• Fashion Store Environments - UK
Fashion Store Environments - UK

Fashion retailers are being pulled in two directions on store design: on the one side, budgets are being cut; but on the other, many are trying to move their image high end. Achieving the two simultaneously can prove a challenge. Higher sourcing prices and narrowing margins are forcing retailers to put up prices, whilst consumers are unlikely to pay more when faced with an uninspiring store environment.
• Fitness in the Home - UK
Fitness in the Home - UK

This report, which carries the tagline “Taking advantage of the desire to save time and money”, examines consumer behaviour in the in-home fitness market, primarily in terms of equipment ownership, exercise habits and attitudes towards health and fitness. It also explores the factors affecting market growth, identifies current trends and innovations, assesses how the market is changing and outlines future developments.
• Holiday Shopping - US
Holiday Shopping - US

The $512 billion holiday shopping market has developed based on the assumption that major holidays drive consumer spending in stores for particular types of goods. Holiday shopping is, to some extent, a self-fulfilling prophecy: because retailers emphasize particular holidays, consumers are reminded of these events and are inspired to celebrate them. Well-stocked shelves with holiday-themed merchandise induce demand. Yet Mintel’s research has found that despite similar retailing practices for many holidays, some holidays are fundamentally more important to American consumers than others, and the ways in which consumers expect to celebrate them differs dramatically, depending on the holiday.
• Kids' and Teens' Restaurant Eating Habits - US
Kids' and Teens' Restaurant Eating Habits - US

This report explores kids’ and teens’ eating habits as it applies to restaurants—identifying trends that are changing consumer habits and perceptions about dining out and how restaurants are reacting to these needs. The report covers industry activity in and consumer attitudes and behavior towards full-service and limited-service restaurants from the perspectives of both children and parents. The report focuses not only on innovation and trends related to what’s on the kids’ menu, but also what surrounds the menu, such as entertainment and activities used to attract children.
• Portable Technology - US
Portable Technology - US

The portable technology market is constantly changing, based on customer needs and technological advances. This report explores the shifts and overlapping between cell phones and MP3 players, as well as competing products—the number of which keeps growing in time with convergence. The report presents ways for manufacturers to stay competitive both in terms of marketing and product development, in the existing MP3-player market and against competing technologies. This includes fine-tuning content offerings and features, identifying niche markets, and how to reach current owners and court new consumer groups.
• White Goods - UK
White Goods - UK

White goods, like so much other expenditure on the home, has been hit hard by more nervous consumers reining in their discretionary spending due to the knock-on impact of the credit crunch, a collapse in property prices and rising unemployment. But while there has been a slackening of demand, as the UK economy moved into recession, manufacturers and retailers of white goods are also faced with the problem of needing to raise prices, as a result of the rising cost of raw materials and a weaker exchange rate.
• Bread - US
Bread - US

Bread is a mature market with 99% US household penetration. From 2003-07, sales were essentially flat after accounting for inflation. However in 2008, amid a troubled economic climate, bread sales surged as consumers shifted from eating meals out at restaurants to preparing meals at home.
• Deli Meats, Bacon and Sausages - UK
Deli Meats, Bacon and Sausages - UK

This report assesses the performance of the delicatessen meats, bacon and sausages market. Since 2007, volume sales have fallen by 2.2%, whilst value sales have grown by 5.2% to reach £3.9 billion.
• Gen X Finance - US
Gen X Finance - US

Gen Xers represent a prime target for financial services companies as they establish households, start raising families, buy homes, and plan for their children’s education and their own retirements. For decades, Baby Boomers have been in the limelight, but Gen Xers are set to take center stage. However, many firms are still focused on Baby Boomers, and others are eager to cater to the up and coming Gen Y crowd.
• Hair Styling Appliances - US
Hair Styling Appliances - US

Despite a wave of product innovations designed to improve the performance and convenience of hair styling appliances, the category is driven largely by replacement sales at a pace that suggests most women wait until their current appliance stops working before purchasing a new one. Sales of hair styling appliances increased only slightly in 2008 as the category began to feel the heat of the economic downturn.
• Healthy Snacking - US
Healthy Snacking - US

Representing a wide variety of foods, the market for healthy snacks was valued at $29 billion in 2008. Sales grew by 17% from 2003-08 but there was zero growth in sales at inflation-adjusted prices. This report addresses issues of key concern to manufacturers, marketers, and distributors of healthy snack foods, including:
Which segments are growing or declining and what particular products or brands are shaping the current and future direction of these segmentsHow traditional products or ingredients are being used in a non-traditional way to create category-blurring itemsWhich products and segments are offering functional health benefits and additives such as Omega-3 and who are these attributes targeted towardWhich age and gender groups are willing to sacrifice taste for nutritional benefit and which group absolutely will notHow important healthfulness is to parents when choosing children’s snacksHow the economy is changing snacking choices

Drinking alcohol is engrained in British culture and shows no signs of abating – two thirds of adults drink at least once a week and the government estimates that 10 million people exceed daily limit guidelines. Mintel last examined British drinking habits in Attitudes Towards Drinking – UK, November 2006, when the alcohol market was facing pressure from legislators and other interested parties because of the social and health problems being attributed to excessive alcohol consumption.

The carbonated soft drinks market continues to exhibit a downward trend in sales and consumption. Even though the market still commands the highest consumer penetration among all non-alcoholic beverages, the market’s long-term profitability appears to be threatened by a combination of factors including soda’s link with the ongoing obesity issues among Americans and consumers’ growing skepticism about the use of artificial sweeteners in diet soda. However, a number of factors emerge that could help in giving a much needed makeover to soda.