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Edition #6 | Your weekly inspiration fix • 7 - 13 July 2023
INSIGHT
Charging stations: refueling in more ways than one
Deloitte’s 2023 Global Automotive Consumer Study found that people at charging stations want more than a plug. They're looking for amenities like wifi, refreshing beverages, restrooms and seating areas. Can you go the extra mile and offer entertainment or a quick workout? Can you make the payment experience seamless and hassle-free? Check out how Subway is building EV charging playgrounds that include green spaces and picnic tables. 
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INNOVATION
🇵🇹 With Bandid_ cans, cider brand Bandida do Pomar leaves gender expression up to its customers
The logo for a Portuguese hard cider brand features a fox: the Bandida do Pomar. In Portuguese, noun endings change depending on whether an object or being is feminine or masculine, so bandida could also be bandido… read more
INNOVATION
🇬🇧 A touring mini club, Fandangoe Discoteca invites people to dance out their grief
Covid, climate, bereavement, break-ups — from age-old causes to those specific to our time, everyone has reasons to grieve. One way to cope? Dance it out. The Fandangoe Discoteca is a mini disco cube created… read more
INNOVATION
🇳🇱 Retailer Dille & Kamille sells ‘holy soil’ compost made from in-store Christmas trees
Last holiday season, retailer Dille & Kamille decorated its stores with sustainably sourced Christmas trees. The trees without rootballs are now returning to the earth via a different route: as compost. Upcycling startup… read more
INDUSTRY NICHE
Eco pilots drive green waves in large-scale events
This year, the music industry is witnessing record-breaking tours, with artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé driving seismic activity (on the ground and for the economy). What if these events also created ripples of positive impact by sparking audiences to make greener choices? 🌱

Coldplay provides a blueprint here and we recently highlighted the Netherlands' first climate-neutral soccer match. The latter succeeded through close collaboration with local government and businesses. Other recent innovations to inspire pilots at your next event (and scroll down for UK cricket’s first green match): 
  • 🚋 Transportation: Copenhagen Pride exclusively used electric trucks for floats  
  • 🥤 Beverages: PepsiCo and UEFA partnered for returnable cups at the Champion League Finals
  • 🍦 Snacks: Oatly’s pop-up shop exclusively served plant-based soft serve
  • 🏗️ Setup: 1800 Tequila’s bar was made entirely by repurposing waste 
  • 💡 Energy: Zwarte Cross offered hyper charging stations, charging phones with kinetic energy from dance floors
INSIGHT
The world’s oldest national newspaper prints its final edition

Austria's 320-year-old national newspaper Wiener Zeitung was losing money on its print edition and is turning to digital-only. What chain of events ended a 320-year run? 

  1. In 2018, an EU directive required a public register of all company owners in the EU –  a move to reduce money laundering.
  2. Then, a November 2022 appeal on the grounds of privacy violations resulted in countries removing their registries.
  3. In March 2023, the Austrian People's Party passed a law stating that companies are no longer required to pay for publishing commercial registry changes in print. Wiener Zeitung’s advertising revenue declined sharply.
  4. As of June 2023, Wiener Zeitung lost three-quarters of its government funding and can no longer afford to print.

It took just five years to dismantle a business that had outlasted 12 presidents, 10 emperors and 2 republics. What could disrupt your industry? Are you turning consequential signals into actionable opportunities?

THOUGHT STARTER
Rio bans ultra-processed food in school cafeterias
Rio de Janeiro recently banned ultra-processed food and drinks from public and private school cafeterias to address public health concerns. Is it time to make plant-based options default and roll out healthy-food-as-a-service?
INSIGHT
China’s ‘full-time children’ tackle burnout and unemployment rates
In China, parents are hiring unemployed adult offspring as ‘full-time children’ to perform household chores. It’s a response to the country’s high youth unemployment (21.3% for people aged 16-24 as of June 2023), extreme burnout and general pessimism. 

While the trend transforms the parent-child relationship into a mutually supportive partnership, it’s not a solution for everyone — many Chinese families rely on their children’s earnings to get by. 

Youth unemployment is particularly pronounced in China, but many young workers face uncertainty and would appreciate meaningful support. Try setting new graduates up for success, offering better networking opportunities or providing skills for all to ensure no one gets left behind in the race towards automation.
Lock-icon Discover the trend behind the insight: SKILLS FOR ALL
TREND
BRANDCARE: Promoting personalized wellness in an era of healing

By 2028, meditation apps are projected to surpass USD 2.6 billion in revenues from worldwide users. As more consumers try to balance heightened phone usage with the need to take a screen break, they will look to their favorite brands for help. How can you infuse wellness into your customers’ online experiences and your digital products? Take a look at these innovations: 

  • 📱 Apps: Bumble’s self-care badges nudge users to connect while keeping mental health in check
  • 🏋️‍♀️ Fitness: Tempo’s AI-powered at-home workouts serve up a personal and immersive exercise journey
  • 🧴 Skincare: Tatcha’s virtual store submerges consumers into the world of forest bathing
  • 💼 Remote work: Maybelline and Microsoft Team’s virtual makeup for video calls brings self-expression to the digital workspace

By seamlessly blending wellness into your digital offering, can your brand offer BRANDCARE that promotes a more balanced use of technology?

Lock-icon Explore 25+ recent BRANDCARE innovations
INNOVATION
🇺🇸🇵🇸 VR app bridges barriers to visiting sacred mosques of Mecca and Jerusalem
Pilgrimages to the holiest sites are fundamental to the Islamic religious experience. But physical disabilities and economic constraints mean not everyone can visit. MetaMosque hopes to bridge the gap by… read more
INNOVATION
🇬🇧 Cricket goes green for upcoming England-NZ match at Edgbaston Stadium
Earlier this year, we featured the Netherlands' first climate-neutral soccer match. Now, cricket is joining the green arena as Edgbaston Stadium organizes a 'Go Green Game.' The match on 3 September 2023… read more
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MakeShift is TrendWatching's free bi-weekly trend publication, bringing you the insights and innovations that will inspire you to create with meaning ❤️

Want MakeShift in your inbox? Subscribe now and join 100,000+ other trend enthusiasts!

Keen to access all our trends, insights and innovations? Check out Amplify, our Trend Intelligence Platform 💥

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Talk to us
Be sure to ping our editor, Galina Yordanov, if you're working on something we should feature on MakeShift.
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