Consumer Insights > Business

Implications - Inequality in the United States schooling system is rampant in a number of ways, and brands are aiming to address some of these issues in small but impactful ways. This shift has a two-way benefit in that it enhances inclusivity and accessibility for students who face barriers such as cost in the process of learning, while establishing the brands in question as being ones that prioritize the accommodation and betterment of all students, rather than simply privileged ones. [More]

Implications - Up until this point, the formula for successful influencer marketing was fairly cut and dry; a person becomes an influencer by creating engaging content, gains brand partnerships, and monetizes content as an ambassador. This model is turned on its head with peer-to-peer funding platforms that enable fans to send money directly to content creators. The shift to a many-to-many model speaks to the true intended nature of social media influence, placing more focus on truly entertaining content than the influence or exposure of a third party. [More]

Implications - Brands are taking their Pride Month engagements a step further by creating specialized pop-up experiences that celebrate the LGBTQ community. In a political and social age in which consumers expect brands to take a stance on the causes they support, this shift is able to cater to that desire in a way that is playful and interactive. [More]

Implications - To improve brick-and-mortar retail, brands are implementing advanced technologies like store map apps and navigation tablets. Giving shoppers the power to browse and direct themselves through a store using technology satisfies the consumer desire for quick and easy in-store shopping experiences. Simplifying the consumer’s path to purchase improves omnichannel retail by reinforcing the seamlessness of today's retail landscape. [More]

Implications - Brands are adapting their business models and marketing campaigns to include escape rooms that enhance the consumer experience. These spaces offer experiential environments where brands are able to engage their consumers' sense of curiosity and play, while simultaneously strengthening consumer loyalty due to their interactive and distinct nature. [More]

Implications - For companies trying to lure and retain Millennial employees, student loan repayment benefits are topical efforts that have the opportunity to encourage loyalty. This creative benefit strategy challenges the workplace stereotype that Millennials are less concerned with money and are more enticed by lifestyle-based perks. As the high cost of replacing fickle Millennial workers remains a consideration for employers and the average repayment balance for graduates continues to rise, efforts like this serve as an effective retention strategy by aligning the values of the employer and employee. [More]

Implications - Subscription services based on offering children and infants their meals and snacks for the day are increasingly common. This shift comes as Millennial parents seek to balance work, families, and personal lives – offering them a way to simplify and streamline at least one important aspect of their daily routine. [More]

Implications - Brands are employing illusory designs in their brick-and-mortar spaces in order to enhance the overall customer experience. This shift caters to the consumer preference for experiential retail spaces, while giving brands some flexibility in cost due to the fact that these illusory designs can be constructed without the addition of tech, or entirely new services within stores. [More]

Implications - Urban planning initiatives are slowly beginning to focus on bringing back some of the wildlife that the construction and expansion of cities has inevitably turned out. This shift comes with the acceleration of research and widespread understanding on the effects of human intervention on the environment, and reveals the significance of brands and governments working together to mitigate such concerns. [More]

Implications - Mobile fitness and meditation programs are becoming increasingly popular, allowing consumers to partake in health-related activities on-the-go, or have such activities come to them. This shift comes as the prioritization of health merges with consumers' convenience-motivated purchases, along with their desire for more experiential health programs that motivate them to reach their goals. [More]