Knowledge hub

Once dismissed as retail relics, physical storefronts are making a surprising comeback – this time, powered by digital-first brands. From pop-ups to permanent flagships, online-native companies are opening brick-and-mortar locations not out of necessity but by design. Amazon Style offers shoppers curated fashion based on browsing history. Warby Parker’s clean, minimalist stores blend seamlessly into […]

The consumer journey used to begin with intent. A need arose, a search began, and brands vied for attention on the results page. That digital arena, structured around keywords, ads, and SEO, rewarded whoever best spoke the search engine’s language. That model is losing ground. AI is altering not only what consumers see but also […]

Protein has slipped out of the gym and into everyday life. It’s no longer the domain of weightlifters or meal-prep obsessives, but something far more ordinary and far more widespread. In Britain, it now turns up in desk drawers, schoolbags, glove compartments, and corner shop fridges. It’s being stirred, shaken, squeezed, and snackified. And, crucially, […]

Consumer sentiment in the US took a sharp downturn in the first quarter of 2025, signaling growing anxiety about the economy as inflation fears and geopolitical tensions weigh heavily on households. The University of Michigan’s consumer-sentiment index dropped to 50.8 in April, down from 57 in March, marking the lowest since June 2022. Inflation expectations […]

Every marketer knows the stat: eighty percent of new products fail. Or ninety. Or ninety-five. The number changes depending on the study, but the narrative doesn’t—the majority of new ideas don’t make it. By anyone’s standards, those are brutal odds. For brands that want to innovate, compete, and stay relevant, it raises urgent questions: How […]

Cash is disappearing from daily life across Southeast Asia. In 2019, nearly half of all transactions in Asia were made in cash. By 2027, that figure is expected to fall to just 14 percent, according to the Bank for International Settlements. Mobile wallets—once a convenience—are now overtaking physical currency as the region’s default mode of […]

In 2023, more people moved to Charlotte, North Carolina than to New York City. Once known primarily as a banking hub, Charlotte is now among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, with its population increasing by over 15% in the past decade. Its rising appeal is part of a larger pattern: a quiet […]

Marketers may position Generation Alpha as the next big consumer cohort, but the real power behind their spending lies firmly with their Millennial and Gen X parents. From the designer sneakers children wear to the AI-powered math apps they use, it is parents who dictate the purchases—and, by extension, the market trends. For these parents, […]

Thailand is embarking on a bold economic initiative that intertwines fiscal stimulus with digital innovation. The government has launched a digital wallet scheme, providing eligible citizens a one-time payment of ฿10,000 (approximately USD 275). This initiative aims to invigorate local economies and accelerate the nation’s transition to a cashless society. The program is being rolled […]

Jollibee is rewriting the rules of global fast food. After a strong financial year, the Filipino fast-food giant is entering 2025 with around USD 364 million earmarked to open as many as 800 new stores worldwide. That would push Jollibee’s total store count past 10,000, a staggering figure for a homegrown chain once dismissed as […]