Mintel Little Conversation

With the news of Clarisonic, a beauty device brand owned by L’Oreal, closing after a decade, Mintel experts in the beauty industry from across the globe discuss where it all went wrong and why beauty devices have not taken off as expected. They discuss how beauty devices have evolved and what it will take for these products to take hold and fulfil consumer’s wants and needs. Listen now to hear what the experts have to say about the future of beauty devices and products.

Host: Andrew McDougall (Associate Director, Global Beauty and Personal Care).

Guests: Reiko Hasegawa (Senior Beauty & Personal Care Analyst, Japan),

Samantha Dover (Senior Beauty and Personal Care Analyst, Mintel Reports UK).

The global pandemic has created a sea change in the way consumers live their lives and brands are shuffling their messaging to connect with them. Mintel experts from across the globe discuss how COVID-19 has accelerated and shifted global consumer trends, such as more experiences, seamless spending, humanizing technology interactions, and going live on social media. They also provide recommendations on how brands should move forward in this new era.

Host: Dana Macke (Associate Director, Mintel Reports US, Lifestyles and Leisure).

Guests: Diana Kelter (Senior Trends Analyst, Americas),

Vanessa Rondine (Senior Trends Analyst LAR),

Helen Fricker (Trends Manager, EMEA),

Elysha Young (Trends Manager, APAC).

Mintel expert analysts in beauty and personal care sit down to discuss the top beauty ingredients in the North Asia Pacific that are grabbing consumer attention. From ingredients that are safe and hygienic to COVID-19’s impact on ingredient preferences, and needing scientific information on how products are beneficial, consumers in APAC are focused on making sure they are using the best ingredients possible. The analysts also predict the best ingredients to look for in Asia as well as trends moving forward.

Host: Matthew Crabbe (Director of Mintel Trends, APAC).

Guests: Laurie Du (Senior Beauty & Personal Care Analyst, China),

Hwa Jun Lee (Senior Beauty & Personal Care Analyst, South Korea),

Reiko Hasegawa (Senior Beauty & Personal Care Analyst, Japan).

The emerging trend across the globe in the credit industry, 'buy now, pay later,' is gripping consumer attention, especially Millennials. The idea itself isn’t anything new, but new brands have entered the space and different styles are being used, such as no interest or late fees that are attracting consumers. In this episode, Mintel experts in the financial services industry discuss this trend and how it’s going to impact banks and credit card companies but also consumer’s personal finances.

Host: Andrew Davidson (SVP/Chief Insights Officer).

Guests: Mark Miller (Associate Director of Insights, Financial Services, Comperemedia),

Thomas Slide (Senior Financial Services Analyst, Mintel Reports UK).

In this episode, Mintel experts dive into the evolution of livestreaming. They discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated livestreaming and how consumers are using it in different parts of the world. How can brands make the most of the opportunities a live platform brings? How will livestreaming impact social media influencers? What will livestreaming look like in the future? Mintel experts discuss how it got here and where its going.

Host: Samantha Dover (Senior Beauty and Personal Care Analyst, Mintel Reports UK).

Guests : Nick Carroll (Associate Director, Retail, Mintel Reports UK),

Rebecca McGrath (Senior Media Analyst, UK).

Mintel experts take on the age-old debate of science vs. nature in the beauty and food and drink industries, as they discuss why consumers no longer blindly trust "natural" claims and are showing curiosity in scientific and synthetic solutions. They also share their favourite products or brands in the scientific/lab-grown space, such as barley facial cream developed to help with anti-ageing, growing kale in indoor farms, and upcycled bread to make craft beer.

Host: Dec Cooney (Consulting Team Manager).

Guests: Edward Bergen (Global Food and Drink Analyst),

Alex Fisher (Associate Director, Beauty and Personal Care),

Richard Cope (Senior Trends Consultant).

As consumers look for ways to spend their time stuck at home during the pandemic, beauty routines have been a focus for some. From advancing their skincare routine to giving themselves a haircut due to closed salons, consumers have taken their beauty and personal care into their own hands. In this episode, our beauty experts in the UK discuss how consumer behaviours and purchases have changed due to the pandemic and what brands can do moving forward past the lockdown stage.

Host: Andrew McDougall (Associate Director, Global Beauty and Personal Care)

Guests: Lucy Cornford (BPC Content Manager, EMEA),

Alex Fisher (Associate Director, Beauty & Personal Care),

Margaux Caron (Global Beauty Analyst)

On this week’s episode, Mintel analysts sit down to discuss the current food and drink startup landscape. With the global pandemic creating major shifts in consumer behaviours and buying habits, is there still a focus on new experiences when it comes to food and drink or are consumers looking for familiarity and comfort - and how is that playing out across various food and drink sectors, the use of flavours and ingredients, and brand preference? There is no doubt that it is a challenging time for food and drink startups and small businesses, but there are also key opportunities in the short, medium, and long term with consumer behaviour at the core of future potential.

Host: Dana Macke (Associate Director, Mintel Reports US, Lifestyles and Leisure)

Guests: Caleb Bryant (Associate Director, Food and Drink, Mintel Reports US),

Emma Allmann (Junior Analyst, Mintel Disruptor),

Jack Duckett (Associate Director, Consumer Lifestyles, Mintel Reports UK)

How we clean and care for our homes have taken on new meanings following the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially changing behaviours forever. In this episode, Mintel household analysts discuss the 2030 Global Household Care Trends - released at the start of 2020 - specifically looking at if and how the crisis is accelerating their predictions. And, while we have them, we ask their opinions on some innovative new household care products, including a device that turns tap water into a disinfectant, self-cleaning surfaces, and a cleaning product with just nine, simple ingredients.

Host: Samantha Dover (Senior Beauty and Personal Care Analyst, Mintel Reports UK)

Guests: Jamie Rosenberg (Senior Global Analyst),

Rebecca Cullen (Senior Household Care Analyst, US),

Richard Hopping (Global Household Analyst)

The evolution of the brand-consumer relationship is gaining momentum. Brands ask a lot of consumers, who, increasingly, are demanding more in return. Following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, brands were compelled to make statements admonishing racism and supporting racial justice. However, consumers want more than words. In this episode, Mintel experts in the fields of consumer behaviour, culture, trends, and lifestyles analyse what accountability, authenticity, and honesty mean for today's brand-consumer relationship, how it evolves within cancel culture, and what brands must consider when speaking up. In a world where public image is meticulously crafted, words are good, but action is what's important. If brands can't afford to be static, but can only be reactive for so long, the question remains: what's next? [Disclaimer: This episode was recorded June 12, 20202; since then Starbucks has reversed its decision to allow employees to wear Black Lives Matter apparel.]

Host: Dana Macke (Associate Director, Mintel Reports US, Lifestyles and Leisure)

Guests: Toya Mitchell (Senior Multicultural Analyst, Mintel Reports US),

Lisa Dubina (Senior Analyst, Mintel Reports US, Culture and Identity),

Alex Milinazzo (Trends Analyst),

Jeannette Ornelas (Senior Digital Marketing Analyst, Comperemedia)