Individual doses of mouthwash

The market for smaller travel-size personal care items is growing as consumers travel more often (on business or pleasure), and are increasingly having to deal with airport restrictions that limit the amount of liquids that can be taken on board a plane - this means smaller formats are the ideal option.

We are already familiar with travel-size toothpaste and even toothpaste & toothbrush combos (with toothpaste placed in a toothbrush handle), but travel-size mouthwash is in the early stages of new product development.

However, such a mouthwash has appeared in Fance with Laboratories Juva Santé's latest release, Individual Dose Mouth Wash under the Mercurochrome ProBuccal brand. The pack contains ten individual, mint flavoured doses (9.5ml) that are easy to carry. The product contains camomile to soften and propolis to soothe gums and reduce bleeding caused by brushing.

With consumers encouraged to follow a good oral hygiene routine, this new mouthwash will make it easier for them to have clean teeth and fresh breath even when not at home.

» More about Mintel GNPD

The ultimate “va va voom” of kitchens

From car show room, to kitchen show room, Porsche are about to launch the ultimate boy’s toy.

Functional, but flash

This kitchen is designed with the modern man in mind, and is supposed to make preparing food as simple as possible. However, it comes with a hefty £20,000 starting price tag. The kitchen, due on sale shortly in the UK, "adheres to a philosophy of combining sleek design language with the finest materials", according to the makers, Porsche. To make it the ultimate boy’s toy, the kitchen is fitted with gadgetry that would keep any man "tied to kitchen sink" i.e. an audio-video system with plug-and-play features.

Whilst the kitchen furniture market has slowed down in the last two years, growth in the market is coming from consumers trading up to premium products, and more aggressive pricing offered by the DIY sheds. In the last 12 months, the average price of a new kitchen is holding up the retail value with some consumers paying up to £15,000 for a new kitchen.

Is this a flash in the pan ?

The entry of Porsche into the kitchen furniture market signals their attempt to diversify their product portfolio. They have already put their name on mobile phones and espresso machines. We could see Porsche lend their name to other high design items.....Porsche furniture could be on the horizon as they continue to create luxurious desirable items that are the ultimate statement of "prosperity and status".

As overall growth in the kitchen furniture market has come increasingly from people willing to pay a higher price tag, there is certainly potential in the market for Porsche kitchens to have some success. As the housing market slows down (particularly at he higher end), the Porsche kitchens could provide sellers with a unique selling proposition to differentiate themselves from other properties on the market.

» More about Mintel Oxygen Reports

Britain's Most Valuable Tree...

A tree in Mayfair, London, has been valued at three quarters of a million pounds, making it the most expensive in the country.

The valuation has resulted from a new system put together by local authority tree officers, taking into account the tree's size, health, historical significance (it has been in Berkeley Square since the Victorian age) and the number of people living close enough to the tree to enjoy it.

The system, the capital asset value for amenity trees (Cavat) is set to be adopted by every council in England in order to prevent widespread felling of trees blamed for building subsidence.

Trees Must

This brings a new community into play, reshaping the importance of different landmarks, and giving a new importance to something as potentially innocuous as a tree.

There is also something rather old-fashioned and English about this. Granting importance to a tree conjures images of nostalgia and rural idylls. At the same time, perhaps the introduction of Cavat points to a growing awareness of how cities should be reimagined or redesigned in order to reflect changing interpersonal and societal relationships, as well as a refusal to allow city sprawl over take natural beauty.

• Sponsor a tree - not a new idea per se, but something that can be modernized.
• Saving trees and environmental awareness as a whole, is becoming less of a nerdish fad and more of a very now way of thinking. Alignment with green issues can show that a brand or company is thinking in line - or appearing to - with consumers.

» More about Mintel Inspire

New Age Eyes

Can the influence of new age holistic thinking impact on the eyecare world?

The holistic approach to health is gaining recognition, so opticians could appeal to this when promoting eyecare products. People have a greater capacity to spend money on ‘lifestyle’ products, so associating optical products with this tag can be hugely beneficial.

Employers seem increasingly amenable to the idea of implementing holistic principles to improve health, well-being and (ultimately) productivity of staff. Group eyecare benefits can take a holistic approach.

The trend for health-related products and services to converge, eg gym membership, dental care plans, life(style) coaching, could mean more link-ups to sell products that encompass a whole-life approach to well-being.

» More about Mintel Inspire

Chase Bank – Cardmember Benefit

» More about Mintel Comperemedia

New World wines put some cool in UK beauty counters.

» More about Mintel GNPD