl records were made by shoppers on its online marketplace in the year ending July 2017, at an average of two records sold per minute.
“In a highly digitised world, we have seen some consumers reinstate the value they place on physical goods. This is particularly true of physical entertainment with an emotional or collectible attachment to them. Indeed,
Mintel's Books and e-Books UK 2017 report found that four in five book buyers prefer to buy the print versions of books they are very interested in. eBay has long taken advantage of this desire for physical, often rare products, and collating them into one area is a logical move.”
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UK: Sainsbury’s launches suit range
Tu, Sainsbury’s clothing brand, have launched a 29-piece formal range including two- and three- piece suits, patterned shirts and jackets.
Tu Formal is being rolled out across 250 stores and online, with prices
ranging from £6 for ties to £130 for a tweed jacket. According to Sainsbury’s, it is the first supermarket fashion range to make suits with UK produced fabrics.
“There has been an ongoing shift in the clothing market, with people moving away from the specialists towards those offering better value for money. Sainsbury’s has been continuing to strengthen its offer and this latest move confirms the retailer’s strategy to differentiate itself from its supermarket competitors.”
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Netherlands: HEMA removes gender labels from children’s clothing
Dutch chain
HEMA is the first retailer in the Netherlands to remove gender labels from its children’s clothing, after increasingly receiving complaints about the division.
“Gender stereotyping is a major conversation in the childrenswear market at present. Whilst HEMA’s move has faced criticism, it’s a well-considered decision, as it addresses the stereotyping issue whilst still giving parents a choice to buy traditional clothing.
Mintel Childrenswear UK 2017 research found that one in five childrenswear consumers would like retailers to offer more gender neutral clothing. As the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority also pledged to eliminate gender stereotypes in ads earlier this year, there will be pressure on retailers to change their messaging when advertising childrens’ products and this will go beyond clothing, moving into other categories such as toys and greetings cards.”
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Retailer loyalty program membership is nearly universal across Canada, but it appears that participation wanes among the nation’s lower income households. New research from Mintel reveals that while 98 percent of those with a household income of $150,000 or higher report belonging to a retailer loyalty program, this declines to just 86 percent of consumers with a household income of less than $50,000. Overall, nine out of 10 (91 percent) Canadians say they participate in a loyalty program, with drug stores (51 percent) and supermarkets (50 percent) leading the way.
[ext_quote]60% of Canadians agree they are not interested in paying a membership fee[/ext_quote]
Despite the overwhelming popularity of loyalty programs, there are still barriers to joining, especially when it comes to cost as 60 percent of Canadians agree they are not interested in paying a membership fee. However, there is a greater willingness to overlook membership fees amongst younger consumers as just 53 percent of those aged 18-34 say they aren’t interested in paying a membership fee compared to three quarters (71 percent) of those aged 55+.
“Loyalty programs prove to be effective at increasing engagement among consumers, but there is potential to target less affluent consumers who may be skeptical of the actual cost savings they will gain. While the quest for better deals outweighs the potential benefits of loyalty programs for some lower income consumers, the lower likelihood of participation is a missed opportunity for staple retail categories such as grocery,” said Carol Wong-Li, Lifestyles and Leisure Analyst at Mintel. “Less affluent consumers may have a perception that loyalty programs cost money, require purchases of multiple items or do not necessarily offer the best value, indicating retailers need to better communicate the benefits of joining such programs – especially if the programs are free to join and rewards can be earned with single purchases.”
With value top of mind for shoppers, those who participate in loyalty programs are most likely (62 percent) to say that discounts on merchandise or services would encourage them to participate in loyalty programs. Loyalty program participants are also interested in having flexibility with how and where they redeem rewards. More than half would like to be able to redeem rewards online (55 percent) as well as at a variety of retailers (53 percent). What’s more, personalization is key as two in five (42 percent) are interested in receiving personalized rewards, rising to 49 percent of those aged 18-34.
As modern lifestyles encourage consumers to be constantly connected, scoring deals for activities they are already engaged in is proving successful, especially among younger women. Women aged 18-24 who participate in loyalty programs are more likely than consumers overall to say they are interested in rewards for writing online product reviews (43 percent vs 26 percent overall), and are nearly twice as likely to want rewards for engaging with a company on social media, such as ‘liking’ or ‘following’ (35 percent vs 18 percent overall).
“As retailers are well aware, getting consumers to join a loyalty program is merely the first hurdle to engagement; getting them to be active in the program is where retailers reap the benefits. Success of loyalty programs will likely be gained by playing up the interests of consumers, including online or social efforts, and centring rewards around areas where customers are most likely to draw a higher sense of value,” continued Wong-Li. “Younger women are keen to be recognized for their social advocacy efforts rather than be rewarded solely for their patronage, highlighting that rewarding consumers for social posts or online reviews should yield gains in the form of more attention to the brand.”
It appears that membership may indeed drive loyalty as half (47 percent) of Canadians who are enrolled in loyalty programs say they prefer to shop at retailers where they participate in the loyalty program. What’s more, over one third (35 percent) agree they would choose to shop at a certain retailer over their competition because of its loyalty program.
[ext_quote]34% say they spend more at certain retailers to take advantage of loyalty program rewards[/ext_quote]
When it comes to cashing in on their loyalty one third (34 percent) of Canadian loyalty program members say they spend more at certain retailers to take advantage of loyalty program rewards, and 30 percent say they buy specific products to take advantage of loyalty program deals. Getting a good deal is even worth a longer trip for some as one in five (22 percent) agree they would visit a store that’s further away because of their loyalty program.
Redemption behaviour amongst loyalty programs members shows a thirst for maximizing value. Three in 10 (30 percent) say they save their rewards to use on more expensive purchases when using dollars-off rewards. Shoppers also aim to allocate rewards toward the items they want as 31 percent agree they would rather use their rewards to receive a discount on merchandise than to receive free products. For some, there is a desire for seeking instant gratification as 30 percent usually redeem their rewards as soon as they’re available.
“Brands may intuitively consider delivering more discounts as a way to deepen engagement in loyalty programs. However, as the retail environment faces a challenging market and the potential for a weaker dollar further impacting the bottom line, cutting costs may not be the optimal answer. Loyalty program engagement could offer a solution, further strengthened by focusing on elements that the customer doesn’t necessarily immediately think about, such as simplifying the purchasing process or enhancing the customer experience rather than simply offering a discount,” concluded Wong-Li.
Mintel’s Month in Retail highlights the stories that have made headlines in the European retail markets over the past four weeks, with exclusive analysis from Mintel’s expert retail team on potential implications.
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There is strong consensus across China that using make-up is a useful technique to boost confidence, and at the same time, show respect for others. It seems that this is particularly true of lip colour as 
As worldwide environmental concerns continue to grow, fingers get pointed at many different potential causes of harm. Specifically with issues surrounding water conservation, Big Alcohol is coming under fire for their impactful amount of water usage and manufacturing methods. With the production of alcohol, especially spirits and beer, comes the potential for waste and pollution of major water sources around the world. While some big brands are now internally making changes to minimize their effects on the environment even beyond water, we see them going past their company walls and partnering with charities and non-profits to promote safe and reliable water around the world.
It's becoming more and more challenging to identify winning new product concepts. Product proliferation, shifts in channels and distribution, and market and category fragmentation make for a very complex environment. However, it is undeniable that product innovation drives growth, and today, it’s more important than ever to find those successful new product ideas.
At this year's 
[ext_quote]57% of Americans have made a c-store foodservice purchase in the last three months.[/ext_quote]
The convenience store foodservice market has experienced fairly strong growth with sales reaching an estimated $34.5 billion in 2016, according to 
Oktoberfest will soon draw all eyes on Germany, with the beer tents opening tomorrow (September 16). But as global consumers’ interests and lifestyles shift, it may be lighter beer that’s filling the steins this year. 
While 
Gone are the days when simply wearing sunscreen was thought to be all the protection from the elements you needed. Nowadays, protecting against up to three levels of infrared light (IR), blue light (HEVL), specific forms of pollution such as PM2.5, unclean water and heavy metals, and even internal and external stress are all impacting new product development in the beauty and personal care industry.
Here, we highlight seven products that aim to protect consumers from the ever-evolving forms of external (and internal) harm in the form of haircare, skincare and color cosmetics product innovation:
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While Indonesia has long been recognised as a rice-eating nation, new research from global market intelligence agency Mintel reveals that the Indonesian retail rice market is experiencing slowing growth.
According to Mintel Market Sizes, the retail volume of Indonesia’s rice market grew by 3% in 2016, this compares to 2015 when it posted 5% growth. Moreover, Indonesia’s rice market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just 3.5%, in retail volume, between 2012 and 2016, and is expected to grow at a mere CAGR of 1.5% from 2017 to 2021.
Despite slowed growth, Indonesia is among the highest rice consuming countries—in terms of total market size—globally with Vietnam at the top of the leaderboard. The average Vietnamese is estimated to consume a whopping 232.5kg of rice (per capita) in 2017*; this is followed by Thailand at 163.2kg (per capita), China at 119.11kg (per capita), Indonesia at 103.02kg (per capita), and finally Malaysia at 100.2kg (per capita).
Jodie Minotto, Research Manager, Asia Pacific, Mintel Food and Drink, said:
“In a country where rice is regarded as a main dietary staple, Indonesia is known to be one of the biggest consumers of rice globally. However, our research indicates that the Indonesian retail rice market is currently seeing a slowdown in growth, perhaps due to the current attention given to the high prevalence of diabetes within the country. In light of the negativity that surrounds rice today, consumers are reacting and an interest in low-carb diets is forming.”
Indeed, Mintel research found that over one in five (27%) urban Indonesians are avoiding carbohydrates in 2017, rising to one in three (33%) consumers aged 35 and above. Among the reasons behind the avoidance of carbohydrates, 64% of Indonesian consumers who avoid carbohydrates believe it is healthier if they do so, while 37% state that their current diet plan does not allow them to include carbohydrates.
“The glycaemic index (GI) of many popular rice varieties will continue to be an issue as cases of diabetes grow. Rice companies in Indonesia are looking for solutions, and unless lower GI strains of rice are developed and made widely available, rice consumption will likely continue to experience slowing growth.” Jodie adds.
Amidst rising income levels, health awareness, and a series of food safety scares, urban Indonesians are also starting to opt for food and drink products that come with the reassurance of an organic certification; close to three in 10 (28%) urban Indonesians claim to seek out organic options when shopping for food and drink. Despite the demand, there has been a limited response from the packaged food and drink industry, with just 3% of all food and drink launches in Indonesia from January to August 2017 featuring an organic claim, according to 
The digital age has brought about a wave of consumer distrust, and it seems that one of the major sources of brand trust in Australia lies in a consumer’s national identity.
[ext_quote]Just 2 in 5 Canadians trust stores to protect their payment information.[/ext_quote]
As consumers today rely on technology for everything from reminding them to get up and walk around to applying for a mortgage on the go, the security of personal data is under scrutiny. So much so that 
Hotspots brings you the Mintel Trends team’s top observations on product and service launches from around the world. From beer-repellent sneakers to a DNA kit that determines your taste for Marmite, find out what’s been happening this month across the globe.
Adam Steel, Trends Analyst, EMEA
Iliana Alvarenga – Trends Analyst, North America
Catherine Cottney - Manager of Trends, EMEA
Graciana Méndez – Trends Analyst, Latin America
Joyce Lam - Trends Analyst, Asia Pacific
Carli Gernot - Manager of Trends, North America
While the convenience of on-the-go food and drink options is on the rise, it seems stopping by a coffee shop to grab a latte, mocha or cold brew coffee is still an essential part of the day for Americans. 
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2017 is proving to be an inventive year for India. From jalapeno yoghurt to anti-pollution foundation, India has seen a vibrant range of innovative product launches in recent months.
Using 
Nowadays, urban Chinese consumers are becoming more and more focused on their health and overall fitness even as lifestyles get busier. 
Mintel has today (Wednesday 11th October, 2017) revealed the 
Mintel announced today (October 11, 2017) the 
