Knowledge hub

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, signalling 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 […]

Marketing history is full of examples where even the most innovative companies misjudged consumer demand. Juicero attracted $120 million in funding for a Wi-Fi-connected juice press—only for the product to be scrapped within two years after consumers showed little interest. ESPN’s mobile phone service failed to take off due to a high price point and […]

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 […]

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 […]

Conducting online research in China is unlike anywhere else in the world. With over 1.1 billion internet users in 2024, China accounts for over a fifth of the global online population. Nearly all of them, over 99%, access the internet via smartphones, making mobile-first behaviour not just common but standard. Researchers won’t find Google, Facebook, […]

You’re watching a livestream. A pair of sneakers flash on screen, not as a hard sell, but as part of the host’s outfit. Before the segment ends, you’ve clicked, carted, and checked out, without ever intending to shop. This is ambient shopping. In 2025, 69% of consumers report making purchases while doing something else: scrolling […]