We all know that times have been tough over the past few years with the economic downturn but, for a number of reasons, the supplements industry has thankfully been one of the few that has continued to enjoy steady growth. In fact, it is booming! Why?
An educated customer base
Within the last ten years, there has been an explosion of "foodie" programmes on television in the UK, and across the world. This has helped to raise awareness around food-based issues, such as sustainability, organic living, food provenance and content. More people are now asking themselves, "what's in my food?"
Coupled with the power of the Internet, the result is an educated customer base that now more readily recognises the inherent link between health and nutrient intake. This, in turn, has boosted supplement sales and continued the growth of an already solid industry.
Despite the fact that money is tighter all round, more and more people are now viewing vitamins, minerals and food supplements, not as luxuries, but as necessities to help maintain good health and to support specific lifestyles (such as vegetarian, vegan, organic, dairy-free, gluten-free, coeliac, diabetic etc). Long may it continue…
Control and choice
Over the years, we have seen an increased prevalence of, for example, digestive disorders, food allergies / sensitivites and obesity. These are conditions which have no "quick fix" and often have ambiguous symptoms and causes. The result - a large pool of individuals who are unable to get an accurate diagnosis or effective treatment from conventional medicine. This is because what is often called for are dietary and lifetsyle changes.
Many people therefore turn to complementary therapies as a last resort and, when they see results, they stick with them. This can provide a sense of empowerment too - if people can take control over their lives, health conditions and health goals, without recourse to drug therapies and doctors, they usually will.
This trend of a growing interest in food supplements, vitamins, minerals and herbs can also be viewed as a logical extension of the concept of “consumer-directed healthcare” - in other words, the idea that people will take more preventative measures to protect their health during tough economic times when, for example, they can't afford to be off work.
The numbers
According to Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (a new Market Assessment Update from market intelligence provider Key Note), sales of vitamins, minerals and other dietary supplement products have increased year-on-year:
- by 2% in the year ending April 2012
- and by 3.9% in the year ending April 2013.
This demonstrates that, while the economic downturn of 2008 forced consumers to reduce their discretionary spending, many still regard natural health products as essential to their health and for supplementing their diet.
It is also interesting to note that:
- over 65s are core users, which means that the market should benefit from the UK’s ageing population (over-65s are predicted to grow 13% between 2011 and 2016)
- a new trend has emerged, with a greater focus on specific life-stages and products dedicated to these (for example childhood, menopause, pregnancy and age-related ailments).
Get in on the action!
There has never been a better time to get in on the action and make money online and, with our help, it is so easy! Simply register as a trade customer (it's FREE) and become a re-seller of our wholesale supplements.
The key to carving out your own slice of the sector, running a successful supplements business and earning extra income is to sell high-quality products; stand out from your competitors; build a strong brand; reach more people; and promote customer loyalty.
Our specialist products and tailored services are designed to help you achieve all of this. We are one of the few wholesale supplements suppliers who can provide you with everything you need to get started with your new business under one roof, including:
- unique product formulations your customers won't find on the high-street
- personalised product labels (through our Own Label service)
- bespoke marketing materials
- ready-to-trade websites, preloaded with images and descriptions of your range
- a convenient, fast and reliable shipment option (our no fee dropship service),
- and more!
We make it as easy as possible for our trade customers to get their supplements business up and running - you simply pick and choose the products and services that are right for you. We charge no account set-up fee, no ongoing monthly fee and we have no minimum orders! This allows you to go at a rate that suits you.
Our trade product prices are highly competitive (offering excellent profit margins on resale), and our services also offer great value-for-money. Register now for full access to all prices and product information (approval normally takes 24 hours).
We look forward to working with you, and don't forget to connect to us on LinkedIn and Google Plus for regular trade updates.
