Trends and Topics in Print Media

Every Monday morning, a team of Access media mavens gathers to read the latest trends and topics covered in print media (yes, we still read print media!). The team shares these insights agency wide to ensure we’re all informed and equipped for the week ahead. Every week, we’ll share learnings from the consumer, business and tech spaces here on the Access Point.

This week, we learned that single person households are in and inclement weather is affecting some of our go-to grocery store purchases:

• More Americans are Living Alone Than Ever Before, and Brands are Taking Notice

For generations, brands have focused on family-focused product development and marketing to meet the needs of their most loyal consumers: families. Now, “consumer-product companies are taking note” and catering to single person households, which, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, make up 28 percent of American households. The Wall Street Journal noted, one person doesn’t want a “full-size cake,” “a dozen eggs,” or “24 packs of toilet paper.” Not to mention, those of us who live in teeny-tiny NYC apartments (AKA glorified closets) may not have the luxury of bathroom storage that can hold more than two rolls of toilet paper at a time. Well, we’re in luck! From appliances to snacks, brands are minimizing size and prioritizing efficiency. Examples? Whirlpool Corp’s JennAir designed smaller models of its luxury kitchen appliances after builders who were constructing small, premium apartments complained about the lack of choices. Betty Crocker offers Mug Treats, so singles can embrace childhood nostalgia in moderation. The catch: we’re not necessarily saving. Many people are prioritizing convenience over cost, which means a broader selection of items will likely come with a heftier price tag… yay (Ellen Byron, The Wall Street Journal).

• Weather is to Blame for the Shift in Harvesting
  

Crop prices are growing as U.S. farmers are facing disruptions in their routines due to “inclement weather,” which has put them behind schedule or wiped out farmland in its entirety. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed “farmers had planted a fraction of what they have typically done by this time of year.” On top of these harvesting concerns, quality could suffer as a result. Farmers are being forced to plant crops later than usual, and damp conditions could result in risk of infection among products. It’s important as ever to be aware of how ongoing national issues, such as global warming, are directly affecting the products we pitch to media and promote to consumers (Joe Wallace, The Wall Street Journal).