According to research from Silicon Valley Bank, short-term expectations for wine industry growth were tempered prior to the pandemic. An oversupply coupled with diminishing demand is expected to lead to a discounting of wines and grapes alike. Though that's negative news for sellers, at face value, the availability of great wines at great prices could create opportunity when it comes to the historically thrifty Millennial demographic. However, to win over these consumers, wine producers will need to better understand their mindsets and engage with them accordingly. Our research uncovered the Experience Enhancer mindset as a prime opportunity for growth. Below, we explore this consumer to better understand their lifestyle and how wine brands can most effectively engage them.

As states across the country continue to loosen restrictions stemming from the pandemic, consumers are grappling with how they feel about returning to restaurants – especially when it comes to indoor dining. According to a study from Datassential, 42% of Americans feel truly comfortable and safe dining in at a restaurant. While that accounts for a significant portion of the population, there’s still plenty of ground to make up relative to options like curbside pickup (80%), drive-thru (80%), and delivery (75%).

Though many Americans have declared war on sugar in recent years in an attempt to adopt a healthier lifestyle, that doesn’t mean all sugary items have suffered. According to Nielsen sales data, candy and chocolates grew 2.5% and 2.8% in 2019, respectively. While the growth itself is modest, it goes to show that candy’s place in consumer routines remains secure.

Aside from a few select categories, consumer spending has stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as states continue to loosen restrictions and consumers head back out into the world, we'll see an uptick in spending in areas outside of food and household goods. Below, we take a look at where the pandemic has changed consumer attitudes on spending and evaluate where we could see long-term changes in behavior.

Across the globe, sports fans have been missing out on the action with their favorite teams sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Though restrictions are beginning to loosen and leagues like the NBA and NHL have announced plans to return, the reality is that things are going to be drastically different at first. Seventy-two percent of Americans said that they wouldn’t feel safe attending live events without a coronavirus vaccine, which only further cements the notion that athletes will be playing in front of empty arenas for the foreseeable future.

As consumers have shifted to online shopping to avoid trips to the grocery store, brands such as Pepsi and Clorox have begun investing in direct-to-consumer sales. But, to do it well, big CPG brands will have to master e-commerce and the myriad logistics that come with it. While diversifying channels is an essential part of growing business, they have to ask themselves, “If we build it, will they come?”

For agencies and event organizers, there's a lot of work to be done to assuage consumers' concerns when it comes to returning to live events. In fact, a study from Performance Research found that 60% of consumers have long-term fears about attending large events.

Experiential marketing is one of many industries that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the interim, agencies and brands have been working diligently to create virtual experiences that bring joy, value, and entertainment to consumers during a difficult time.

Coming at a time of collective unease and jarring disruption, Mental Health Awareness Month feels particularly crucial this year. As mentioned in our latest infographic, 44% of Americans say their mental health has worsened since March, and 90% are looking for ways to improve their wellbeing. So, how can brands help? Below, we share three ways to genuinely connect with consumers and provide solutions throughout this month:

Though citizens across the country are more than ready for new normalcy to take hold, the unfortunate reality is that it’s going to be some time before large-scale live experiences are commonplace again. And even when they do, things will be different. In the meantime, brands have been adapting by creating virtual experiences that allow consumers to engage from afar.