Marketing Consumer Insights

Trend - Brands are incorporating tactile elements into billboards and posters to create immersive, multi-sensory experiences. From textured surfaces to interactive materials, these physical formats invite touch and smell, transforming passive ad spaces into memorable, hands-on brand encounters.

Insight - As consumers grow increasingly desensitized to purely visual, screen-based advertising, tactile displays offer a powerful way to break through by engaging senses of touch and smell—emotionally resonant and memory-linked triggers. Therefore, by introducing physical or olfactory interaction into public media, brands can spark moments of surprise, curiosity, and deeper cognitive imprinting while encouraging organic sharing of these novel encounters.

Trend - Brands are reviving early-2000s aesthetics across digital or commercial campaigns to spark nostalgia and drive engagement by means of metallic finishes, pixel fonts, flip phones, and pop-icon references; resulting in retro visual identities that merge with modern platforms to enhance cultural relevance.

Insight - As digital native consumers increasingly gravitate toward emotionally resonant and culturally familiar content, brands are strategically reintroducing recognizable Y2K visual codes to stand out within crowded, algorithm-driven feeds. By tapping into shared memories of early internet culture and pop nostalgia, brands transform retro aesthetics into powerful engagement tools that foster authentic connection, sharpen brand differentiation, and amplify viral reach across social platforms.

Trend - While reality TV and telenovelas remain staples of entertainment, brands are increasingly adopting their emotional or exaggerated intensity, heightened storytelling, and episodic suspense to power product launches and campaigns that aim to sustain attention and build anticipation.

Insight - As consumers face increasing advertising and social media fatigue, capturing attention has become more challenging. In response, some brands are incorporating dramatized, entertainment-led storytelling that mirrors how audiences already consume content, as serialized narratives create emotional hooks and continuity; making products feel embedded in everyday life rather than disruptive advertisements—as characters and integral components to a story in ways that feel memorable and aligned with contemporary viewing behaviors.

Trend - Brands are increasingly leveraging the physical newspaper motif as a strategic marketing tool. This newspaper-inspired approach includes both tangible print executions and adaptations of classic layouts, newsstands, and editorial aesthetics.

Insight - In an AI-saturated media landscape, Millennials and Gen Z consumers face fatigue and distrust, struggling to tell what’s authentic from AI slop. People increasingly seek curated, verified sources that signal credibility instantly. This search is one for discernment, with consumers gravitating toward platforms and brands that do the work of filtering, fact-checking, and contextualizing information.

Trend - Asian noodle companies are increasingly leveraging the influence of Korean pop celebrities to market their products. From celebrity-branded packaging to musical campaigns, these partnerships aim to increase sales while also naturally tapping into what consumers know as an idol's guilty pleasure.

Insight - Ramen has long been a convenient, dependable meal for consumers of all ages, but its affordability makes it especially popular with Gen Z. This group is also highly responsive to celebrity and pop-culture tie-ins. As a result, brands are leveraging the influence of Korean media to engage younger shoppers who want to support their favorite idols while staying within budget. Companies tapping into this trend can strengthen brand affinity early and build long-term loyalty among Gen Z consumers.

Trend - Brands are making wrapping paper products infused with edible flavors or aromas—often inspired by their snacks, desserts, or drinks. Some versions are fully edible and flavored, while others are scented to smell like a specific food, transforming the unwrapping experience into something memorable.

Insight - During holidays and special occasions, shoppers aren’t just hunting for the perfect presents—they’re also looking for packaging that feels personally tailored to their recipients. In response, brands are introducing scented and flavor-inspired wrapping papers that incorporate familiar sensory cues to enhance the unboxing experience and reinforce brand connection. This strategy allows companies to extend their intellectual property into a low-risk, engaging format without developing a new consumable product.

Trend - In an attempt to diversify the offerings in the oral hygiene market, brands are combining sophisticated modern aesthetics and unconventional ingredients that are inspired by sweets. This results in flavored or scented dental products that appeal to adults and children alike.

Insight - Contemporary consumers—especially those part of the Millennial and Gen Z demographics—have always placed an emphasis on novelty when making purchasing decisions. Many are now looking to diversify their every day by opting-in to test out various unconventional products. On one hand, this is successful in satisfying the curiosity that arises when one comes across an unexpected combination. On the other hand, it taps the purchasing adventurism that is characteristic of these demographics.

Trend - Blind box companies are teaming up with well‑known brands, franchises and designers to release limited‑edition collections. These collaborations blend surprise‑based unboxing with recognizable IP, offering themed figurines, miniatures and collectibles that appeal to both casual fans and collectors.

Insight - Consumers love the surprise of blind boxes but often feel let down when the characters are generic or low?value. Many hesitate to buy because the risk of getting something they don’t care about feels too high. As a rresponse to these reservations, brands turn to collaborations with known brands ease that pressure by tying the mystery to familiar worlds, making every pull feel more rewarding and collectible, and giving fans confidence that the surprise will still feel worth it.

Trend - Brands are incorporating Brunost into snacks, sauces, spreads and limited‑edition items, leveraging its caramelized sweetness, mild tang and creamy texture; chefs and CPG teams use it to create Nordic‑inspired flavors, premium twists on comfort foods and novel pairings that stand out.

Insight - Consumers are hungry for flavors that feel both comforting and novel, especially those tied to authentic regional traditions. Many are fatigued by repetitive “global fusion” trends and seek ingredients with a clear story and sensory uniqueness. Brunost answers this desire with its caramel?like depth, gentle funk and strong cultural identity, giving brands a way to differentiate without alienating mainstream palates. Its versatility makes it an appealing tool for innovation across categories

Trend - Brands are increasingly recruiting VTubers (virtual YouTubers) to promote products and merchandise. Often utilizing anime-style models, these virtual talents are positively regarded in marketing for their ability to draw in hyper passionate and engaging audiences.

Insight - Brands are often in search of new ways to help with marketing their products to wider audiences, but often struggle to make room in their budgets for creative concepts without the high costs associated with influencer marketing. Increasingly, they’re turning to VTubers—flexible, cost-efficient digital creators whose content naturally resonates with Gen Z. By leveraging VTuber collaborations, brands can engage younger digital natives with campaigns that feel authentic and culturally aligned.