“While the vast majority of people get satisfaction from seeing a clean and tidy home, most don’t want their home to look akin to a show home. Promoting a homely rather than sterile look in advertising is therefore likely to appeal. This could include cleaning brands going beyond traditional messages about cleaning power and killing germs and focusing on the home as a social venue, including the promotion of seasonal products in the pre-Christmas period.”

An increasingly diverse population and more frequent home cooking helped the ethnic food market continue to grow in 2011, reaching nearly $3 billion in sales. However, the 3.5% growth during this time is the slowest seen in the category over the five years prior. Signs of an improving economy may have driven some consumers back to restaurants, where they might find a more authentic ethnic food experience at the hands of professional chefs, or simply obtain fast and convenient meal options at a reasonable cost.

Retail sales at drug stores grew by 3.6% in 2011, reaching $230 billion, and are expected to increase by a further 5% in 2012. Growth is driven by the aging population, rising levels of obesity and obesity-related illnesses and conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. As these groups seek treatment for their conditions, they turn to drug stores for health-related needs. Additionally, rising costs of health care are causing many to limit or avoid visits to their doctors, rather preferring self-diagnosis or assistance from a pharmacist or in-store clinic when seeking medical advice and treatment. Though competition exists from other channels, Walgreens and CVS remain the leaders among drug stores visited in general, as well as the top two destinations for prescription refills. Online retailing is slower to take off in this space, but it is expected to grow as consumers continue to adopt mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This report closely examines these themes as well as a variety of other factors impacting the drug store shopper.

Reflecting a trend that has been seen in a variety of categories, sales of foot care products declined sharply in 2009, as millions of Americans sought ways to reduce discretionary spending and increase savings for a “worst case scenario” plan. While sales fell again in 2010 and 2011, improving economic conditions indicate that marketing and product development teams will want to intensify their efforts in 2012, as companies seek ways to capitalize on moderately strong demand for mid-market, as well as premium foot care products.

Strong growth in the $12 billion home baking industry at FDMx in 2008 and 2009 slowed to a halt in 2010 and 2011. Similarly, strong growth in consumer interest in home baking waned slightly in the period, having been driven in recent years in part by a desire to save money during the economic downturn. A rebounding economy that frees consumers from the need to prepare food at home, competition from in-store bakeries (ISBs) and alternative markets, as well as a growing consumer interest in healthy eating challenge sales.

The prepaid and gift card business is experiencing a comeback as the economy slowly recovers from the recent recession. Prepaid cards are among the fastest-growing method of payments, with the number of transactions increasing nearly 23% per year between 2006 and 2009 (source: 2010 Federal Reserve Payments Study).

The market for sleep aids is growing, despite the recall of a leading brand-name product and an overall reduction in new product introductions. Growth has been propelled by natural and homeopathic products, yet the number of people who have trouble sleeping still far outweighs the number who report taking a sleep aid, resulting in a category ripe for greater potential growth.

Mintel Oxygen isn't just another source for market research data – it’s your business guide towards successful growth and profitability.

“Although the current squeeze on household budgets has undoubtedly put a damper on the amount of money people are able to save, the lack of a savings habit among many individuals often comes down to lifestyle choices. By designing savings products and services that take lifestyle into consideration providers may be able to encourage more people to develop disciplined savings habits.”

With anticipated spending of $22.8 billion and a 6.8% increase compared to 2010, the Back to School (BTS) shopping market showed signs of recovery in 2011. Nonetheless, growth in this competitive market is shaped by shifting tastes, as conscious teens and economizing parents intend to find the best values in a rapidly-changing digital media environment. The market embraces on one hand some of the most powerful retailers such as Walmart, Target and Macy’s, and on the other some of the newest and most innovative retailers, such as eCampus.com or 77kids by American Eagle. This report offers an in-depth analysis of the BTS shopping moment at this key juncture, as the economy makes a still uncertain and slow recovery. Additionally, the report:

After experiencing sharp declines in the depths of the recession, the bed and bath linens market has begun to show signs of life. The category stabilized in 2010 and is estimated to have gained ground in 2011. While sales remain far below their pre-recession levels, and consumers remain cautious about all household expenditures, the market is poised to continue on a positive tract over the next few years.

“Gaining a competitive edge through the wealth of customer data derived from a loyalty scheme is easier said than done. Moreover retailers must then deliver relevant and useful incentives to shoppers if they are to succeed in generating those all-important repeat purchases. Getting it right procures good value from the marketing budget but getting it wrong is a wasted investment”.

With a household penetration rate of 97.1%, the salty snacks category is one of the most popular among U.S. households. In 2011, U.S. sales of potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels and corn snacks amounted to $13.6 billion, illustrating the relative recession-resistance of these snack segments. As such, they are critically important to manufacturers and retailers alike, as they represent a fairly reliable revenue stream.