Industry News


Nine out of ten consumers want brands to step up environmental focus


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ew research into consumer attitudes by the creative agency Fox + Hare has revealed that 88% of people in the UK want brands to focus on purpose in 2024, but that their expectations aren’t being met by businesses. Despite tough economic conditions, and concerns that social and environmental issues are becoming less urgent for budget-conscious households, 71% of people interviewed in Fox + Hare’s latest research report - Purpose In A World Under Pressure - said that a brand’s purpose is important to them.


This also translated directly to their buying habits: 47% of consumers said that a brand’s purpose positively infl uences their purchasing decisions, while 40% are happy to pay more for


products or services from socially and environmentally responsible brands. And these numbers are only set to grow: defying suggestions that purpose is waning in importance, 44% of people said that global events would affect their view of brands in the next 12 months. 88%, or almost nine in ten UK consumers, expect brands to focus on social and environmental responsibility in 2024. However, efforts to meet this consumer demand aren’t cutting through: only 33% of people think that companies are communicating their purpose effectively, while 40% want to see brands taking more tangible action, rather than just talking. Fox + Hare’s upcoming Purpose In A World Under Pressure report will be published on 05 February 2024. It features new research from a broad survey of UK consumers, and expert advice for brands on how to communicate their


purpose more effectively.


Download the report here (full contents embargoed until 05 February 2024) Craig Hares, founder and CEO of Fox + Hare, said: “From the Covid- 19 pandemic to the cost of living crisis, recent events haven’t dimmed consumer interest in brand purpose. In fact, people are placing more importance on social and environmental questions than ever.


“Committing to purpose is no longer just a nice thing to do, it’s now an essential business strategy. But too many brands are still falling short, and falling to communicate their purpose effectively.”


“This report is an urgent wake-up call: commit to purpose, and you can win your sector. Ignore what your consumers are telling you, and you risk being left behind.”


Merchr signs deal with photo sharing platform P


rint-on-demand technology company Merchr has signed up picture-sharing platform ClickASnap as its latest strategic partner, offering photographers a new way to monetise their images. The agreement sees Merchr enable photographers to sell prints and canvases of their images across the UK, North America and Europe by setting up merchandise stores hosted on its fast-growing platform. ClickASnap, which was founded in 2014 and is based in Dorset, is a digital


platform which hosts over 16 million images, enabling users to showcase and sell their pictures.


More than 1,800 photographers have set up stores in the fi rst month of the venture.


Items are being shipped from Merchr’s integrated facilities in Middleton, Greater Manchester, and Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as through other production partners.


Peter Hallett, co-founder of Merchr,


said: “This exclusive partnership gives ClickASnap photographers access to the Merchr technology, enabling them to monetise images through their own free webstore that features canvas prints and merch showcasing their content. “It’s an exciting strategic move for both parties, as it enables ClickASnap users to further monetise their photographs by leveraging Merchr’s software combined with their own creativity.


“Initially, the partnership is being rolled out to ClickASnap’s premium members, with a focus on supplying canvas and framed canvas and prints across Europe and North America.


“ClickASnap members can create their webstores in sterling, US and Canadian dollars and euros, depending on where they wish to sell their images.” Jason Hill, chief executive of ClickASnap, said: “Our partnership has got off to a superb start, with over 1,800 photographers signing up in the fi rst month. “We look forward to seeing the number of stores grow on our platform to give more people the opportunity to sell their pictures.”


| 12 | March 2024 www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk


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