News 14.08.2024

Need to Know

EcoFlow’s solar-powered hat, Taco Bell offers a taste of early retirement and teen mental health improves in the US.

EcoFlow’s solar-powered hat charges devices on the move

Ecoflow, US

US – EcoFlow is transforming summer fashion with its new Power Hat, a cutting-edge accessory that integrates solar panels into a lightweight water- and dust-proof cap. This innovation allows users to charge their devices simply by walking in the sun. Designed with solar panels encircling the hat, the Power Hat offers an on-the-go charging solution, making it ideal for travellers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The hat is built for practicality, featuring a breathable design with airflow around the head and an adjustable strap for a comfortable fit. Despite its advanced technology, the Power Hat remains lightweight, weighing just 370g, and is foldable for easy storage in a backpack or sling bag.

Equipped with USB-A and USB-C ports, the Power Hat can fully charge a smartphone with a 4,000 mAh battery in three to four hours, thanks to its strategically placed solar panels that eliminate the need to constantly adjust the hat towards the sun.

Available for pre-order at £61.65 ($79, €72) the Power Hat comes in two sizes – medium to large and large to extra-large – with shipping set to begin in mid-September 2024. Browse our Sustainability topic to explore similar eco-conscious innovations.

Strategic opportunity

Today’s eco-conscious consumers don’t want to compromise on convenience to be green; create products that solve practical problems – such as out-of-charge devices – with in-built sustainability features

Taco Bell's Cantinas offers a taste of early retirement

The Cantinas by Taco Bell, US The Cantinas by Taco Bell, US
The Cantinas by Taco Bell, US
The Cantinas by Taco Bell, US

US – Taco Bell is redefining retirement with the launch of The Cantinas, an early retirement community experience set to open in San Diego, California, on 17–18 August.

This exclusive event for Taco Bell Rewards members blends leisure and brand engagement with retiree-inspired recreation activities such as knitting, aerobics and pickleball tournaments, in addition to early dinners featuring the brand’s signature meals.

Attendees, aged 21 and over, can choose between a £117 ($150, €137) full weekend membership, which includes accommodation (with an 8:00pm bedtime) and access to all amenities, or a £39 ($50, €46) day pass. Tickets are currently sold out.

The retired lifestyle of Baby Boomers often seems out of reach for Gen Z, but Taco Bell’s event offers anyone who is ‘tired of turning up’ a chance to indulge their ‘inner eclectic grandparent’ and get a glimpse into the golden years.

For more generational analysis, including how retirement is evolving into worktirement for Gen X and beyond, download our Generations Now and Next: 2024–2025 macrotrend report.

Strategic opportunity

Take inspiration from Taco Bell by hosting authentic and unique community events that resonate with your customer base’s interests, humour and anxieties, rewarding loyalty and strengthening brand affinity

Glossier and Shopify unveil shoppable geo-targeted treasure hunt

US – Glossier sparked excitement with a unique treasure hunt to launch its latest brow product, Boy Brow Arch. Starting on 2 August 2024, exclusive posters in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago offered early access before the product’s wider release on Glossier.com on 6 August. 

The interactive campaign, created in collaboration with Shopify’s commerce app Shop, featured shoppable posters equipped with QR codes. Fans who found and scanned these codes were directed to Glossier’s store within the Shop app to purchase the new product, using Shop’s geo-gated technology to limit access to those in the designated cities.

Anna Decilveo, head of merchandising and brand partnerships at Shop, called the initiative a ‘first-of-its-kind’ programme for Shopify. Glossier expects over 100m impressions from this activation. ‘Our goal with this campaign was to be disruptive, find a fresh way to bring a new brow product to the market, and generate engagement within our community,’ said Glossier CMO Kleo Mack.

For more insights on innovative retail activations, head to our analysis of Five Beauty Retailers Deploying EQ-Commerce Strategies

Glossier, Seattle

Strategic opportunity

Explore geo-fencing and location-based marketing strategies to create exclusive, localised experiences that drive engagement and conversions

Stat: Teen mental health in the US has improved post-pandemic

Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants by Jas Nadoo and Georgette Fischer for The Agency for Nature targets the pressure to be on the grind felt by young women, UK Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants by Jas Nadoo and Georgette Fischer for The Agency for Nature targets the pressure to be on the grind felt by young women, UK

US – The latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed a modest improvement in teen mental health in the US following the pandemic.  

Distributed in 2023 to more than 20,000 high school students in the US, the survey found that 53% of teenage girls reported extreme depressive symptoms, down from 57% in 2021.  

But the overall picture remains concerning, with a significant portion of teens, especially LGBTQ+ students, still experiencing high levels of distress. Some 65% of LGBTQ+ high school students reported persistent hopelessness, with one in five attempting suicide in the past year.  

The survey has been undertaken every two years since 1991 and the latest edition is the first to offer insight into how the pandemic shaped teenagers’ lives.  

 While some metrics, such as alcohol and drug use, are trending positively, the data underlines the ongoing mental health crisis among US teens, something we previously analysed in our Gen Z Now and Next: From Vision to Contradiction report.

Strategic opportunity

Enhance your brand’s impact by launching social media campaigns that amplify mental health organisations’ work, add resources such as helplines on product packaging, or host community events that connect teens with mental health professionals and provide safe spaces

Previous News Articles
Global Wellness Summit 2024: A deep dive into water’s transformative role in wellness

News

Global Wellness Summit 2024: A deep dive into water’s transformative role in wellness

The 18th Global Wellness Summit, centred around the theme A Watershed Moment for Wellness, was hosted at the iconic Old Course Hotel in St Andrews,...
Events : Health & Wellness : Luxury
Padrone’s AI-powered Primera ring reinvents the mouse

News

Padrone’s AI-powered Primera ring reinvents the mouse

Swiss tech start-up Padrone has launched a Kickstarter for Primera, a wearable ring mouse that turns any flat surface into a touchpad.
Technology : Artificial Intelligence : Design
Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

News

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

Every Friday, we wrap up the topics, issues, ideas and viral moments everyone’s been discussing. This week, deputy foresight editor Dan Hastings de...
Politics : Society : Election
Stat: L'Oréal Paris breaks sales records on TikTok’s first UK Super Brand Day

News

Stat: L'Oréal Paris breaks sales records on TikTok’s first UK Super Brand Day

L’Oréal Paris has achieved a landmark success in TikTok Shop UK’s inaugural Super Brand Day.
Retail : Pop-culture & Media : Beauty
Disney’s ESPN joins Fortnite with football island activation

News

Disney’s ESPN joins Fortnite with football island activation

Following Disney’s £1.1bn ($1.5bn, €1.4bn) investment in Epic Games, ESPN and Fortnite are teaming up with a new in-game experience, ESPN Football ...
Sports & Leisure : Technology : Pop-culture & Media
Sporty & Rich and The Carlyle unveil limited-edition collection

News

Sporty & Rich and The Carlyle unveil limited-edition collection

Sporty & Rich, the wellness-inspired lifestyle brand, has partnered with The Carlyle, a Rosewood hotel, to launch a limited-edition collection ...
Fashion : Travel & Hospitality : Luxury
Diageo launches AI-powered FlavorPrintConnect whisky-tasting

News

Diageo launches AI-powered FlavorPrintConnect whisky-tasting

Diageo has introduced FlavorPrintConnect, an innovative platform powering the premium drinks manufacturer’s Single Malt Special Releases 2024 Tasti...
Technology : Food & Drink : Retail
Stat: Britons more likely to act on climate crisis if leaders set an example

News

Stat: Britons more likely to act on climate crisis if leaders set an example

A new study has found that UK consumers are more likely to reduce their carbon footprint if they see politicians, celebrities and business leaders ...
Sustainability : Society : Tomorrow's Leadership
Reserve your spot for our AI Futures online event

News

Reserve your spot for our AI Futures online event

On 26 November 2024, the brains behind our macrotrend report, The Synthocene Era: Merging Human and Machine Intelligence, will present the bes...
Event : Artificial Intelligence : Webinar
Asics SportStyle introduces Neocurve sneaker made from deadstock materials

News

Asics SportStyle introduces Neocurve sneaker made from deadstock materials

Asics SportStyle has launched the Neocurve sneaker, a forward-thinking footwear design made from recycled, reclaimed and deadstock materials.
Fashion : Sports & Leisure : Sustainability
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN