As Pope Francis arrives for his first visit to the U.S., the media spotlight will turn to the Catholic Church. In this blog post, we’ll help set the stage for his visit by taking a step back to explore different factors that are shaping the role of religion. What does survey data tell us about the demographics behind religion? And what religious trends can we expect to see in the future? Will Pope Francis manage to increase the appeal of the church through his visit? Read on for some possible answers.

Fear can have a powerful chilling effect on business. “A lot of good ideas don’t get turned into companies because the potential founders are too fearful,” Dr. Philipp K. Berger recently told the Wall Street Journal.

A management consultant turned researcher, Dr. Berger surveyed nearly 600 entrepreneurs to better understand the role of fear within start-ups. According to his findings, entrepreneurs are particularly prone to anxiety and decision overload. However, breaking down large decisions into smaller steps can help entrepreneurs cope and keep moving forward.

In the B2B world, market share is pursued and defended constantly. On a customer-by-customer basis, companies constantly exploit opportunities to take share from competitors and develop strategies to prevent losing share. Sustainable growth is dependent on developing solid strategies in both of these areas. So how do you begin to understand all of the market dynamics associated with developing a comprehensive strategy designed to protect and grow market share?

In the third blog in our series, we are introducing two in-demand sandwiches that are satisfying comfort foods and growing culinary trends — brisket sandwiches and Cuban sandwiches.

Appearing in both fast-casual restaurants and upscale bistros, these sandwiches meet consumer demands for flavor adventure and authenticity.

An essential component of clinical care, in-vitro diagnostics tests can detect a wide range of diseases, infections, and conditions, from sexually-transmitted diseases to different types of cancer.

In the next five to ten years, the in-vitro diagnostics markets (IVD) in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. are expected to experience only modest growth. In contrast, developing and emerging markets will drive increased demand for IVD as a growing middle class and aging population seek out healthcare services.

Market research is an indispensible tool, whether you are launching a new product or fine-tuning your marketing strategy, but some consultants and small business owners assume it will be too costly or time consuming to use on an on-going basis.

“Because of time and budget constraints, many small/mid-sized businesses make consumer insights an afterthought, not realizing that’s precisely what will propel their companies to the next level,” says Renita Bryant, co-founder & chief consultant at SightsSet, a consumer-centric consultancy.

To compete in the global cord blood banking marketplace, you need to be informed about major market forces, including clinical trial data supporting applications for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from cord tissue. Within this rapidly evolving industry, those who choose to commit to understanding current conditions will be positioned for a substantial strategic advantage.

Because the global cord blood banking industry has matured substantially over the past few years, new market forces have created both serious threats and novel opportunities. Read on to learn more.

Mind Commerce sees Sports and Fitness, Healthcare, and Clothing as key markets for the early success of wearable technology. Among these three segments, Sports and Fitness is the most promising segment for wearable consumption. The segment comprises various products out of which wrist bands, wrist watches, and headgears will dominate the segment. In addition, most products in this segment will be associated with measurement and monitoring fitness and performance and will be used by both amateurs and professionals.

Last week we introduced our new blog series covering the top trends that are driving the market for sandwiches in the United States. As international cusine becomes more popular among foodies, beloved flavors from around the world are appearing in a variety of food, including sandwiches. In this week’s series, we'll take a closer look at tortas and cemitas, Mexican sandwiches, and garden tartines, French-inspired sandwiches. 

Within the credit card sector, innovative technologies are changing the way people make purchases.

Mobile and alternative payments are experiencing significant growth, with a range of payment providers in the mix including PayPal, MasterPass by MasterCard, Apple Pay, Amazon Payments, and Google Wallet.

In addition, co-branded credit cards continue to lure affluent households and millennial shoppers — which are prime demographics in the payments industry.