Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 447,154 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,186 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 330,681 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,186 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 330,681 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,188 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
During COVID-19, learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 447,154 cutting edge ideas.
FuturistU > Tactics > Innovating Through Ritual > Module 4 / 4

Stories

Instructor: Jonathon Brown
Co-Creation & Customization
Download the Co-Creation & Customization Trend Report
For the final module, Jonathon reveals one of the most applicable innovation techniques he's discovered. This technique has consistently proven useful in selling-in ideas at Lowe's Innovation Lab. In the past, the equation for selling anything was need + solution = sale. If you could understand a buyer's needs and clearly map the benefits of your product or idea to those needs, you had a solution and could make a sale. Today, we need to think about our internal customers differently. The equation is now need + solution x narrative = sale. We need to think carefully about how we tell the story around our idea and which vehicles we use.

Following interviews with several executives at Lowe's Innovation Lab, Jonathon reveals the story-telling vehicle and approach that led to a green light on an exoskeleton project they dreamed up. Again, though an idea may seem logical when presented directly, the reality of the business climate on any given day can mean significant roadblocks need to be overcome. In order to get past any potential nitpicking, Lowe's backed up and thought about the bigger picture. They created a story around their exoskeleton idea and hired writers and illustrators to create a comic book.
Related Trend Report: Co-Creation & Customization
Workshop Question:
What is the narrative you're providing?
Get the 2024 Trend Report FREE

Featured Insights

Aided Ideation
The capitalization of creativity ushers in brainstorm-assisting products
Implications - As Millennials begin taking over the workplace, more premium is placed on out-of-the-box thinking and the ability to ideate quickly and efficiently. The response to this is a slew of brainstorm aids. As this youth generation enters adulthood, society's standards of what it means to be an ideal adult citizen will shift to accommodate and reflect Millennials.
Workshop Question - How can you implement internal ideation sessions that will allow your whole team the ability to voice their ideas?
3.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends

Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Planned Microcation
Modern consumers are taking microcations to save time and money
Trend - Travel agencies are offering 'microcation' packages that include short-duration, event-packed getaways. These vacation are more affordable and are easier to plan than vacations, making them fit for customers of all ages. Microcations can also be taken in quick succession for versatility.
Workshop Question - How could your brand adjust its products or services knowing that the modern consumer takes less vacation time each year?
6.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Custom Chatbot
Brands are launching services that enable fast creation of personalized chatbots
Trend - Businesses offer tools enabling clients to build fully-functional chatbots quickly. These bots are trained on custom datasets, making them suitable for internal, consumer-facing, or consulting purposes. Businesses across numerous industries can benefit from personalized low-cost chatbots.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage personalized chatbot technology to enhance customer service or streamline workflow?
7.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Agile Workplace
As more offices adopt a hybrid model more flexibility is needed
Trend - The post-pandemic workplace demands more flexibility than before. The average office worker knows how to be productive from home, making the idea of being in the office full-time harder to justify. Thus, hybrid workplaces are more common than ever; however, these come with a unique set of challenges that organizations in the industry aim to solve.
Workshop Question - How has your workplace culture changed, and how can you make these changes work to your advantage as an employer?
4.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Dine-In Tech
Technology to improve the dining experience through guest insights is on the rise
Trend - The restaurant and QSR industries are bouncing back from the Pandemic by better gathering insights on what consumers care about. Technologies dedicated to listening to and implementing suggestions for improving the dining experience are increasing in popularity. This can be done by gathering data on ordering platforms, surveys, and more.
Workshop Question - How could you better bridge the gap between your various guests' often opposing needs?
5.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Gen Z Investing
Investing for young Gen Z consumers is made easier with apps and communities
Trend - Gen Z is entering a new world of fintech, and banking apps, community platforms and services are being designed to help them navigate investing in the modern age. These platforms ensure that young consumers are able to set themselves up for the future in today's changing financial landscape.
Workshop Question - How could your brand better prioritize customer education and support?
6.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Relaxed Workplace
As offices reopen post-pandemic more focus is placed on relaxation and wellness
Trend - Many consumers have been working from home over the pandemic, and have become accustomed to a level of relaxation and privacy. For some, this more relaxed environment is more conducive to productivity than the formal settings of the past. As offices reopen employers will need to be cognizant of this and provide more casual environments with low-sensory spaces.
Workshop Question - How can you arm yourself against the "anti-work" movement?
8.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Appified Recovery
Brands use the virtual space to help users with post-workout recovery
Trend - Fitness brands are increasingly prioritizing post-workout recovery for consumers as part of their new approach to be more holistic in how they address customer health. Now, they're using apps to aid this process along, with examples including custom muscle-stimulating routines to wearables that suggest recovery days.
Workshop Question - How is your brand prioritizing holistic health approaches for its customers?
6.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Grocery Rewards
Grocery stores promise loyalty points that lead to discounts on groceries
Trend - With stiff competition, some grocery store brands are aiming to stand out with apps and loyalty programs that reward consumers with points and discounts on groceries for shopping at their locations.
Workshop Question - How is your brand prioritizing its customers' wellbeing?
5.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Eco Banking
Finance apps allow users to make eco-friendly decisions
Trend - Banking and sales apps are allowing consumers to be more sustainable by offering features that have a positive impact on the environment. These include everything from clothing resale functions to making eco-conscious investments.
Workshop Question - How is your brand empowering sustainability?
4.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Retail Finance
Banking apps are including online retail features and functions
Trend - Banking apps are becoming increasingly functional, now with extended features that allow people to shop (or sell) within the apps. These features help customers consolidate some of their lifestyle habits, merging banking and shopping to create simpler online experiences.
Workshop Question - How is your brand prioritizing convenience for its customer base?
4.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends