Sports

Implications - Workout equipment that can be easily stowed away or integrated into the design of a home makes it easier for consumers to enjoy a fit lifestyle without disrupting the design flow of their home. As urbanization progresses, products like these appeal to consumers trying to maximize the space that they do have, functioning as a driving factor in purchasing decisions for those living in micro-homes or apartments. [More]

Implications - Shoes have long been custom-designed to suit the rigors of highly popular sports, but as the sneaker market continues to crowd, brands are mining increasingly niche activities and interests that have not previously been served by incumbents. In light of markets in which it's nearly impossible for upstarts to succeed as generalists, products that recognize and play to consumers' hyper-specific particularities can grab attention more strongly than those that appeal to more general, wide-spanning interests. [More]

Implications - Demonstrating the importance of having gadgets that pertain to their individualistic lifestyles and identities, consumers are increasingly drawn towards smartwatches that are more specifically targeted rather than general fitness trackers. This shift in preference towards more personalized performance is indicative of the acceptance of smartwatches and fitness wearables as everyday necessities that consumers want to increasingly integrate into their daily routines. [More]

Implications - As the health and wellness movement continues to expand on its already considerable breadth of influence, cult pop culture franchises are lending their branding to workout wear and at-home fitness equipment. This shift highlights the extent to which individuals see their fandoms as extensions of their personal brands, with room for organic incorporation in other areas of interest such as athletic or other pursuits. [More]

Implications - As brands look to enhance the overall in-store experience in a time when traditional retail is threatened by e-commerce and the concierge economy, many are overhauling store designs to be centered around branded fitness events. This shift speaks to the ways in which smart brands are raising the bar in terms of in-store experience that goes above and beyond increasingly high customer expectations. [More]

Implications - As unique amenities continue to be an important way for hotels to differentiate themselves from competitors like Airbnb, boutique and chain hotels alike are designing stays around innovative health and wellness programs. In addition to highlighting the ubiquitous nature of the wellness movement, this shift speaks to the need to established brands to add value with unique and unexpected new offerings. [More]

Implications - As fitness culture has now permeated arguably all facets of consumer culture, brands are emerging with unique and at times unexpected workshops that celebrate the intersection of the wellness lifestyle and seemingly unrelated interests, proving a singular prescriptive health regimen is unrealistic. This shift is key in demonstrating the opportunity for brands to cultivate passionate customer tribes around hyper-niche experiences that validate the unique collection of interests of individual consumers. [More]

Implications - Fashion-forward urban consumers are playing up their outdoors skills by opting for utilitarian clothing and accessories suitable to both the wear and tear of city and rural life. In addition to highlighting the desire to showcase one's closeness to nature as a status symbol, this shift demonstrates the influence of the survivalist mentality on urban living and the interest in challenging the stereotype of city dwellers as being overly reliant on convenience-driven technology. [More]

Implications - With designers of athleisure apparel borrowing visual cues from the world of tennis, consumers are embracing such pieces as a way to build on their personal brand in an age where competitive athleticism is best communicated through workout-ready attire. Falling in line with 2016's most popular sneaker, the tennis-inspired Stan Smith, in many cases this progression allows one to observe the ability of the fashion world, and in particular streetwear brands, to challenge traditional markers of wealth and social class by subverting the silhouettes we associate with them. [More]

Implications - Collaborative capsule collections by high-performance outerwear designers and brands associated with street fashion provide a unique opportunity to entice consumers through exclusivity. In addition to highlighting the power of such collaborations in allowing brands to cross-pollinate their communities of fans, this shift showcases the underlying relationship of sport and street fashion and the need for established brands to form unexpected partnerships in order to align with these values. [More]