FuturistU > Innovation & Change > Infectious Messaging > Module 3 / 4

Well Packaged Stories

Instructor: Jeremy Gutsche
Recall that with a cultural connection, you are not speaking to your customers, you are speaking with them, and that’s empowering. The most powerful way to speak with your customers is to tie your message to a story or a lifestyle.

This module uncovers various tactics and examples illustrating how to do just that. How can you articulate or visualize your message in a way that truly resonates?
Workshop Questions:
1. How could your product or service better communicate cultural purpose?
2. What truly differentiates your brand from competitors? Do your customers know that as well as you do?
Access Advisory Services

Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Assisted Choices
Brands are packaging medication-era eating help into daily touchpoints

Trend - Support for people using weight-management prescriptions is expanding beyond the drug itself into digital guidance, store navigation, and add-on nutrition products. Brands are treating everyday eating decisions as a service layer that can be designed and merchandised. In many instances, supplements, education, shopping tools, and benefits are being bundled into simpler pathways intended to reduce friction for people adjusting how they eat.

Workshop Question - How could your brand reduce the everyday decision load for people adapting to new eating patterns?
7
Score
Popularity
Activity
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Patterns
Megatrends
GLP-1 Support Powders
GLP-1 Support Powders
XXL Nutrition Combines Sunfiber with Daily Support Protein
XXL Nutrition built Daily Support Protein for people using GLP-1 medications, appetite-reducing drugs that can make regular eating trickier, and the powder goes beyond plain protein so low-appetite... MORE
GLP-1 Grocery Tours
GLP-1 Grocery Tours
The Giant Company Coaches Shoppers Through Aisles With Samples
The Giant Company is turning grocery trips into guided shopping assistance for people using GLP-1 medications. Its store tours are designed to help shoppers pick foods that pair well with... MORE
GLP-1 Shopper Support Sections
GLP-1 Shopper Support Sections
The Boots GLP-1 Support Zones are Arriving at 220 Locations
The Boots GLP-1 support zones have been developed by the retailer in response to the increasing prominence of GLP-1 weight loss medications as a way to offer support for shoppers who are taking... MORE
GLP-1 Companion Platforms
GLP-1 Companion Platforms
ANJAC Supports Patients Beyond Weight-Loss Medication
ANJAC Health & Beauty is expanding GLP-1 companion platforms with a multi-category offering designed to support patients throughout and after treatment. The GLP-1 Companion platform addresses needs... MORE
Employer-Sponsored GLP-1 Benefits
Employer-Sponsored GLP-1 Benefits
Crux and eMed Combine GLP-1 Care With Employer Reimbursements
Employer-sponsored GLP-1 benefits are reshaping workplace healthcare by combining clinical care, prescription management and financial support into a single employee benefit. Through a partnership... MORE
Service Copilots
Businesses are automating repetitive tasks with AI to free staff for exceptions

What's Happening - Customer-facing software is shifting from simple chat support to systems that can answer calls, field messages across channels, and complete basic service tasks on a company’s behalf. These systems are beneficial for offloading repetitive tasks, reducing wait times, and helping staff invest more time in higher-value work and relationship management.

Workshop Question - How could your brand use automated assistance to remove routine friction while preserving easy access to a person when it matters most?
6.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI Customer Support Platforms
AI Customer Support Platforms
Saski AI Delivers Automated Multichannel Support For Small Business
Providing fast and reliable customer service can be challenging for small businesses with limited time and resources. Saski AI helps automate support operations through AI-powered agents that can... MORE
play_circle_filledAI Customer Service Software
AI Customer Service Software
MirrorFly Is Introducing AI Agents For Customer Support
Self-hosted CPaaS provider MirrorFly has launched AI agents to help enterprises build their own AI assistance. This can automate and personalize the customer support, and it can be deployed to go... MORE
AI Concierge Assistants
AI Concierge Assistants
Playlist Launches a Specialized Virtual Front Desk Assistant
Playlist — the parent company of Mindbody, ClassPass, Booker, EGYM, and Kite — has launched AI Concierge, a virtual front desk assistant designed to operate around the clock for fitness and... MORE
AI Voice Agent Platforms
AI Voice Agent Platforms
PhinVoice Helps Businesses Automate Phone Calls With Human-Like AI
Managing customer phone calls can be time-consuming, especially for businesses that need to provide support, answer questions, and handle enquiries around the clock. PhinVoice provides AI-powered... MORE
AI Personal Productivity Assistants
AI Personal Productivity Assistants
Lumon Manages Tasks With An AI Assistant That Remembers Them
Managing emails, schedules, and endless to-do lists can become overwhelming when productivity tools lack personal context. Lumon is an AI-powered assistant designed to understand users, remember... MORE
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?
7.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
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Megatrends
Affordable Luxury Body Washes
Affordable Luxury Body Washes
Harry's Redacted Body Wash Dupes a Favorite Fragrance House Scent
Redacted Body Wash is a limited-edition launch from Harry's that promises a woody, complex scent with notes of santal and violet leaf. Beyond having a scent that customers have called a dupe of a... MORE
Luxury-Inspired Dupe Fragrances
Luxury-Inspired Dupe Fragrances
ALT. Fragrances Makes Cost-Conscious Interpretations of Scents
ALT. Fragrances specializes in creating designer scents without designer price tags, offering consumers the equivalent of a fragrance that costs hundreds for just $25 to $35. Consumers want dupe... MORE
Luxury Handbag Dupes
Luxury Handbag Dupes
The 'Wirkin' Bag is Redefining Affordable Luxury and Dupe Culture
The 'Wirkin', a viral dupe of the iconic Hermès 'Birkin' bag, is making waves for its affordable price and practical design, sparking conversations about the evolving meaning of luxury. Priced at... MORE
Designer Dupe Fragrance Expansions
Designer Dupe Fragrance Expansions
Dossier is Arriving into CVS Pharmacy Locations in the US
The Dossier perfume brand is making its way to CVS Pharmacy locations in the US to help consumers access its various designer dupe fragrances in a decidedly easy way. The brand will debut eight... MORE
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?
6.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
play_circle_filledPeople-Powered Intelligence Campaigns
People-Powered Intelligence Campaigns
Del Real Foods' Abuela Intelligence Honors Real, Warm Wisdom
As artificial intelligence technology pops up everywhere, Del Real Foods launched its first-ever brand campaign, Abuela Intelligence, to push back with a focus on people-powered wisdom. This... MORE
AI Talent Reward Programs
AI Talent Reward Programs
EY Committed $100 Million to Its Bonus Program for Human Skills
Ernst & Young committed $100 million this year to a bonus program rewarding U.S. employees who demonstrate adaptability, innovation and judgment, framing these 'human skills' as essential to... MORE
Human-Centric Marketing Agencies
Human-Centric Marketing Agencies
Literal Humans Prioritizes Authentic Storytelling Over AI Content
Literal Humans has positioned itself as a counterpoint to AI-driven marketing by emphasizing genuine human connection in its digital strategies. The agency combines journalist-level editorial work... MORE
Human Copywriting Services
Human Copywriting Services
Write.ad Delivers Human-Written Ad Copy in Just 24 Hours Flat
Write.ad is a human-powered copywriting service that delivers ad copy within 24 hours. Unlike AI-generated alternatives, this platform emphasizes originality and creativity crafted by professional... MORE
Human-Penned AI Newsletters
Human-Penned AI Newsletters
The 'Not A Bot' Newsletter Explores AI from a Human Perspective
The ‘Not A Bot’ newsletter is a free news source that focuses on all things artificial intelligence (AI), but keeps a focus on a human perspective. Penned by humans, the newsletter... MORE
AI Nuance
AI is evolving to interpret culture, context, and inclusivity with greater sensitivity
Trend - As AI matures, some brands are using it less for automation and more as a cultural lens. Tools like M+C Saatchi’s Cultural Power Index, Brandtech’s Bias Breaker, ARI, and Empwrd’s chatbot show how AI can decode cultural relevance, counter bias, and interpret nuance to help brands navigate complexity with cultural and ethical awareness.
Workshop Question - How might your brand make your presence feel relevant and human?
5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Cultural Power Assessment Tools
Cultural Power Assessment Tools
M+C Saatchi Group's Cultural Power Index Uses AI for Brand Growth
M+C Saatchi Group created The Cultural Power Index as an AI-powered tool to help brands tap into cultural power to grow. This tool gathers data from social media, media, and more to assess how... MORE
Diversity-Focused AI Image Generators
Diversity-Focused AI Image Generators
Create Labs Ventures x TONL Enable Authentic Representation
An innovative new AI image generator is redefining what inclusion looks like in the digital age. Developed by Create Labs Ventures in partnership with TONL, a Black-owned stock photography... MORE
Cultural AI Platforms
Cultural AI Platforms
Empwrd Launches Purpose-Trained Chatbot for Inclusive Brand Communications
Empwrd has introduced an AI platform that addresses cultural sensitivity gaps in brand communications through purpose-built functionality. The tool features a specialized chatbot trained on... MORE
AI Cultural Prediction Tools
AI Cultural Prediction Tools
Digital Culture Group's ARI Platform Analyzes Emotional Signals
Digital Culture Group launched ARI (Audience Resonance Index), an AI platform that decodes subconscious motivators and predicts cultural resonance before campaigns launch. Unlike traditional... MORE
Localized Visual Creation
Localized Visual Creation
BharatDiffusion.ai Generates Culturally Relevant Visual Content
BharatDiffusion.ai is an AI-powered visual generation platform designed to address the content needs of India’s linguistically and culturally diverse audience. It allows brands, eCommerce... MORE
AI Intimacy
Retail brands are using AI to create deeper emotional connections with customers
Trend - Retail companies are deploying AI systems that go beyond transactional interactions to build genuine emotional relationships with customers. These technologies learn individual preferences, remember personal details, and anticipate needs in ways that make customers feel truly understood. AI is being used so every interaction feels like a continuation of an ongoing relationship.
Workshop Question - How could your brand use AI to remember and celebrate the small details that make each customer feel uniquely valued?
7.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Interactive AI-Powered Retail Kiosks
Interactive AI-Powered Retail Kiosks
Skechers and We Are Social Singapore Launched the Luna Kiosk
Skechers and We Are Social Singapore have announced a new partnership that will see the performance footwear brand and the creative agency offering access to the Luna kiosk. The artificial... MORE
Optician-Focused AI Retail Solutions
Optician-Focused AI Retail Solutions
KITS Eyecare Ltd. Has Introduced OpticianAI™
KITS Eyecare presents an advanced artificial intelligence platform designed to modernize the eyewear shopping experience — OpticianAI™. This system combines facial recognition, prescription... MORE
AI-Powered Retail Advisors
AI-Powered Retail Advisors
Lowe's Mylow Companion Enhances Service & Associate Onboarding
Lowe's Mylow Companion is a new AI tool for associate sales floor devices and it's poised to enhance the in-store customer experience and the associate onboarding process. The app quickly provides... MORE
AI-Powered Loyalty Programs
AI-Powered Loyalty Programs
The Ubacart Loyalty Program is Targeted Towards Convenience Stores
The Ubacart loyalty program has been created by the brand as a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered discount solution for shoppers to help them enjoy exclusive discounts and wards for their... MORE
Cultural Experience
Hotels are redefining hospitality through local experiences and events.
Trend - New hotels are opening with a primary focus on immersing guests in local culture through curated experiences and events. These properties prioritize connecting travelers with the local community through events such as guided tours, workshops, and culinary experiences featuring regional recipes.
Workshop Question - How can we incorporate authentic local experiences and cultural immersion into our offerings to enhance customer satisfaction?
4.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Culturally Immersive Vacay Destinations
Culturally Immersive Vacay Destinations
The Marriott Vacation Clubs Center on Experiences
The Marriott Vacation Clubs transform ordinary vacations into culturally rich experiences by offering immersive workshops, cultural centers, and exclusive local activities. For example, at The... MORE
Contemporary Hacienda Stays
Contemporary Hacienda Stays
Tropicana Los Cabos is a Boutique Hotel in San Jose del Cabo
Tropicana Los Cabos is a 70-room boutique hotel located in the heart of San Jose del Cabo in Mexico, featuring a blend of “traditional hacienda architecture and contemporary Mexican design.&#... MORE
Hospitality-Focused Cultural Initiatives
Hospitality-Focused Cultural Initiatives
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Debuts 'Behind the Journey'
Behind the Journey is a new exhibition launched by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. It is part of the brand’s global cultural initiative, Rosewood Front Row. Premiering during Shanghai Art Week,... MORE
Harmonized Luxury Japanese Hotels
Harmonized Luxury Japanese Hotels
HOTEL THE MITSUI HAKONE Maintains Standards of Tradition
HOTEL THE MITSUI HAKONE is a 126-room hotel situated in Hakone’s prestigious hot spring resort area, within the picturesque Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Spanning across a vast area, the property... MORE
Private Plant
Large retailers are investing in plant-based products for their private label brands
Trend - Grocery retailers are increasingly launching plant-based and vegan products under their private label brands. Marketed as more cost-effective, these products claim to offer the same flavors, tastes, and textures as branded products for a fraction of the price and with less ecological impact.
Workshop Question - How can your brand make a premium category more accessible to more kinds of consumers?
3.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Private Label Flexitarian Foods
Private Label Flexitarian Foods
The Waitrose PlantLiving Products Come in 12 Varieties
The Waitrose PlantLiving products are a series of private label food items for consumers to incorporate into their cooking regime as a way to prioritize a flexitarian lifestyle. The product range... MORE
Private Label Plant-Based Foods
Private Label Plant-Based Foods
The ALDI UK Veganuary Range Focuses on Variety and Convenience
The ALDI UK Veganuary range has been announced by the brand as a lineup of plant-based food products that will provide shoppers with a wide variety of options for those trying out a meat-free new... MORE
Private Label Vegan Foods
Private Label Vegan Foods
ALDI My Vay is Arriving in Germany with Many Options
The ALDI My Vay vegan private label brand is being launched by the brand in Germany to coincide with Veganuary and provide shoppers with a variety of plant-based options to try out this year. The... MORE
Accessible Plant Protein Ranges
Accessible Plant Protein Ranges
Lidl's Own-Label Vemondo Plant! Range Makes Alt Protein Affordable
Lidl launched a new Vemondo Plant! range under its vegan private-label brand Vemondo, which makes alternative protein products more accessible, and more affordable, to shoppers in the UK. “We’... MORE
Kitty Confection
Hello Kitty is increasingly used for marketing desserts and confectionery items
Trend - Sanrio's Hello Kitty is venturing into the snacking space through a number of innovative brand collaborations. From candies to ice cream, these treats combine the character's charm with delectable flavors, allowing fans to express their love for the cartoon cat in a delicious and adorable way.
Workshop Question - How can your brand tap into the inner child of its target audience?
4.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Collaboration Graham Crackers
Collaboration Graham Crackers
Goldfish Hello Kitty Strawberry Shortcake Flavored Grahams are Tasty
The Goldfish Hello Kitty Strawberry Shortcake Flavored Grahams are here as a limited-edition product perfect for avid fans to pick up as a way to satisfy cravings. The snack is inspired by Hello... MORE
Celebratory Cartoon Candy Bars
Celebratory Cartoon Candy Bars
This New Japanese KitKat Flavor Showcases Sanrio Characters
This new Japanese KitKat has been unveiled by Nestlé with a series of Sanrio characters front and center to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hello Kitty. The limited-edition product boasts... MORE
Iconic Cartoon Ice Creams
Iconic Cartoon Ice Creams
The Van Leeuwen Hello Kitty Ice Cream is a One-Day-Only Release
The Van Leeuwen Hello Kitty Ice Cream, developed from a crafted partnership, marks the debut of the ‘Hello Kitty Yummy Berry White Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream’ which will be available... MORE
Cartoon Kitty Cookie Confections
Cartoon Kitty Cookie Confections
The Hello Kitty Assorted Cookie Tin is Made in Japan
The Hello Kitty Assorted Cookie Tin is a new holiday product from Bourbon Foods USA to provide avid fans of the namesake cartoon cat franchise with a way to commemorate their holiday festivities.... MORE
Product Analytics
AI tools are being used to assist managers with analyzing product insights
Trend - SaaS companies are launching Artficial Intelligence (AI)-based tools that gather and analyze both customer feedback and product information to provide recommendations for product managers. These tools are designed to automate monotonous tasks and free up time for managerial action.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage AI tools to streamline data analysis and provide actionable insights for our managers?
5.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI Product Insights Tools
AI Product Insights Tools
Zeda IO Offers a Product Discovery Platform and Planning Tool
The Zeda.IO AI tools for product management and product insights are designed to streamline the product discovery and development process by leveraging artificial intelligence to gather and analyze... MORE
Comprehensive Analytics Platforms
Comprehensive Analytics Platforms
Heap by ContentSquare is a Smart Platform for Customer Analytics
The Heap service from Contentsquare is an advanced analytics platform designed to provide comprehensive insights into user behavior across web and mobile applications. By combining Heap’s... MORE
AI-Driven Product Management Platforms
AI-Driven Product Management Platforms
Productboard Pulse Promises to Enhance Efficiency
Productboard has unveiled its latest innovation, Productboard Pulse, which is designed to enhance product management by integrating customer feedback at scale. This AI-driven platform offers product... MORE
AI Product Experience Solutions
AI Product Experience Solutions
Stibo Systems Helps Brands Keep Products Competitive with Data
The Product Experience Data Cloud from Stibo Systems is a comprehensive solution designed to optimize product data management and enhance customer experiences. By consolidating product information... MORE
AI-Driven Consumer Goods Platforrms
AI-Driven Consumer Goods Platforrms
Cpg Radar’s New AI-Driven Platform is Efficient
CPG Radar’s new AI-driven platform is designed to streamline and enhance research and development for companies in the consumer packaged goods sector. By leveraging an extensive dataset that... MORE