BrazilRussian consumers are shifting to a new economic reality, says BCG
The financial crisis that sent shockwaves through Russia in 2014 and lasted for around two years begun to subside last year. Today, Russia’s economy is stabilising, and as a result, the country is becoming increasingly attractive for foreign businesses. However, for businesses to succeed in this post-recession market, companies must meet the needs of value-conscious consumers with a lower purchasing power.
In a new report released recently by The Boston Consulting Group, the US-origin global consulting firm identifies multiple Russian consumer trends which are set to influence a company’s success in the country. The report, titled ‘Russian Consumers and the New Economic Reality’, surveyed over 4,000 Russians from different economic and social backgrounds spread across multiple age groups.
The report highlight areas within the Russian economy where consumers are cutting back spending as well as more lucrative sectors. The authors of the report asked respondents about their spending habits, their views on the Russian economy and their optimism about the future for the country.
The results identify that whilst Russians have become more conscious of their purchases, there is still a significant market opportunity for foreign companies to invest. Three key sectors are identified – health care, travel and tourism, and automotive – on which Russian sentiment and spending will have a substantial effect.
In the past five years since BCG released its first study on Russian consumer sentiment, Russians have experienced a decline in purchasing power. Whilst economic sanctions have driven up the cost of imported goods due to the Crimean crisis, low oil prices, the devaluation of the Russian Ruble, and inflation outpacing income growth have all taken their toll on Russia’s consumer behaviour.
Whilst the Russian economy is now growing again, the scars that the downturn have left on consumers are not beginning to fade. At present, consumer confidence is unsurprisingly low, however the Russian market still has a per capita income which is roughly a third greater than that of China.
The majority of this wealth is situated within urban areas where 77% of the population live. Moscow is the richest city in the country and has an average per capita income double that of most other Russian cities. The 12.4 million Muscovites have an average annual income of around $12,000, nearly four times higher than that of rural areas.
As the purchasing power of households in urban areas is still lower than before the economic downtime, Russian families have had to prioritise their spending habits. According to the BCG study, 83% of respondents identify family and home as the most important value, closely followed by health (78%). These two consumer values identify the priorities of the Russian market in general and influence trends in Russian consumer spending.
The report states: “Our research finds that while consumers have generally become more conservative shoppers over the past few years, they are also willing to spend more – and absorb rising prices – on goods and services that enhance the quality of life of their families.” This includes cutting out unnecessary purchases and premium products whilst opting for lower cost options which maintain a high level of quality.
The average Russian that has cut back on spending on unnecessary items still demands a high level of quality when they do purchase. This is indicated in the report in two ways. Firstly, 46% of respondent are prepared to shift their purchases to goods of a higher quality. Secondly, the respondents who are willing to spend more on higher quality are doing so only in purchases that matter directly to them – in sectors including healthy eating, well-being, and personal enrichment – and by doing so, cutting out spending on alcohol, tobacco, and junk food such as confectionery, frozen foods and ready-to-eat foods.
A casualty of this trend is Russian consumer demand for prestigious brands and labels. Among indicators that Russians have become more cost-conscious are the responses to the questions; “brands reflect what I am and my values” and about whether “friends and family approve of my brand choices”. Respondents have suggested that they find both of these factors significantly less important than in the previous survey.
The report goes on to suggest that this trend identifies a significant market opportunity for “mass-market brands and generics that offer value for money." Author of the report and BCG Partner, Ivan Kotov said in relation to the findings; “Russia remains a critical emerging market for global companies that understand the nuances and needs of this complex consumer economy.”
Kotov, who leads the firm’s Consumer practice in Russia continued; “Companies that align their strategies with the desires and budgets of Russian households will find significant growth opportunities.”
Russians willing to spend on healthcare
Russian consumer confidence can be exemplified in three sectors of the Russian economy; healthcare, travel and automobile purchases. Whilst Russians are looking to travel more, their ability to travel internationally has been adversely affected. They are now choosing lower cost destinations and invoking cost-cutting methods including booking online in advance and opting for affordable travel packages over luxury counterparts.
This is a similar trend which has been witnessed in the automobile sector. Companies are now adding more affordable options to the passenger-car market, including an increasingly large footprint by low-cost Asian manufactures. However, one sector where Russians are willing to spend and are increasingly spending is healthcare. The report identifies that 41% of respondents had increased their spending on medicines over the past few years and that a further 30% had spent more on medical services. Respondents nevertheless have expressed their inability to access quality health care through the public sector alone.
“These findings suggest there is high demand for affordable, high-quality medical services in Russia that’s not being fully met by public programmes,” said Stefan Tushchen, a BCG partner who leads the firm’s Healthcare practice in Russia.
Together, these factors combined with the fact that private investment is at record levels ($460 million in 2016) in the Russian health sector, show that Russia is becoming a hot-spot for foreign health providers. The lack of options and rising demand according to Tushchen lead to only one thing; “They will increasingly be met by private investors.”
In another recent report by BCG’s European arm, the consultants found that Europe’s banking industry continues to face economic profit pressures, with in particular the banks in Southern Europe (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal) in need of margin improvement to bring their competitiveness to European standards.
