# Social-Powered Hugging Chairs The Outback B-Day Chair Lets Your Friends Hug You Through Facebook By Alexander Lam | Published 2013-07-02 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outback-b-day-chair References: [ibelieveinadv](http://www.ibelieveinadv.com/2013/07/outback-steakhouse-outback-b-day-chair/) & [outback.br](http://www.outback.com.br/) Bringing emotionless online birthday messages to life, the Outback B-Day Chair lets your friends hug you virtually. The interactive chair has two outstretched hands to hug the birthday girl or boy. Friends who couldn't make the celebration can use [Facebook](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-gaming-chair) to send a hug without actually being there. A tablet in front of the chair takes a picture of the reaction so that hug senders can feel like they're actually there. The B-Day Chair was developed by ad agency Lew’LaraTBWA in order to promote [Outback Steakhouse](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/koala-on-a-walla) in Brazil. Lew’LaraTBWA created the chair to position Outback as a place where special moments are made and celebrated. By adding a physical touch to digital messages, Lew’LaraTBWA is helping a younger generation get back in touch with the real world. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 12% | Activity: 28% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Virtual Hugging:** The trend of virtual hugging is disrupting the way we interact online, creating opportunities for businesses to enhance emotional connections with customers. - **Physical-digital Integration:** The integration of physical and digital experiences is disrupting traditional marketing methods and presenting new opportunities for creating immersive brand experiences. - **Emotion-focused Technology:** The trend towards emotion-focused technology is disrupting the way we communicate and creating opportunities for businesses to tap into emotional experiences. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Retail:** Retailers can harness the power of virtual hugging and physical-digital integration to create memorable customer experiences, build emotional connections, and foster brand loyalty. - **Hospitality:** Hospitality businesses can leverage emotion-focused technology to create immersive guest experiences that tap into the emotions and create long-lasting memories. - **Advertising:** The Outback B-Day Chair demonstrates how advertising agencies can use technology to create emotionally resonating campaigns that engage audiences and promote brand values. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Hug-Activated Marketing Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hug-to-unlock.md) - [Enveloping Nested Layer Armchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-hug-armchair.md) - [Intertwined Wooden Chair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hug-chair-1.md) - [Sculptural Cocooned Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/introvert-chair.md) - [Tech-Friendly Beach Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tech-friendly-beach-chair.md) - [AI Hug Videos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-hug-video-generator.md) - [Future-Facing Tech Brand Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seed-chair.md) - [Voice-Enabled Recliner Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sitjoy-smartsofa.md) - [Haptic Feedback Gaming Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cooler-master-synk-x.md)