Better Homes and Gardens, BrandSpark Name Best New Products

Better Homes and Gardens and market research firm BrandSpark Inter-national, have named the winners of the 2012 Better Homes and Gardens Best New Product Awards (BNPAs), which honor consumer packaged products in categories including health and beauty and household care.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber with Febreze netted the 2012 Best in Household Care and Best Overall Product of all categories covered the annual competition, which also covered food and beverage products. Johnson’s Natural Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash took honors as the Best in Health and Beauty, according to BrandSpark and BH&G. (For a partial list of winners in the health and beauty category, see list below.)

According to Robert Levy, president and CEO of BrandSpark International and founder of the BNPA, the Best New Product Awards “provide American shoppers with one of the most credible endorsements in America to help them buy better—100% consumer voted and endorsed by one of the most trusted brands in America, Better Homes and Gardens.”

The winning products were chosen directly by thousands of consumers who participated in an extensive nationwide survey, the American Shopper Study, conducted by independent marketing research firm BrandSpark International in partnership with Better Homes & Gardens.

“It’s a major accomplishment for a product to win a Better Homes and Gardens Best New Product Award. The 2012 survey had 225 products representing 60 consumer packaged goods companies in 67 categories,” said James Carr, president, Better Homes & Gardens.

BH&G will feature the winners within its print, broadcast and digital properties.

According to the BrandSpark Inter-national/Better Homes & Gardens American Shopper Study, more than nine in 10 shoppers have purchased private label products in the past year. Private label strength has grown the most in over-the-counter health, with seven in 10 shoppers have purchased private label health products, up from just under six in 10 in the past year, making it the strongest category for private label brands outside of food.

Other insight from BrandSpark’s research delved into eco-friendly packaging and brand trust. While only four in 10 shoppers are willing to pay more for environmentally-friendly products, more than eight in 10 appreciate when the manufacturer bears the burden of producing environmentally-friendly packaging.

Regarding trust, the research found that it is extremely or very important to 81% of shoppers that their beauty/grooming products are from a trusted brand, while 69% consider it extremely/very important that they have been tested by dermatologists. Meanwhile, consumer research is trusted by 70-80% of shoppers, depending on the medium.

More info: www.bhg.com, www.BrandSpark.com