The fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic has spurred many consumer trends and will define businesses’ response to them in a world with rapidly changing dynamics, a report by Euromonitor found.
Change was the only constant over the past two years, with radical lifestyle shifts motivating consumers to make “intentional, mindful and ambitious decisions”, the London-based market research firm said.
“Now, the world is on the road to recovery. Consumers are putting their plans into motion, taking chances and seizing the moment,” Euromonitor said.
The 10 trends below indicate ways consumers are taking back the reins and paving a path forward based on their passions and values:
Back-up planners
Back-up planners, who are faced with challenges in securing their usual or desired products, are looking for ways to purchase similar items or finding creative solutions to obtain similar items.
More importantly, they use technology to move to the front of the queue when supplies are threatened.
Climate changers
Eco-anxiety is making consumers aware of their individual contribution to climate change, driving purchasing decisions.
In 2021, 43 per cent of professionals said the lack of consumer willingness to pay more for these products is a significant barrier, hindering business sustainability initiatives.
Digital seniors
With the pandemic forcing the world into using digital channels, older adults have caught in on the trend: 82 per cent of consumers aged 60 and above owned a smartphone in 2021.
More than 65 per cent of this age group – which has high spending power – are seeking simpler lives, so businesses need to cater to this group.
Financial aficionados
Greater savings and time at home, hand in hand with fewer opportunities to spend money, drove consumers to improve their financial position.
The study said 51 per cent of consumers believe they will be better off financially in the next five years.
Great life refresh
Covid-19 triggered consumers to make drastic personal lifestyle changes. Businesses, then, should innovate their marketing and services that cater to this “once-in-a-generation moment”.
Employees have higher expectations from their employers when it comes to their well-being, with 44 per cent of professionals thinking their companies will invest in employee health and welfare.
Metaverse moment
The metaverse, the new digital playground further blurring the boundaries of the real and virtual worlds, is driving social networks to advance their capabilities to enter what Euromonitor says is the “Metaverse Movement”.
Arguably, all sectors will try to leverage the metaverse. The study showed that global sales of augmented and virtual reality headsets grew 56 per cent from 2017 to 2021.
Pursuit of pre-loved
Thrifting is trending, with the survey saying 33 per cent of consumers buy used or second-hand items at least every few months.
While consumers want to live sustainably, they have also made affordability a crucial factor during the unstable economic situation.
Rural urbanities
Suburban and rural communities, which offer more spacious housing and greener scenery, are luring consumers out of metropolitan areas – especially with 37 per cent of consumers expecting to work from home in the future. Conversely, city dwellers also want these benefits brought into their neighbourhoods.
Added key factor: scaling e-commerce distribution will be vital by establishing of micro-fulfilment centres and increasing last-mile deliveries.
Self-love seekers
Acceptance, self-care and inclusion are at the forefront of consumer lifestyles today.
About 56 per cent of consumers believe they will be happier in the next five years, while 54 per cent of professionals believe that more personalised shopping experiences will have a strong impact on retail over the next five years.
Socialisation paradox
The pandemic triggered a change in the ways people socialise, and this will continue in 2022, but this paradox shows that consumers are gradually returning to their normal lives.
About 76 per cent of consumers took health and safety precautions when leaving their homes in 2021 and 51 per cent expect their lives to be better in the next five years.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Lady Parma, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Tabernas, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m
Winner: Night Castle, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Mutawakked, Szczepan Mazur, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Tafaakhor, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Cranesbill, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Sour%20Grapes
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Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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