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SAN FRANCISCO – Supplier diversity, wellness and product discovery were all top-of-mind among buyers in Q3 as retailers seek new ways to entice consumers in the face of inflationary pressures, according to research uncovered in RangeMe’s Retail Roundup: Q3 2022 report. The report highlights trends among the activity of U.S. and international buyers on the platform, including keywords and certification searches, collections visited and engagement with products and brands.
Diversity & wellness remain strong trends
Finding diverse-owned brands remains a key point of interest among buyers, with certifications such as Certified Ethnic Minority Owned and Certified Women Business Enterprise among the top searched certifications. Additionally, Certified Organic continues to rank among the top searches, not just with U.S. buyers, but among international buyers as well, as the USDA currently has organic equivalence with a handful of countries and regions including Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the European Union.
Buyers seek new product innovation
Visits to RangeMe Collections show buyers are hungry for product innovation, with the “Trending on RangeMe” and “Startup Brands” Collections garnering the most visits. RangeMe’s Collections are curated selections of brands and products that meet set criteria typically based on trends, certifications, categories or buyer engagement. The Trending on RangeMe Collection includes brands and products that are getting the most engagement from buyers, and the Startup Brands Collection consists of the newest brands and products in the consumer packaged goods market.
Self-care keywords seeing growth
Last quarter, the keyword, “fragrance” was trending among health and beauty care buyers around the globe, along with “deodorant,” “bath salts,” “shower steamers,” and “candles,” a nod to the self-care trend among consumers that accelerated during the pandemic and continues strong today. “Jute bags” was another frequently-used search term, as sustainability-minded consumers are increasingly choosing them over plastic bags. Additionally, pre-packaged lunch meat and meat snacks have also made a comeback as more consumers turn to budget-friendly food options with today’s rising inflation rates, so it’s not surprising that the keyword “deli” made an appearance among trending search terms.
“RangeMe’s Retail Roundup provides a snapshot of what’s been on buyers’ minds over the past quarter, and where they are headed with their category planning,” said Nicky Jackson, Founder & CEO of RangeMe. “With increasing prices and supply challenges worldwide, it’s clear that there is major interest in finding new and innovative products, particularly from diverse-owned and sustainability-focused brands.”
