Mintel Means Lifestyles
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010One of the small pleasures of my job is snooping on others. Well, maybe that’s a little extreme, but I do enjoy examining how Americans spend their free time and money. For instance, did you know that the pet market has been strong during this recession? Why? Well to quote a recent Mintel report, “Difficult, stressful times put a premium on the unconditional love and nurturing that pets bestow upon their owners.” So, when students ask about consumer trends or lifestyles, one of the first places I look is Mintel which provides coverage for the US as well as the UK and Europe.
Mintel can be found on the library’s database page. Once in, you’ll need to read and agree to the database’s conditions of use, and first time users must create a personal profile. After you’ve completed these steps, you have access to a full range of reports – from “The Social Dynamic of 18-24 Year-old Males” to “High Fructose Corn Syrup vs. Corn Sugar.”