In our continuing focus on trends related to the fast changing drinks industry, we are spotlighting yet another new mashup segment: caffeinated juices. While traditional soft drink sales are declining, producers are filling in the gaps with a wide variety of newcomers including low-sugar drinks, sparkling coffees, caffeinated sodas and sports-...
The retail world is changing fast. Surf the Internet and you'll find numerous businesses selling cool 3D printed items with otherworldly designs that were not very easy to create before. Eyeglasses are a good example. Hatch frames by michiel cornelissen are printed with an intriguing intricate latticework that's like no eyewear you've ever seen...
Men and women are different, to be sure. But the two sexes don't require different products as often as we are told. Shampoo? Soap? Moisturizing lotion? Recently we wrote about Hello Kitty Beer and Pretty in Pink earplugs, both gender-neutral products that are specifically targeted towards women. Now Unilever has debuted Signal brand toothpaste...
Pharrell Williams is a major star of the moment. An American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, drummer and fashion designer, Pharrell can be expected to have his finger on the pulse of the cultural direction of his audience. So it speaks volumes that his latest denim clothes collection is being promoted primarily for its environmental...
Brick and mortar stores have one big advantage over Internet-only shops: customers can get their goods immediately. That's why, as an answer to Internet retailing, we are seeing more and more shops selling online (where the customers are), then offering pick-up in-store (where the goods are). Even Starbucks and McDonald's have started to offer...
Brick and mortar stores like Sears in the US and Harvey Nichols in England are fighting back against Internet shops by letting customers purchase on the Web then pick up the same-day from their stores. They are counting on people's desire for instant gratification to prop up sales. Now Starbucks is taking a page from this business model with a...
