General

Swiss Watches Hope For A better Year

It’s been a tough few years for the world of watches, even with more luxury brands embracing technology. But as fans flock this week to Baselworld, the Swiss watch industry’s annual showcase, leaders are predicting an uplift in sales.

Last year, sales of Swiss watches fell nearly 10% to about $19.7 billion, François Thiébaud, told attendees, in a prepared statement, that this has been driven by “uncertainty on political, security- related and financial levels, a downturn in tourism in Europe, and a persistently strong franc.”

But sales in China have been strengthening in the last six months. Luxury powerhouse LVMH, says sales in its watches and jewellery division grew by 5%, with TAG Heuer gaining share, in part because of its connected watch. And Richemont, the Swiss parent of brands like Cartier and Piaget, also reported a 5% gain in sales. Swatch’s CEO recently told Bloomberg he predicts sales increases of between 7% and 10% in the year ahead.

UK schools trial use of police-style bodycams

With the use of police bodycams on the rise, it seems the technology may soon make its way into the school system.

Last month two UK schools trialled the use of police-style bodycams for teachers in an effort to resolve problems in the classroom. The teachers of two UK secondary schools have decided to trial the technology as they are said to be “fed up with low-level background disorder” according to a criminal justice academic. Thus the wearable cameras are being trialled as a both a means to deter bad behaviour and also as an opportunity to record positive learning in the classroom.

Principal lecturer at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth, Tom Ellis, has said the teachers may use the cameras to film “when necessary”.

Meanwhile the cameras, worn by police, parking wardens and even school crossing-patrol officers in Britain, has been used in schools across the US since 2015.

Mediareach Marketing at the IFE

The Mediareach team attended the twentieth edition of the ‘International Food & Drink Event’, eager to seek out trends in the industry and potential marketing prospects with the hundreds of locals and international businesses attending. The IFE is the UK’s Largest gathering of global food & drink buyers and suppliers, connecting every person from every background through a love and appreciation for food across all cultures and those looking to establish their brands as a local household name.

The team were delighted to see so many fresh and innovative businesses enthusiastic to share their unique food brands with the world. We scouted the event for entrepreneurs with raw passion who were seeking guidance on how to edge their product onto store shelves and into people’s homes.

Since 2014 there has been a significant growth in vegan and gluten free diets, with hundreds of stalls advertising related produce. Halal products are also becoming more popular; corresponding with the rise of the Islamic population in the UK.

Millennials are less mobile than previous generations

According to analysis by the Pew Research Center, only 20 percent of 25 to 35 year olds reported a change of address in 2016, compared to 26 percent of Gen Xers in 2000. Meanwhile, in 1990 27 percent reported to have moved homes in the year prior.

Subsequently, today’s young Americans have been revealed to be less mobile than the previous four generations were at the same age, with the trend underscoring a pattern across all demographic groups. The research revealed that the overall share of Americans of all ages who moved homes in the previous year fell to an all-time low of 11.2% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Economists are concerned by the trend as moving has previously been linked to the pursuit of job opportunities and with the economy improving, they would expect Americans to be moving in greater numbers. Millennials in particular, would be expected to be mobile since they are less likely to be tied down by three of the things that tend to hinder people from moving – a spouse, a house, or a child.