The Credit Crunch isn't all bad for the global economy

- according to GMID anyway! They say:-

While petrol prices fluctuate, many consumers are turning to public transport to curtail spending at the pumps thus helping to save the planet by default

Amongst the fastest growing destinations in 2007 were Oman, Turkmenistan, Senegal, Romania, Serbia and Rwanda proving that the world is getting ever-more accessible to thrill-seekers

Indian whiskey volumes will exceed 1 billion litres in 2010 and in 2011 India will become the world's biggest consumer of rum, overtaking the US

Social networking sites such as www.couchsurfing.com now provide free alternatives to hotels and hostels by lining up individual hosts with potential visitors worldwide

Brazilians are generally emotional consumers keen on acquiring 'happiness' through what they buy and don't buy to fulfill a need but to assuage 'cravings' generated by the products

The country forecast to witness the highest growth in pet food and pet care in value terms is Russia with US$1.3bn over 2008-2013.

For these and other more relevant facts check out GMID - Global Market Information Database on the library website.
GMID contains:
8 million internationally comparable statistics
15,000 industry, company, country and consumer reports
17,000 rankings of leading companies by market and brand share
Insightful comments from industry and country experts on a daily basis

Reaching Today's Media-Savvy Consumers

In line with changing social and economic conditions in Ireland, the way consumers are accessing media channels is evolving.

A key difference between young Irish consumers and more mature consumers is the speed with which new media have been integrated into their daily routines, with understandably greater enthusiasm among younger consumers. An important conclusion from Mintel's Media Consumption Report,[October 2008] however, is that few consumers are prepared to be left behind.
The challenge for advertisers is not only how to target consumers but how to reach them in new and more innovative ways, for example the proliferation of wi-fi spots. Today’s consumers have never been more connected.

This report looks primarily at the impact of technology on Irish lifestyles and why their relationship with technology is so important to consumers. Access it through the DIT Library web pages at www.dit.ie/library. Select databases on the left and Mintel from the alphabetical list.

Mintel Looks at Retail and Finance

Mintel Ireland has produced a number of interesting reports over the summer. These include an update on the Irish Food Retailing industry as well as a comparative examination of Retail Outlet Parks versus High Street Retailing. The opinion of Irish consumers on their financial security is analysed in the Property, Pensions and Investments report and in the Irish Leisure series, the Hotel industry comes under the microscope.

Interestingly, we are told that DIT staff and students are amongst the heaviest users of Mintel in Ireland. From April to November 2008, for example, 2260 users logged in, 3886 searches were carried out and 20,431 documents were viewed with 2,065 documents downloaded in full text.
Must be good stuff!