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Intro to Marketing in the Crisis of Authenticity

Instructor: Gil Haddi
Marketing in the Crisis of Authenticity
Download the Marketing in the Crisis of Authenticity Trend Report
We’ve all heard that today’s consumers value authenticity, but their trust in brand messaging has eroded over time as it becomes more difficult to sift through false advertising. Modes of communication that consumers have previously relied on, including peer reviews and unbiased influencers no longer seem to be sources of truth and integrity.

In this module, Trend Hunter’s SVP of Client Success, Gil Haddi, introduces the 3 biggest marketing tactics any brand can leverage in order to build trust in the eyes of the unsure consumer. Through the modules of Co-Branded Influence, Instant Gratification and AI Engagement, you will uncover ways to adjust brand messaging to adapt to the crisis of authenticity – and it’s a lot simpler than you may think.
Related Trend Report: Marketing in the Crisis of Authenticity
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Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Beauty Hotline
Beauty brands launch text and call helplines for personalized support
Trend - Beauty brands are launching text and call helplines as interactive campaign activations that invite consumers to receive personalized recommendations, confidence boosts, and real-time beauty guidance— evolving campaigns into two-way conversations.
Workshop Question - How can your campaign invite consumers into a personalized conversation instead of simply delivering a message?
8.1
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Experiential K-Beauty
Immersive K-beauty pop-ups are redefining product discovery and retail
Trend - As experiential retail evolves, K-beauty brands are launching pop-ups where skincare diagnostics, interactive product testing, personalized consultations and visually curated installations transform product discovery into multisensory experiences that reinforce brand identity and engagement.
Workshop Question - How can your brand create physical experiences that strengthen consumer affinity?
9.3
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Frugal Flex
Dupe culture enables luxury style access while spending smart
Trend - Retailers and brands are embracing dupe culture as consumers seek affordable alternatives to luxury across beauty and fashion; driving demand for products that mirror high-end aesthetics, formulations, and design—from makeup to apparel—at more accessible price points.
Workshop Question - How could your brand support consumers in balancing aspiration with value-driven, intentional spending?
7.8
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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?
8.7
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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?
7.7
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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?
4.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
Sparkling Cannabis
THC Brands are launching low-dose sparkling waters for comfortable buzzes
Trend - Cannabis brands are rolling out low-dose THC-infused sparkling waters designed to offer a subtle cannabis experience in a refreshing beverage format. These drinks combine crisp, sparkling water with carefully measured amounts of THC, offering low-dose alternatives to traditional products.
Workshop Question - How can your brand innovate to offer a mindful consumption experience that aligns with modern consumers' preferences for low-dose and wellness-focused products?
6.2
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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
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Nostalgic Nourishment
Brands release nostalgic copycat snack products with healthier ingredients
Trend - Brands are catering to nostalgia-driven consumers by introducing functional, health-conscious versions of classic childhood snacks. These snacks allow consumers to enjoy their favorite treats from youth, but in a way that aligns better with modern dietary preferences and a focus on health.
Workshop Question - How can your brand tap into consumers' emotional connection with products from their childhoods?
4.5
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Traceable Sustainability
Packaging brands are adding traceability to packages for verification
Trend - Packaging brands are creating tech-based solutions for traceability. These enable consumers, and partnered businesses, to trace packaging back to its source. Often via scanning a QR code, NFC touchpoint, or blockchain ID, it is easy for any user to verify stated sustainability claims.
Workshop Question - How could your brand deepen its connection to consumers by increasing transparency?
5.8
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Activity
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Megatrends
Sustainable Sourceable Packagings
Sustainable Sourceable Packagings
Securikett's Eco-Friendly Packaging are Verifiable by Consumers
Securikett’s packaging solutions focus on sustainability and security. The company offers a range of eco-friendly packaging options, including PaperVOID labels and tapes, which are designed to be... MORE
Blockchain-Traceable Packagings
Blockchain-Traceable Packagings
'TraceX' Enables Consumers to Freely Verify Packaging Sources
TraceX Technologies is a company that leverages blockchain technology to enhance traceability and transparency within the food supply chain. Their traceability solutions enable businesses to track... MORE
Plastic Lifecycle Tracking Systems
Plastic Lifecycle Tracking Systems
SMX and Skypac Unveil a Plastic Packaging Traceability Alliance
SMX and Skypac Packaging have launched a partnership to bring traceability to flexible plastic packaging. The new system integrates SMX’s molecular marker technology and blockchain tracking into... MORE
Hyper-Traceable Pet Foods
Hyper-Traceable Pet Foods
Goodlands Uses On-Pack QR Codes to Support Ingredient Transparency
Goodlands makes various dry food formulas for puppies, kittens, dogs and cats that offer unparalleled transparency to support a new generation of ingredient-conscious consumers. Rhodes Pet Science&... MORE
Connected Fragrance Bottles
Connected Fragrance Bottles
Two Bastille Fragrances are Now Bottled with Links to Digital Twins
Two Bastille fragrances, including the best-selling Pleine Lune and the newly released Paradis Nuit, are enhanced with packaging that includes RFID tags and QR codes that link to cloud-based digital... MORE