Alexandra Smith has worked in consumer insights for the past five years, including three years as an analyst at Iconoculture. She’s covered everything from the birth of Chat Roulette to the death of bling, do-it-yourself kombucha brewing to student loan debt. She joined Mintel in April 2010, taking on the role of managing editor of Inspire.

Bill Patterson has more than 20 years’ experience in the analysis of market dynamics covering consumer, business-to-business and industrial markets. Bill has recently taken on the role of managing and developing Mintel’s US reports in the technology, retail, automotive, clothing, leisure and lifestyle sectors. Prior to this he served as a Senior Market Analyst, focused primarily on food and beverage markets, while also regularly contributing to Mintel’s work in all areas of consumer market dynamics.