In this edition of Trends Across the Planet, we take a look at a fitting room that allows you to pay via its mirror, a UnicornBot, the world’s most dangerous ice cream—and much more. Happy reading!

1. January 2019

2. TRENDS ACROSS
THE PLANETIn this edition of Trends Across the Planet, we take a look at a fitting room
that allows you to pay via its mirror, a UnicornBot, the world’s most dangerous
ice cream—and much more.
Happy reading!
Team Momentum

3. RETAIL/ FASHION
APP OF THE MONTH
TECHNOLOGY
JUST FOR FUN
QUOTE & STAT
OF THE MONTH
SPORTS
SPIRITS

4. STAR STRUCK
This past June, the NBA announced a multi-year partnership with
15 Seconds of Fame (15SOF). The 15SOF service leverages facial
recognition to capture video users who appear on stadium’s “big screen”
or on TV during live sports events. It then sends video of the appearance
to the user’s phone where the users are free to keep and share the video.
Of course, this doesn’t happen without an initial sign-up—users first register
for the service by downloading the app, snapping a selfie, then registering
with the app whenever they attend a live sports event.15SOF also has
partnerships with the NFL and several teams in Major League Baseball.
The popularity of social media like Snap, Instagram and YouTube
has enabled many who crave a bit of fame to actually obtain it.
15SOF did their homework, bottling the essence of this feeling and
creating a service that allows consumers to express their identity
and be recognized for their individuality. The NBA’s partnership
with 15SOF’s technology is just one of many we’ll likely see that
use facial recognition in the year to come.
VIEW
SPORTS

5. THE PERFECT FIT
Tmall partnered with European retailer Intersport to open a store in Beijing
last May. The store utilizes Alibaba’s New Retail infrastructure which covers
visitor insights, supply chain management, store technologies, smart logistics
and electronic payments. Visitors can get styling advice from an AI assistant-
powered mirror, have purchases delivered to their homes within two hours,
and play interactive games. When certain products are picked off a shelf they
display info on nearby screens. The store includes a motion-detecting camera
that recommends items to passersby, based on their gender and age.
Seems like every day there’s an endless stream of technology
developments to enhance and improve our experiences, are we right?
But as consumers, are we becoming so spoiled that we expect brands
to deliver on this, rather than delighting in it? This Tmall/Intersport
example does two things: meet human needs (payment, delivery) while
also providing entertainment (shopping assistant, enhanced ambiance).
But that’s not all.The brand has offered a unique shopping experience
to their consumer that encourages positive brand sentiment, repeat
retailer visits and positive word of mouth.What more could you ask for?
VIEW
RETAIL/
FASHION

6. KID CODING
Launched this past October, UnicornBot is a programmable robot kit developed
by UBTECH Robotics: a China-based AI and humanoid robot company. The kit
contains 400 parts including a main controller (aka the “unicorn brain”). All
assembly instructions can be accessed via an accompanying app where users
can learn the visual programming language Blockly to make the UnicornBot
move and light up the horn. The kit retails at $120 USD and is aimed at kids
ages 8+. Ultimately, though, the UnicornBot is intended to spark an interest
in STEM among young girls.
It’s been said that today’s younger generation (Gen Zs and Alphas)
have more pressure on them in terms of education than any generation
before them.Yes, it’s true that we now live in a world where technology
is rapidly changing and this young group of tens of millions are
needing to react and embrace quickly. It’s refreshing to see so many
brands like UnicornBot rising to the occasion and creating fun, yet
educational ways to assist today’s youth.We particularly like the
bot’s lean toward today’s young girls, encouraging them to learn about
something that their counterparts have always been empowered to do.
VIEW
TECH
NOLOGY

7. “Fiction has found a way to steal into the real world,
and with this, consumers have found a way to steal
out. Art and life are caught in a revolving door!
Our culture gets richer and more voluminous.”
Grant McCracken
Anthropologist
Over 15 billion customer records have been
subject to data breaches since 2013.
That’s over 6 million per day.
Source: Breach Level Index,
October 2018
QUOTE & STAT
OF THE MONTH

8. CRACKING THE CODE
This year, the Scottish distillery The Glenlivet has been challenging their
UK-based fans with a limited edition whisky encased in a black bottle with
no accompanying tasting notes. The Glenlivet Code encourages consumers to
challenge themselves to determine the age and origin of the drink by scanning
a bar code on the reverse of the bottle, and answering a few multiple-choice
questions set by master distiller Alan Winchester. Costing $120 USD, nose
and tasting notes are set to be revealed at the end of this year.
The Glenlivet Code? We think this is a pretty clever way to get passionate
consumers to engage with the product. Not only does this program
encourage high involvement with the brand, it also provides a feeling
of exclusivity or “insider status.” If you’ve been reading TAP for a while,
you’ll know that we’ve often spoken about how much consumers covet
products, events, services and special privileges that can only be
accessed on merit or have to be earned.The Glenlivet Code gets high
marks from us for following through on this (plus some extra credit for the
gamification feeling it provided with the multiple-choice questions).
VIEW
SPIRITS

9. HAVE A PINT
Recently launched PintPass gives users $2 to spend at participating breweries
in exchange for answering questions about their experience, such as what drink
they had and their opinion of the atmosphere. This information allows pubs
and taprooms to constantly have a pulse on consumer opinions and be able to
make improvements quickly and efficiently. Unlike some companies, PintPass
is transparent with its customers, letting them know ahead of time that any
information shared will in turn be passed along to the breweries and the Brewer’s
Association (names, phone numbers, and emails are not). Users can review up to
four breweries each calendar month.
We love this app for two reasons: the interactivity between the consumer
and the app AND the ability for each and every user to be an influencer
(and get discounts for doing so). However, PintPass is just one example
of how a brand can be successful in having a consumer grant permission
to access their personal data, as long as they are compensated (in this
case, discounts on beer).The key is to know your consumer and
match the compensation to their needs. PintPass, you did good.
VIEW
APP OF
THE MONTH

10. DON’T FEAR THE REAPER
Who doesn’t love ice cream, right? Well, the usually refreshing treat has gotten the reaper treatment,
that is, the Carolina Reaper, the hottest chili pepper in the world. Aldwych Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor
in Glasgow, Scotland serves up the world’s most dangerous ice cream. How dangerous is it? Well,
apparently it’s so hot that customers need to be over 18 and sign a waiver in case they experience
shock or even injury (that sounds like fun, no?). Dubbed Respiro Del Diavolo, aka “breath of the Devil,”
the dessert is made with hot chilies, including the Carolina Reaper, making it 500 times hotter than
Tabasco sauce. Not sure about you, but we’ll pass.
JUST FOR FUN

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SOURCES:
Trendwatching.com
Mintel
Breach Level Index
Cassandra Daily
Momentum Worldwide