Consumer
Insights

Trend - Luxury brands are creating fragrance sample kits that allow consumers to explore a variety of scents before committing to a full-size bottle. These kits deliver a curated and exclusive fragrance experience, allowing shoppers to explore different scents and find ones that suit their style and mood.

Insight - Luxury consumers often desire products that offer the same immersive and personalized customer journey they receive when shopping in stores. In response, luxury fragrance brands are introducing discovery kits to craft virtual experiences mirroring the same standards of sensory exploration and personalized guidance. Businesses that cater to consumers seeking hands-on product demonstrations can attract those who prioritize experiential and customized products.

Trend - Companies are opening new social media services with the intention of fostering more intimate connections between users. In a rebellion against social medias built around endless feeds, these platforms connect users with similar interests and have convenient public and private group chat systems.

Insight - While nearly everyone today engages with some form of social media platform, most agree that the social aspect of the platforms has become secondary to monetization and algorithmically-fed content streams. Many of these users find popular social media platforms isolating, and cite difficulties trying to foster real connections. In recognition of these complaints, smaller social media services are focusing on fostering direct connections between users and communities.

Trend - Restaurants are offering limited-time promotions related to the unofficial 4/20 holiday. These include lowered prices and large food bundles, with a focus on easy-to-eat foods such as burgers or nuggets, which helps build relationships with consumers who celebrate the cannabis-related holiday.

Insight - As more countries and states legalize recreational marijuana use, the number of adults who engage with cannabis-related products increases. This number grows larger on April 20th, leading to many consumers looking for ways to complement their celebrations, such as with fast-food meals or snacks, also known as "munchies." Restaurants are acknowledging the large base of individuals who celebrate 4/20, and are launching cost-effective promotions to capture this market.

Trend - Brands are launching pest control devices designed to integrate seamlessly into modern home designs. Utilizing technologies such as UV light trapping and ultrasonic waves, these devices are pet-safe and minimalist. These passive pest control designs avoid standing out as an eyesore in the home.

Insight - With nearly every device in the home having a smart alternative, consumers are prioritizing investing in devices with robust features at affordable price points, with particular focus on the devices that most seamlessly integrate into their lifestyles. Brands are recognizing the importance of crafting refined smart devices with functionality that does not intrude on the user, and as a result, are launching minimalist pest control devices that do not stand out or require frequent maintenance.

Trend - Smart home companies are releasing baby monitors with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features. Rather than acting as cameras and recording devices, these monitors use AI features for non-intrusive monitoring of breathing or sleeping patterns, body temperature, and more.

Insight - New Millennial and Gen Z parents are tasked with balancing full-time work with social lives and raising their newborns. Rising costs of living have led to these parents often having less free time than previous generations. To alleviate the strain of home tasks, many of these parents turn to smart home or AI-powered products, such as robot vacuum or AI washing machines. In recognition of this demand, smart home and infant care brands are releasing AI baby monitors with time-saving features.

Trend - Brands are creating compact wearables powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models. As wearables, these are non-intrusive devices that provide access to on-demand AI. These AI features can be used conversationally with hands-free commands to provide seamless access to information.

Insight - Most individuals in the western world, regardless of age, find themselves using their smartphone tens or hundreds of times per day, with most simply looking up information or responding to messages. Companies are aiming to use AI to reduce smartphone use to help consumers return to active living, rather than staring at screens. As a result, these companies are creating AI-powered wearables, such as pins or necklaces, that provide on-demand hands-free access to AI and smartphone features.

Trend - Pumpkin seed protein is emerging as a standout in the plant-based protein market, particularly among legume-based options. Known for containing all nine essential amino acids, it mirrors the nutritional profile of hemp protein, making it highly valued in vegan and vegetarian diets.

Insight - The rising popularity of plant-based proteins reflects a broader dietary shift towards sustainable and allergen-free nutrition. Consumers increasingly seek diverse protein sources that align with their health and environmental values. Plant-based proteins, like those derived from legumes, not only offer a rich profile of amino acids but also bring additional health benefits such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This shift presents a significant opportunity for nutrition brands to innovate with new plant-based offerings, appealing to a market driven by both health considerations and ethical consumerism.

Trend - Magnetic power banks are transforming mobile charging for iPhone users with their innovative magnetic attachment feature. Sparked by Apple's MagSafe battery pack, numerous startups have introduced alternatives with extra features or better pricing, broadening consumer choices. This technology enhances convenience and meets the growing demand for seamless, integrated smartphone accessories.

Insight - The rapid adoption and development of magnetic power banks illustrate a broader shift in consumer electronics towards more integrated and feature-rich accessories. As these devices become central to daily life, users are looking for products that not only enhance functionality but also align with a mobile and dynamic lifestyle. There is a strong consumer demand for innovations that offer both enhanced usability and aesthetic coherence with their primary devices.

Trend - Brands are creating dog foods with high-quality ingredients like real meat, fruits, and vegetables. These foods aim to emulate the nutritional advantages of raw diets while providing the ease of dry kibble, allowing pet owners to provide a balanced diet without the hassle of meal preparation.

Insight - Increasing costs have prompted numerous consumers to re-examine various high-cost aspects of their lives, including expenditures related to their pets. In response, pet owners who rely on a raw diet are turning to premium kibbles that claim to replicate the nutritional benefits of these diets while reducing costs. Businesses that cater to the demand for cost-effective and value-driven solutions in the pet industry are likely to gain traction among budget-conscious consumers.

Trend - Embedded lending is reshaping financial services by allowing non-financial companies to offer loans and financing, such as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options exemplified by Apple Pay Later. This trend extends beyond consumer finance into the B2B realm, providing small and medium-sized businesses with faster access to capital through various funding methods like merchant cash advances and revenue-based financing.

Insight - The rise of embedded lending showcases a pivotal shift in how companies across various industries integrate financial services, reflecting a broader trend towards embedded finance. This integration is driven by the desire to enhance customer experiences by providing seamless, on-the-spot financing options, effectively turning every company into a potential fintech player. The ability to offer tailored financial solutions not only improves customer engagement and retention but also opens new revenue streams for businesses.