Consumer Insights > Life-Stages

Implications - A range of new children's games is exploring the success of toys that engage with the "gross-out" humor of the young child. Silly as the subject matter may often be, these products are designed to cultivate fine motor skills in young players given the experiential nature of game play. This shift highlights the progression of products from simple family board games to more engaging experiences that emphasize hands-on participation and child-like fun.

Homework Question - What unexpected subject matter can be explored in order to engage with children on their level? [More]

Implications - To mitigate the problem of children quickly outgrowing their clothing and shoes, brands are reimaging such items to grow with the child rather than being repeatedly replaced. These products highlight how brands are providing functional alternatives to the typical volume of products parents purchase, to better appeal to both eco and cost-conscious parents.

Homework Question - Consider how your brand could alter your product offering to better alleviate some of the problems your consumers face. [More]

Implications - Feeding into the popularity of subscription services, companies are debuting subscription boxes focused on helping parents enrich the lives of their children in an automated way. By combining modern parents' desire to not only excel at parenting, but live more efficient, convenient lives as well, this approach to the subscription business model has great potential to expand into a wide variety of different categories.

Homework Question - How can you provide your consumers with a more convenient way for them to reach their goals? [More]

Implications - Consumers of all ages are signing up for apps and using toys to not only learn new languages but expand their existing vocabulary. With gamified apps and interactive products, the process to learn new terms and phrases is easier than ever, and it allows consumers to learn at their own pace and allocate their own time to this hobby. New products allowing consumers to increase their roster of talents and improve their personal education on a flexible basis opens many new avenues for brands to become more involved in consumers' development journey.

Homework Question - How can you play a more impactful role in your consumers continued education? [More]

Implications - Wearables for kids are no longer only marketing their safety based functions, but are also prioritizing the enhancement of routines these products can offer children. Focusing on everything from fitness to gaming, such products appeal to parents and their children alike due to the benefits they offer in a variety of realms.

Homework Question - How could your brand enhance the routines of its customer? [More]

Implications - Implications - Targeting parents, particularly moms, publications and online platforms are creating places to connect, share stories and divulge about everything motherhood-related. From dedicated publications that focus specifically from the perspective of moms to YouTube channels and private platforms that create safe spaces to communicate, these examples speak to the shift in media consumption as consumers enter into new life stages. It also demonstrates the developing desire for more targeted content overall, no matter what age you are.

Homework Question - How can your brand better target consumers as they enter new life stages? [More]

Implications - Whether tackling concerns related to infants or children with anxiety, or the stress induced by physical health-related problems, brands and companies are aiming to reduce stress in young people with various products, services, and purposeful design. This shift approaches healthcare from an all-encompassing perspective, especially important among vulnerable individuals like children who do not have the same healthy coping mechanisms that many adults have had the time to develop.

Homework Question - How could your brand prioritize stress reduction, both internally and for its customer? [More]

Implications - With more parents now prioritizing children's play that involves educational, tech-based components, brands are incorporating such features into kids' dolls. The use of educational connected technologies with items that children would likely already be interacting with creates a more seamless learning experience.

Homework Question - Where could your brand better incorporate smart technologies to ease consumer habits or experiences? [More]

Implications - An increasing number of fitness-related apps and devices are being used to encourage seniors to lead healthier lifestyles. These tools offer the dual functionality of allowing seniors to more seamlessly monitor their wellness paths, while staying abreast of emerging technologies. This confirms the appetite that many Boomers have to experiment and engage with technology more generally and speaks to the way technology facilitates more diverse expressions of wellness for this demographic.

Homework Question - How might your brand use technology to better connect with Boomers? [More]

Implications - Traditional gaming products and services are being repackaged and sold from the perspective of generations, particularly for those belonging to the Millennial demographic. These products appeal via authenticity, and allow Millennials the opportunity to engage in play that is equal parts nostalgic and relevant to the identity personalization they now expect from brands.

Homework Question - Conceptualize how your brand could more specifically appeal to the rituals and preferences of the Millennial consumer. [More]