Business Consumer Insights

Trend - Brands in the more designer end of the tech spectrum are releasing products with stretchable and malleable displays. These use AMOLED technology and are built in such a way that they can be twisted and bent without breaking or stopping the image from being displayed.

Insight - Businesses and startups with more niche product ideas often run into barriers when trying to bring a concept product to reality. These barriers can include cost, scale, or simply the feasibility of the product in general. Many such products in the technology space are limited due to physical limitations regarding battery sizes or screen sizes, amongst other potential issues. In order to address these concerns, designer tech brands are creating malleable displays for unique product ideas.

Trend - Retailers across various industries, such as home and garden, crafts, and even electronics are launching with an emphases on DIY projects. By focusing on DIY, these retailers mainly provide base components rather than prebuilt items, often leading to significantly lower prices than competitors.

Insight - Many consumers prioritize saving money over saving time. When shopping for furniture, for example, consumers opt to buy more affordable DIY furniture rather than more expensive pre-built options. These priorities are now extending to other industries, with consumers in adjacent spaces opting for more engaging DIY solutions in search of both a hobby and a method of saving money. In order to appeal to these consumers in a broader sense, specialized retailers with a focus on DIY are opening.

Trend - Retailers and grocers are testing fully automated locations to lower costs. By saving on the many complications associated with labor, these retailers are able to offer reduced prices for the benefit of the consumer. These often begin as solo test locations before expanding based on demand.

Insight - Lower-income consumers are the most affected by the continued rise in grocery prices year-over-year. However, even middle class consumers are feeling a notable impact to their finances caused by rising prices. In turn, retailers are facing leftover stock, particularly in the produce and perishables sections, leading to brands investing in ways to bring costs down for consumers. One such way is through the use of AI-based employee-free store locations.

Trend - Food & beverage brands are creating drinks designed to alleviate stress. This is achieved by swapping out stressing ingredients, such as processed sugars and caffeine, with stress-relieving alternatives, such as magnesium and lion's mane, generating healthier energy for consumers.

Insight - It is clear that many adults in the western world live high-stress lives. Between balancing work with personal lives while trying to maintain personal health, time is stretched thin. However, many adults are unaware of how impactful a diet is on both their mental and physical health, with sugars and processed goods raising heartrates and causing increased average stress levels. In order to help regulate the stresses and sleep schedules of these adults, brands are offering de-stressing beverages.

Trend - Cookbook stores now operate as community-centric “third spaces” to help consumers bond over the culinary arts through events like cooking classes and book signings. This speaks to a deepening interest in food as more than sustenance; it is now a means of social engagement and personal expression.

Insight - Many consumers face challenges finding spaces to build friendships and meaningful connections outside their professional and digital networks. Transforming cookbook stores into collaborative hubs creates a welcoming, offline environment where food enthusiasts can connect and share their love of the culinary arts in an intimate space. Businesses that tap into the demand for community can foster lasting loyalty by creating spaces where consumers feel free to express their authentic selves.

Trend - Luxury fashion labels across Europe and Asia are opening dedicated restaurants and cafes. These are designed to transform the boutiques from simple shopping ventures, to full-blown experiences. The experiential retail helps build consumer connections to one another and the brand.

Insight - In major cities across East Asia, in-person retail is once again thriving. Consumers in these regions have a wealth of options when going shopping, leading to them becoming more preferential in their destinations, seeking out unique retailers rather than simply shopping for necessities. This is a way of prioritizing feelings and experiences rather than simple errands. In order to appeal to this type of consumer, fashion labels are making their boutiques more appealing with dedicated cafes.

Trend - Retailers in various industries, such as department stores, luxury brands, and more, are launching in-store lounges and experiential events. These events are designed to enhance the comfort of shoppers while deepening the connection between the shoppers and the brand.

Insight - While many consumers made a strong shift toward online shopping over the past decade, in large part accelerated by the pandemic, there are still cases to be made for in-store shopping. Some consumers prefer to be able to touch a product before purchasing it, while others value the inherit socialization of in-store shopping, and prefer to interact with others and immerse themselves in the retail environment. Capitalizing off of this feeling, retailers are opening experiential lounges in-stores.

Trend - SaaS companies are launching Artficial Intelligence (AI)-based tools that gather and analyze both customer feedback and product information to provide recommendations for product managers. These tools are designed to automate monotonous tasks and free up time for managerial action.

Insight - Product managers face challenges in making data-driven decisions and handling large volumes of data. These users are often stretched thin, and gravitate toward organization and automation platforms, particularly those related to more monotonous tasks. In order to appeal to these users, brands are creating AI-based consumer and product analysis tools designed to provide actionable insights from datasets comprised of consumer priorities and demands, as well as product information.

Trend - Organizations across digital industries are embracing pay-what-you-want pricing models that give consumers autonomy over payment while maintaining revenue viability. These platforms often incorporate minimum payment thresholds, reward tiers, and hybrid approaches that blend traditional subscriptions with flexible options.

Insight - As digital consumption becomes increasingly fragmented across subscription services, consumers are experiencing both financial and psychological fatigue from rigid pricing models. This has created tension between their desire to access and support valued content while maintaining spending control. Pay-what-you-want systems resolve this by transferring pricing power to users, allowing them to align payment with perceived value and financial means. For companies, this approach transforms passive consumers into invested stakeholders who feel genuine ownership in the platform's success.

Trend - Industry-leading gaming brands are releasing game consoles devoid of disc drives in favor of all-digital downloads. By foregoing the disc drive, brands can offer consoles at reduced prices, while game prices themselves can be lowered by not needing to mass-produce and distribute physical copies.

Insight - One of the largest reasons why a modern gamer may gravitate toward a console rather than a computer is due to convenience and simplicity. Game consoles are plug-and-play experiences that require no tinkering. Additionally, these consumers are drawn to the cost-effectiveness of consoles. Gaming brands are taking into account the priorities of convenience and cost-effectiveness and offering devices with lower prices and free of disc drives to provide savings and simplicity.