By Cheryl Pearson-McNeil
NNPA Columnist
Cheryl Pearson-McNeil
Did you know that tens of thousands of new products are introduced to consumer markets around the world every year? It could be a new flavor of ice cream, a fancy new electronic gadget or the latest shade of red lipstick that not only moisturizes, but practically stays on for life. Then poof! You turn around and your new favorite isn’t there anymore. That’s because more than half of all new products will disappear from the shelf within the first three years of their debut, according to Nielsen insights.
Whether you live in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America or here in the United States, we Internet-savvy consumers are a stubborn group. We like what we like. Our purchasing trends and habits worldwide are documented in the Nielsen Global Survey of New Product Purchase Sentiment, where the company surveyed more than 29,000 consumers with Internet access from 58 different countries about new product awareness.
Now, I am like a new product groupie. I see it and I head out to buy it. The report shows that consumers are optimistic about trying new products, but there is bit of anxiety at the thought of switching brands.
Half of the global respondents did report being willing to switch to a new brand, with 57 pecent of respondents in the United States being the most enthusiastic if all the conditions are right.
In addition to relevance, need and distinctiveness, the data shows that marketers need to consider the emotional factors that go into a consumer’s decision to make a new purchase choice.
Around the world, those emotional factors are universal: value, variety, proof-of-concept and familiarity. Here’s a look at the percent of consumers around the globe that definitely/somewhat agree to the general purchase of new products:
• Will purchase a store brand or value option 64 percent
• Like when manufacturers offer new product options 63 percent
• Wait until a new innovation has proven itself 60 percent
Prefer to buy new products of familiar brands 60 percent
• Like to tell others about new products 59 percent
• Generally willing to switch to a new brand 50 percent
• Economic conditions lessen possibility of trying new products 45 percent
• Prefer local brands over global brands 40 percent
• Willing to pay a premium price 39 percent
Just as consumers across the globe have multiple choices in how we enjoy media content, we also have a multi-mix of media from which to choose when considering purchasing a new product.
Nielsen’s global survey shows that the Internet is a major influence in that mix.
According to Nielsen, consumers are increasingly finding the Internet and mobile vehicles just as compelling as more traditional advertising. Traditional advertising platforms include TV, radio, newspaper, billboards and direct mail. Globally, 77 percent of responders felt word-of-mouth referrals by friends and family is the biggest persuasion factor for purchasing products, followed by seeing a new product in a store at 72 percent, while 70 percent try free samples and 67 percent use active Internet searches.
U.S. respondents seem to be a bit more skeptical about Internet searching on new products, with 59 percent of us saying we were much more or somewhat more likely to purchase a new product after Internet research. Also in the U.S., 45 percent of the respondents used Internet communications for new products to research a brand or manufacturer’s Web site, 30 percent researched through an article on a frequently visited Web site and 30 percent used Internet forums. Thirty percent of U.S. respondents, purchased a new product after learning about it via social media, and 29 percent turned to web ads while 27 percent used a video posted on a video-sharing Web site.
Seventy-three percent of U.S. consumers surveyed reported that the Internet is very/somewhat important when making a new product purchasing decision for electronics, 63 percent for appliances, 62 percent for cars/auto needs 59 percent and music.
Those percentages are a little less robust than the percentages for other global respondents who weighed in on Internet importance in purchasing: electronics (81 percent), appliances (77 percent), books (70 percent) and music (69 percent).
African Americans are also savvy Internet users and Black women in particular indulge in a little retail therapy with just a click of a button. Black women are extensive users of e-commerce involving purchases of clothes, groceries, and health and beauty products online. Also, 18 percent of Black women have shown higher interest in downloading coupons, especially those in the 25-54 age range.
Overall, top purchases African-Americans have made online include:
• Airline tickets/reservations
• Hotel/motel reservations
• Any clothes/shoes/accessories
• Women’s clothes/shoes/accessories
• Men’s clothes/shoes/accessories
Among the global consumers surveyed, those in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are most engaged in online decision-making. Globally, the Internet influence trend is impacting purchasing in consumer packaged categories, too: food and beverages (62 percent), personal hygiene (62 percent), personal health/over-the-counter medicines (61 percent), and hair care (60 percent).
As the Internet makes the world a much smaller place, a tighter consumer community, do you feel international? And, don’t you feel empowered to know that you can make or break a new product with your fingertips? You and your choices matter. So, I’ll say it again – use your power wisely.
Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Nielsen.
For more information and studies go to www.nielsenwire.com