Consumer Goods: Trade challenges and opportunities post pandemic

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, consumer goods accounted for a quarter of the world’s trade in goods, representing US$4.8trn in 2019.1 In 2020 private consumption declined by nearly 11% in the UK and Italy, 6-7% in Germany, France and Japan and 4% and 3% in the US and China respectively.2 Some goods sectors suffered more than others. Travel, entertainment and hospitality were some of the hardest hit, while others, like electronics, saw demand increase as remote working became widespread.

South Africa’s post-pandemic consumer: Building on new foundations

When South Africa entered one of the world’s strictest lockdowns on March 27th, its economy was already in recession and unemployment stood at 30%.1 In a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus among the country’s 60m people,2 the government banned sales of all but essential items—mainly food, medicine and hygiene products—until early May.

The UAE’s omni-channel consumer: Striking a balance between online and in-store shopping experiences

The UAE’s retailers faced a quadruple blow as a result of the coronavirus restrictions: the temporary closure of non-essential shops at the start of lockdown, a fall in consumer confidence, loss of foreign tourists and a drop in resident numbers as expatriates left the country. 

China icebergs: Forces that could reshape the world

 is an Economist Intelligence Unit report, sponsored by Pine

Authenticity in the Age of Trump

In marketing we throw around words like authenticity, trust, and credibility as the keys to developing relationships with customers that go beyond simply selling something to someone. We hold these words up as signifiers that we have some higher purpose, some place in people’s lives that transcends the transactional. Of course, in private we know this is not really true.

The role of apps in ethical shopping

Smartphone apps can help make information about business ethics easier to consume, but reforming the global supply chain will take more concerted effort

The rise of the customer-led economy

Research Methodology

In June 2013 The Economist Intelligence Unit conducted a global survey of 1,300 executives. The respondents are based in Europe (35%), North America (30%) and Asia-Pacific (24%); the remainder are from the Middle East and Africa and Latin America. A total of 90 countries are represented. C-level executives represent 61% of the total number of respondents, who hail from 19 different industries.

The rise of the customer-led economy

 “To satisfy the customer is the mission and purpose of every business.”

-Management guru Peter Drucker

But for decades the gap between big companies and the customers who bought their products and services has grown only wider. The customer might be king, but his crown slipped.

On the rise and online: Female consumers in Asia-Chinese

On the rise and online: Female consumers in Asia

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