The fashion and beauty industry is worth $1.84 trillion globally, with the cosmetics segment (including skincare, make-up, and personal care products) worth a significant $420 billion in 2024. Major multinational fast fashion retailers such as Shein, H&M and Zara continue to dominate the apparel sector, with the entire segment valued at $148 billion in 2024 and continuing to grow year-on-year. Over 50% of apparel sales are now within e-commerce, where the US is the largest market and China is the largest exporter globally. The resale market is also fast gaining popularity worldwide, with sites such Depop, Vinted, eBay and Poshmark experiencing rapid growth in this area. Resale figures are projected to hit 10% of global apparel sales in 2025.
In the UK, the fashion sector contributes over £60 billion to GDP and supports approximately 1 million jobs across retail, manufacturing and distribution. It is the UK’s largest creative employer. Luxury fashion and accessories are leading growth, particularly exports of luxury goods, which are said to total almost £20 billion a year, despite a fall in export to the EU due to complications arising from Brexit. Key markets for the UK include the USA, Netherlands, France, Italy and China.
FieldworkHub has facilitated ethnographic research for apparel and accessories within key audience segments for both fast fashion and high end brands, and focus groups within the top five European markets to assess new product launches.
Focus groups allow participants to combine experiences and perspectives to explore ideas in depth. Commonly used during creative and conceptual development, they help you understand your customers’ needs, perceptions, and beliefs.
In-depth interviews (IDIs), where a moderator interviews a single respondent, can be conducted face-to-face, online, or over the phone. They are ideal for B2B research and for exploring delicate subjects with consumers and hard-to-reach groups.
Ethnographic research is a qualitative research method in which the researchers observe participants using a product or service, or carrying out other activities, in their own environment, typically at work or at home.
An online bulletin board (OBB) is an online forum for qualitative market research that enables participants to log into to carry out research tasks or reply to questions asked by a moderator at their own pace, typically over a period of a few days.
A market research online community (MROC) is similar to an online bulletin board (OBB). However, unlike an OBB, on online community may be used to serve multiple purposes, and the community may remain active for weeks, months or even years.
User experience (UX) testing is a qualitative research methodology which involves directly observing and interviewing a participant using a product or service. It is widely used for testing new versions of apps and websites before they are launched.
Customer experience (CX) testing evaluates how customers interact with a product, service, or digital platform. It helps identify usability issues and overall satisfaction to improve the customer journey and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
A video survey is a type of unmoderated qualitative research in which survey takers respond to a series of instructions or questions by making short videos using their smartphone, either in ‘selfie’ mode or to record an activity.
Vox pop research involves making recordings of people, usually members of the public, responding to questions. These clips are often used in research to illustrate public opinion on widely known topics, brands, or products.
Online surveys are a cost-effective research method with great flexibility in design. Automated data handling allows the results to be available quickly and many online surveys can be completed on smartphones, helping to improve the response rate.
CATI (computer-assisted telephone interviewing) leverages technology to reach those who aren’t online. CATI interviews follow an electronic script with built in routing and type in the respondent’s answers to each question as the interview proceeds.
CAPI (computer-assisted personal interviewing) is a form of face-to-face interviewing where the interviewer reads the survey questions from a tablet device and inputs the respondent’s answers directly to the device.
Our client asked us to recruit young adults in the UK, France, Germany and Italy who regularly shop at a leading streetwear retailer to take part in an online focus group, follow up in-depth interviews and virtual shop alongs. We recruited against specific criteria including location, age, gender and attitudes towards fashion trends.
A leading US sportswear retailer with a presence in several European markets wanted to hold a series of discussions with small groups of style-conscious teenagers. We recruited participants in a very tight timeline, which included groups of teenagers in Barcelona, Milan and Paris.
Our client wanted to conduct 90-minute online focus groups with 32 women living from different parts of Mexico who shop at a popular fashion store. We successfully recruited all the respondents in just over one week.
A global mining group wanted to understand more about consumers’ attitudes towards diamond jewellery containing lab-grown rather than natural diamonds. FieldworkHub was asked to recruit four consumers in each of Germany, France, Italy and the UK who buy luxury goods. Respondents took part in remote IDIs.
A leading management consultancy asked us to recruit senior hair stylists in the UK, Germany and the USA. The aim was to speak to those who decided on hair care products purchased and used in their salon. FieldworkHub screened in and booked 16 respondents to take part in a 30-minute phone interview.
FieldworkHub partnered with a global luxury skincare brand to pull fresh brand perspectives and opinions from female users of high-end skincare products in China, steering our respondents through a 14-day online bulletin board with engaging tasks and frequent touchpoints.
