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Intro to Brand Love

Instructor: Hayley McGlone
Brand Love
Download the Brand Love Trend Report
The 80/20 rule states that 80% of sales are attributed to 20% of customers, which is why companies are so eager to build brand love among consumers. And we know that more than half of consumers stay loyal to a brand that they feel an emotional connection to, but how can you capitalize on that?

In this module, Trend Hunter's Manager of Client Research and Strategy Hayley McGlone reviews the 4 Pillars of Brand Love and how brands can leverage them to build consumer fandom around a brand. The following modules will look at brand loyalty, brand evangelism, brand commitment, and brand addiction and how each of these is a key component of Brand Love.
Related Trend Report: Brand Love
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Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Experiential Poster
Physical, touchable media is being reintroduced to deepen sensory engagement
Trend - Brands are incorporating tactile elements into billboards and posters to create immersive, multi-sensory experiences. From textured surfaces to interactive materials, these physical formats invite touch and smell, transforming passive ad spaces into memorable, hands-on brand encounters.
Workshop Question - How can your brand use physical interaction to create more memorable consumer touchpoints?
9.4
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Megatrends
K-Pop Noodles
Brands are using K-Pop idols to market their noodle products to Gen Z shoppers
Trend - Asian noodle companies are increasingly leveraging the influence of Korean pop celebrities to market their products. From celebrity-branded packaging to musical campaigns, these partnerships aim to increase sales while also naturally tapping into what consumers know as an idol's guilty pleasure.
Workshop Question - How can your company respond to a cultural phenomenon in a way that is authentic to its branding?
8.3
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Megatrends
Human-Powered
Brands launch services that are 100% powered by people
Trend - From Write.ad’s 24-hour human-written ad copy to Literal Humans’ editorial-style storytelling and Del Real Foods’ “Abuela Intelligence” campaign, a wave of brands are leaning on people, not algorithms, to deliver creativity, wisdom, and authentic connection.
Workshop Question - How could your brand inject more human voice and lived perspective into the experiences you create?
5.2
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Boldened Snack
Packaged snack brands are refreshing packaging portfolios to improve recognition
Trend - CPG snack brands are refreshing their packaging designs to draw more attention to their products while emphasizing standout features. These features include better-for-you ingredients and reduced environmental impact, with intent to capture younger audiences with such practices.
Workshop Question - How might we innovate our brand's approach to packaging and product design to effectively resonate with environmentally conscious and health-focused younger consumers?
6.3
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Megatrends
Vibe Marketing
Brands shift from demographic targeting to emotional resonance
Trend - Brands are shifting away from traditional demographic targeting and trend forecasting toward emotion-led "vibe marketing" that emphasizes mood, feeling and cultural resonance. This approach spans multiple sensory touchpoints, from visual aesthetics to music, and prioritizes creating an emotional atmosphere over direct product messaging.
Workshop Question - If your brand had to own one emotion on shelf—one feeling customers could shop for—what would it be, and how would you make it instantly recognizable?
7.7
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Megatrends
Inclusive Hairstyle
Video game developers increasingly invest in textured hair-centric initiatives
Trend - Game companies are launching efforts to enhance diversity and expand the variety of hairstyles in character customization. Focusing on Black hair textures and other historically underrepresented styles, these organizations aim to create a space where all players feel valued and represented equally.
Workshop Question - How can your brand ensure that its initiatives reflect and include a diverse range of identities?
5.5
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Megatrends
Mindful Skincare
Skincare products are increasingly sold with journals for self-reflection
Trend - The concept of psychodermatology has gained traction in the skincare industry, resulting in products that address skin health and mental well-being. This has led to the inclusion of journals alongside skincare products, helping address potential psychological factors contributing to skin concerns.
Workshop Question - How can your brand provide an all-encompassing approach to aconsumer issue?
6.6
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Megatrends
Postcard Pop-Up
Brands are hosting personalized postcard-making events for consumers to gift
Trend - Postcard-making workshops are becoming a popular feature at pop-up events, offering guests a creative, hands-on way to connect with the brand. These interactive sessions allow participants to create a tangible, personalized product that delivers a message and introduces a new brand to the recipient.
Workshop Question - How can your brand effectively engage with its consumers while considering relevant individuals in their lives?
6.4
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Activity
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Megatrends
Ethical Meat
Animal protein brands are highlighting ethical farming practices on packaging
Trend - Animal protein brands with CPGs are more heavily emphasizing ethical farming practices on product packaging. In addition to organic or cruelty-free labels, the ethically sourced label denotes a higher level of care given to the farmed animals, ensuring consumers of the brand's priorities and values.
Workshop Question - How could your brand incorporate ethical or sustainable practices into its business model to better connect with consumers?
2.7
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Activity
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Megatrends
Canned Soap
Cosmetics brands are using aluminum cans to aid sustainability efforts
Trend - Self-care products are being offered in aluminum cans to enhance sustainability. Often coupled with refillable designs, these cans reduce packaging costs and are nearly infinitely recyclable. Additionally, the resilience of aluminum packaging simplifies shipping and logistics systems.
Workshop Question - How could your brand benefit from circular packaging materials, such as aluminum or paper?
6.8
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Megatrends