Reports: Latest

Report

Culture luxe: breaking into emerging luxury markets

With the rapid expansion of luxury brands into Asia, BRIC and other emerging markets, there is a pressing need for luxury retailers to communicate more meaningfully with diverse audiences and to understand differing cultures and attitudes.

Report

Aspiring connoisseurs: the evolution of the Chinese luxury consumer

Chinese consumers are buying up luxury goods both domestically and abroad at an unprecedented rate, and there seems to be no limit to the growth in their luxury purchases. But the question remains – why do they buy?

Report

Online retail in Latin America: Mexico

In the second part of his report on e-commerce in Latin America, Ulysses De La Torre discusses the key differences between the Brazilian and Mexican markets, and examines the opportunities that are available to online retailers in Mexico.

Report

Online retail in Latin America: Brazil

In the first part of a two-part report, Ulysses De La Torre looks at the dominant trends in Latin America's fast-growing e-commerce market, and presents an overview of Brazilian online retail.

Report

New and booming: spending power in Canada

Canada's large immigrant population and economically powerful older generation present clear opportunities for brands. But the full potential represented by the changing face of the typical Canadian consumer has yet to be fully realised.

Report

Self-gifting beauty shoppers

Recession-hit shoppers have learned to do more with less over the past few years. Now, they are seeking small indulgences – a pat on the back for a savings job well done, using special offers from retailers such as gift cards or coupons.

Report

DIY American beauty

The economic downturn has led to a huge increase in the popularity of at-home beauty products in the US, with retailers creating mini-DIY sections in stores. And experts don’t expect women to return to their old ways when conditions improve.

Report

No place like home

The behaviour known as 'cocooning' was first identified in the 1990s, but it is currently seeing a resurgence as a result of economic turmoil. It is particularly pronounced in Australia, where people are spending more on home comforts.

Report

Interview: retail in the US

Debbi Evans speaks with Doug Stephens, President of Retail Prophet Consulting, and Maureen Atkinson, Senior Partner at JC Williams Group, about the emerging technologies that are bringing contrasting fortunes to the US's major retail players.

Report

Interview: retail in the UK

Mark Teale is Head of Research at CB Richard Ellis. He talks to Canvas8 about current shifts in UK retail and explains the often symbiotic relationship between the online and offline experience.

Report

Apparel retail in the US and UK

Have our clothing-buying habits been altered by the recession? When and where do consumers want to shop, and what are the factors that influence their buying decisions? We talk to consumers and experts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Report

Rough luxury

A trend towards rough-and-ready presentation on the part of luxury retailers is being accompanied by a counter-trend among value retailers who are seeking to provide more upscale interiors. But what will happen if these two worlds collide?

Report

Supermarket shopping in the States

Consumers remain on edge as unemployment in the US is at a high level and incomes remain flat, but food and petrol prices are an increasing chunk of their budgets. How have supermarkets adjusted to price-conscious consumers?

Report

Immigrants and identity

Globalisation has resulted in the drawing together of various diverse and disparate cultures, even as people themselves move further apart. But territory and country of origin are still defining aspects of an individual’s identity.

Report

Informed Consumerism

People aspire to make well-informed decisions about purchases both prior to and at point of sale, either online, on their mobiles, or in-store. But there is evidence that the emphasis is not necessarily on making ethical or rational choices.

Report

Cracking the culture code

Approaches and attitudes towards shopping, food and culture differ from country to country, from city to city, and even from street to street. Understanding these unique cultural codes can help brands to discover what works where.

Report

Conscience Confusion

There is evidence that despite consumers claiming to base their purchasing decisions on ethical issues such as the environment, their actual retail habits do not reflect such strong commitment and indicate a high level of uncertainty.

Report

Nigeria's growing retail industry

Africa already has more middle income consumers than India. We hone in on  the retail sector in one of the continent's most promising economies – forecast by some to overtake South Africa - analysing the challenges and opportunities therein.

Report

Youthful good books: Spain’s punk publishers

Maverick publishers in Spain are rewriting a literary movement, drawing on punk influences to create an eclectic scene that acknowledges the need for quality fiction among the country’s youth.

Report

The next (fron)tier: reaching rural China

The majority of big ticket purchases are made in the wealthier coastal provinces of Eastern China. However, clever government and brand initiatives mean that the significant population in tier 2 and 3 cities should catch up.