Summer is the season of blockbuster movies, weekend barbecues, garden weddings, and, of course, chain restaurants making every attempt to lure in new customers with seasonal cold beverage offerings. This year alone, we saw Starbucks introduce its blended Granitas drinks (only available after 3 pm as a part of its Sunset Menu), Chick-fil-A debut a frozen lemonade, and Checkers and Rally’s whip up six different frozen drinks and smoothies as a part of its new Chill Spot menu.

Sales of lawn and garden equipment have been sluggish in recent years. Sales peaked in 2005 and have been declining and struggling to pick up ever since.

Despite these continued challenges, consumer research firm Packaged Facts projects retail sales will increase by a CAGR of 3 percent in the U.S. to reach $11.8 billion by 2019. Read on to learn more.

There are a number of trends causing shake-ups in the personal care appliance market, leading to some interesting questions.

• Why is a vacuum company making hair dryers?
• How do the increasingly active lifestyles of elderly Americans present an opportunity for appliance companies?
• And what on Earth is “peak beard”?

If you want the answers to all these questions (and more), read on.

This past month, MarketResearch.com’s publishing divisions were cited in a wide variety of publications including the New York Times, Slate Magazine, and numerous trade journals. Take a look at a selection of press highlights below. To access more information about a particular topic, click the link to the report page.

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.