TrendWatching | MakeShift

Edition #16 | Your weekly inspiration fix • 21 - 27 September 2023

TREND DEEP DIVE

ACCLIMATORS: How technology can help mitigate the effects of climate change

Daily environmental aggressors — from air pollution to wildly oscillating temperatures — have become impossible to ignore.

Aware of Earth’s increasingly inhospitable climate and the resulting effects on their wellbeing, consumers are seeking out technology that provides them with climate comfort. Which means forward-thinking brands need to include both short-term relief and long-term... read more

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INNOVATION

🇺🇸 Concept car at Detroit Auto Show drives home the danger of racial profiling

Vehicle safety features by automakers focus on issues like preventing collisions and detecting blind spots. However, these don't protect against a particularly menacing source of danger: driving while Black. So… read more

INNOVATION

🇬🇧 Pangaia's digital passports make reselling clothing as easy as scanning a QR code

Resale has taken flight in the fashion industry, from consumers selling on peer-to-peer platforms to labels opening dedicated secondhand stores. Joining the fray with an innovative twist is sustainability-minded… read more

INNOVATION

🇵🇭 Under USD 10, Make-roscope's keychain microscope unlocks science for Filipino kids

Conceived during the pandemic, when classrooms remained empty and lab coats hung unused, a small and affordable tool turns smartphones into microscopes. The Make-roscope is a lens mounted in a strip of silicone… read more

REGIONAL TREND

POST-DEMOGRAPHIC EMPOWERMENT: Fintechs bridge the banking gap in LatAm

Despite a surge in credit card ownership – 58% of Latin Americans own one – full financial empowerment remains a work in progress. Just 3 out of 10 cardholders have access to broader financial services like loans, insurance or investment products. Investment and startups are playing a crucial role in extending banking access to lower-income households.

Some brands plugging the gap: in Argentina, INI is catering to remote businesses with limited internet connectivity while Mercado Pago is equipping people with tools needed to save money during inflation. In Colombia, a fintech is promoting financial inclusion for trans communities.

How can your brand break down the barriers to financial inclusion while empowering still-overlooked communities? 🌎💳

Discover 50+ recent LatAm innovations

INSIGHT

Zalando removes customer reviews. Do they still serve your brand?

Wunderman Thompson’s June 2023 Future Shopper Report reveals a paradox: 58% of global consumers suspect fake reviews on marketplaces, yet 64% trust them when shopping online. This underscores two issues: the flood of fake reviews in online retail (a concern echoed by the European Commission) and the time-consuming nature of writing honest reviews.

Perhaps it's time to reassess your review system. Last week, Zalando quietly removed product reviews from its platform while August saw Amazon introduce AI upgrades for more accurate feedback. Do your reviews enhance the purchase journey? Consider interface improvements (swipe right for satisfaction, perhaps?), explore blockchain for identity verification… Or consider a complete overhaul of reviews.

THOUGHT STARTER

Indian higher education takes a green turn 🌎🍃

In 2024, environmental and climate-related courses will become obligatory in higher education across India. Similarly, LVMH has pledged sustainability training for all employees by 2026. How will you contribute to the distribution of green knowledge?

INDUSTRY TREND

RAMPANT REAL-TIME: Reviving neighborhood news in the digital age

Local newspapers and cable TV are waning in the face of social media and streaming platforms, creating a gap in community-focused content such as advice columns, neighborly tales and local business ads.

Innovators around the globe are jumping into that gap and reinvigorating community news through real-time neighborhood updates:

🌦️In India, creators are acting as hyper-local weather forecasters, providing real-time updates for community-specific weather queries.
📱In Spain, a WhatsApp-only newsletter provides local updates in an informal format. It’s significantly quicker, and more resource-efficient, than traditional publishing.
🥐 In Sweden, Yabie's Last Call campaign links out-of-home digital screens to nearby local bakeries, displaying real-time discounts and product availability.

Your take?

Discover 10+ recent RAMPANT REAL-TIME innovations

INSIGHT

IKEA Netherlands stops selling gas stoves as governments worldwide consider following suit

Governments worldwide (from Canada to Australia and Germany) are debating gas heating bans to achieve net-zero emission goals. New York State will ban gas stoves from 2026, but IKEA Netherlands is ahead of the regulation pack. As of 2024, the retailer plans to cease all gas stove sales, exclusively offering induction cooktops to promote going electric.

The transition to electric may pose challenges for consumers accustomed to, or traditionally reliant on, gas cooking. Brands have an opportunity to join IKEA’s brand movement or develop innovations and tools that facilitate the shift toward electric alternatives.

INNOVATION

🇫🇷 Fix, don't ditch that dishwasher: Murfy offers hassle-free repairs within 48 hours

The cost of repair has remained static or increased, leading many consumers to opt for replacement over repair. French startup Murfy was created to disrupt that pattern with a service model that leans… read more

INNOVATION

🇧🇪 World's first CO2-negative bricks to roll out of Belgian factory in early 2024

When produced on an industrial scale, bricks are fired in gas-powered kilns reaching temperatures over 1000 °C. It's a highly energy-intensive process with substantial CO2 emissions, which is why... read more

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