Innovation V. Inflation

Anyone who has been run through the economic cycle a few times knows the drill all too well. As the economy expands, purse strings loosen, R&D budgets grow and innovative cleaning products and cosmetics flood the market. But as a recession sets in, those budgets get slashed, department headcounts get cut and new ideas get put on the backburner.

Not this time. The Great Recession taught all of us some great lessons. When the global economy faltered in 2008, startups rushed in to fill the innovation vacuum. More than a decade later, multinationals are still battling to win back the hearts and minds of consumers.

Raw material suppliers and finished product makers realized that consumers are always hungry for really good fast-moving consumer goods. That mindset is evident in this issue of Happi.

Click here to read about how research into novel ingredients continues to soar even as interest rates spike. Christine Esposito looks at the data to uncover what skin care actives are trending in consumer online searches and in the laboratory.

Also this month, surfactant suppliers outline what steps they’ve taken to ride out the inflation rollercoaster. At the same time, they continue to roll out an array of ingredients that meet performance parameters and environmentally-friendly profiles.

Economic ups-and-downs make everyone a bit queasy. Luckily, as the calendar turns to September, new candles, diffusers and sprays debut to lighten the mood and calm the spirit. Here, Melissa Meisel details the latest launches from Bath & Body Works, SC Johnson and more.

Whether the market is beauty, home care or home fragrance, our coverage this month makes it clear that NPD won’t suffer no matter what’s happening to the GDP.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Happi. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions.

Tom Branna
VP/Editorial Director
tbranna@rodmanmedia.com