While we know it’s important to not judge a book by its cover, this idea disappears when it comes to everyday shopping and buying decisions. With the average supermarket in the US carrying more than 40,000 items, brand owners face a daunting task in attracting attention to their products. In addition, the majority of buying decisions are made in stores. These factors make attractive and distinctive packaging a key component in the marketing of retail products.

As the economy improves, do-it-yourself consumers will flock to Home Depot and Lowe’s to renovate their homes and get started on projects that have been put on hold since the collapse of the housing market.

TechNavio, a leading research and advisory company, expects the global DIY market to rise at a CAGR of 3 percent from 2016 to 2020.

Has the robot invasion begun? According to Tractica, a market intelligence firm that focuses on human interaction with technology, the consumer robotics revolution is “well and truly underway.”

Learn about the growing demand for domestic robots and what hurdles the market faces in the next few years.

MarketResearch.com has released a new e-book that highlights the top trends in the house and home industry. Drawing on insights from a number of premier market research firms, this e-book gives you expert forecasts on a wide variety of consumer goods from furniture to smart appliances to landscaping products.

This e-book will help you get up to speed quickly on innovative technologies that are transforming the industry and influential factors that are changing the demand for household products in key regions around the world.

The Democrats and the Republicans don’t agree on much, but there is one thing that their conventions have in common: huge requirements for security. The Republican Convention in Cleveland, with controversial candidate Donald Trump expected to secure the party’s nomination, could be especially contentious.

The proliferation of startups that have achieved “unicorn status” — with valuations over $1 billion — raises concerns of a possible tech bubble. In January 2014, 45 private companies were valued at $1 billion or more; by June 2016, 148 companies reached the billion dollar mark, according to the Wall Street Journal.

During the last quarter, many top news organizations predicted “the era of the unicorn” would soon be coming to an end. However, after Twilio’s solid performance during its recent IPO, CNN Money voiced renewed optimism announcing, “Unicorns live!” Opinions about the future of tech startups continue to shift.

Services for self-storage and moving — fixed storage, mobile storage, climate-controlled, and not climate-controlled, full-service moving, and DIY truck rentals — are expected to reach $71 billion in revenues in 2020. Advances will be driven by increased mobility nationwide, as people and businesses are starting to relocate at higher rates following the recession and extended slow recovery. Growth will also stem from the lack of storage space in many US homes. 

As one might guess, revenues for these services vary significantly by region, state, and municipal area. Regional markets are primarily influenced by local factors such as population size, density, age distribution, mobility, homeownership rates, and growth trends. 

The publishing divisions at MarketResearch.com are frequently cited in top publications and trade journals. In June, research by Kalorama information appeared in articles on direct-to-consumer laboratory testing, the market for electronic medical records, and outsourcing in drug discovery. A variety of media outlets turned to Packaged Facts for its expertise on pet litter products, coffee creamer trends, and meal kit delivery services.

Take a look at press highlights from June below. To access more information, click the link to the report page.

Macy’s stock plunged 47 percent in the last year. Gap, Nordstrom, and Kohl’s also reported a drop in sales. What’s causing the slump? According to Business Insider, “Executives from nearly every company blamed a spending pullback in one common category for the declines: apparel.”

Although many consumers are reluctant to purchase new clothes, footwear is a different story. Footwear has outpaced apparel, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6 percent over 2010-2015 in comparison to 4 percent for apparel, according to a report by Euromonitor. 

Interest in drones from the retail sector is growing rapidly as competitive pressures push retailers and distributors to develop new ways to make their supply chains more efficient, to automate warehouses, and to reduce delivery costs. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, recently announced plans to use drones for inventory management in its warehouses. Amazon, the nation’s largest internet retailer, is researching the use of drones to deliver packages to consumers. Global e-commerce giant Alibaba is testing delivery drones in China while DHL is already using drones to deliver packages in Germany.