News 16.05.2024

Need to Know

Monzo’s new ad brings optimism to money management, Equinox unveils luxurious longevity scheme and why consumers seek quiet life travel destinations.

Monzo’s surreal new ad champions positive financial thinking

Monzo, UK

UK – British online bank Monzo is challenging the negative emotions typically associated with money management in its latest campaign, Money Never Felt Like Monzo.

Created in collaboration with advertising agency Uncommon, the campaign’s hero film shows stressful scenarios transformed into empowering moments, as the word ‘money’ becomes ‘Monzo’. These moments include nails scraping across a blackboard transitioning into hands strumming a harp and a spider on the head becoming a relaxing head massage.

Marking the bank’s first above-the-line campaign in five years, a series of billboards showing comparative images – such as a toilet becoming a birdbath – will accompany the video, in addition to a print and digital wrap of The Financial Times in the company’s trademark coral pink.

Our Gen Z Now and Next: From Vision to Contradiction report explored how Gen Z are hesitant to set up long-term goals, overwhelmed by personal finances and wishfully dreaming of home ownership. Monzo’s light-hearted campaign speaks to this generation while encouraging a healthier relationship with money management and promoting positivity amid a tough financial period.

Strategic opportunity

Use humour and creativity to inject joy into advertising campaigns, capturing the attention of consumers and forming positive associations with your brand

Max Space and SpaceX unveil inflatable habitats for space exploration

Max Space, US Max Space, US
Max Space, US Max Space, US

US – As part of the Space Symposium in April 2024 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Aaron Kemmer and Maxim de Jong of Max Space revealed their plan to launch inflatable habitats into space by 2026, in partnership with SpaceX.

The stadium-sized inflatable pressure vessels will be tightly packed on the rocket before being deployed in space. Once air flows in, they will become stable and solid structures, allowing humans to live, work, manufacture products, and even host entertainment shows – ultimately boosting space tourism.

Max Space spent about 25 years researching inflatable habitats in space. But the team suggested that a similar project, the International Space Station’s Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, took more than 40 test flights and cost more than £79bn ($100bn, €92bn) to build.

Aaron Kemmer said: ‘The problem with space today is there isn’t enough habitable space in space. Unless we make usable space in space a lot less expensive and much larger, humanity’s future in space will remain limited.’ We previously tracked the growing number of space travel innovations in our Innovation Debrief 2023–2024 report.

Strategic opportunity

How can your business capitalise on the growing space market? Products and experiences inspired by space will become desirable as consumers seek to emulate the aesthetics and feeling of outer space

Equinox launches new luxurious longevity scheme

Bathhouse Flatiron. Photography by Adrian Gaut, US Bathhouse Flatiron. Photography by Adrian Gaut, US

US – Equinox Fitness, renowned for its luxury wellness gyms and premium pricing, has introduced Optimize by Equinox, a personalised longevity programme priced at £31,595 ($40,000, €36,815) annually. Recognising members’ desire for tailored fitness and nutrition guidance, Equinox partnered with Function Health, a health lab offering over 100 lab tests and personalised coaching led by Dr Mark Hyman.

Julia Klim, Equinox’s vice-president of strategic partnerships and business development, told Fortune that the company ‘has always been known to anticipate consumer needs and to come up with programs to support them’. Optimize by Equinox aims to redefine fitness by delving into internal health markers, mirroring the approach of elite athletes who prioritise comprehensive performance optimisation.

Launching initially in New York and Texas, the programme offers extensive assessments, including diagnostics on movement, nutrition and sleep. Members receive personalised training with Equinox’s top coaches, nutritional and sleep coaching, as well as massage therapy, for £2,370 ($3,000, €2,760) per month with a six-month commitment.

Equinox’s initiative signifies a shift towards holistic wellness, reflecting a growing demand for tailored health solutions beyond traditional fitness offerings, a topic we explored further in our Longevity Lifestyles macrotrend report. The programme’s comprehensive approach and high-end amenities cater for affluent consumers seeking optimal wellbeing.

Strategic opportunity

As seen in Accredited Beauty, consider collaborating with health experts and professionals to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of beauty and wellness programmes

Stat: Consumers are searching for ‘quiet life travel’ destinations

Habitas, AlUla, Saudi Arabia Habitas, AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Global – The Pinterest Summer 2024 Travel Report has revealed that consumers are looking to swap the hustle and bustle of daily life for serene landscapes and digital detoxes this year; searches for ‘quiet life’ rose by 530% on the social media platform between February 2023 and February 2024.

Comparing internal search data from February and March 2023 with the same period in 2024, the report revealed that searches for ‘quiet places’ and ‘calm places’ increased by 50% and 42%, respectively, with Okinawa in Japan and the English countryside trending as peaceful destinations.

According to Pinterest, demand for ‘quiet life travel’ is driving interest in ‘solo travel’ too, with searches for the term up by 35% on the previous year. Searches for ‘cabin in the mountains’ also rose by 180%, while searches for ‘national park’ were up by 250% and those for ‘glamping aesthetic’ increased by 260%.

Overwhelmed by the polycrisis, consumers are searching for off-grid escapes to turn down the volume on everyday life. In our Quiet Mode microtrend report, we identified how technology companies have introduced noise-cancellation features to help consumers protect their mental health. Now, travel companies must look to build quiet modes into their holiday offerings too, facilitating intentional introversion for maximum relaxation.

Strategic opportunity

Develop solo travel packages tailored specifically to quiet life-seekers, offering an itinerary of activities such as silent retreats, rural hikes and yoga workshops with off-grid accommodation to match

Previous News Articles
NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show Europe: Community-centric strategies

News

NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show Europe: Community-centric strategies

Day two of NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show Europe continued the conference’s Retail Together theme, with business leaders spotlighting how community eng...
Retail : Community : Streetwear
Ralph Lauren launches AI styling companion with Microsoft

News

Ralph Lauren launches AI styling companion with Microsoft

Ralph Lauren has partnered with Microsoft to launch Ask Ralph, an AI-powered conversational styling tool designed to bring personalised fashion adv...
Technology : AI : Fashion
Stat: Preventative health, wellbeing and stress management drive consumer spending

News

Stat: Preventative health, wellbeing and stress management drive consumer spending

Life expectancy around the globe is set to rise by nearly five years between 2022 and 2050, yet the gap between lifespan and healthy lifespan remai...
Health & Wellness : Health Goods : Medical Services
NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show Europe: Unified commerce and inspirational entertainment

News

NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show Europe: Unified commerce and inspirational entertainment

On the opening day of NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show Europe, the spotlight turned to unified commerce and the evolving role of physical stores in omni...
Retail : NRF : Pop Up Store
The Future Laboratory presents The Synthocene Era macrotrend at Première Vision

News

The Future Laboratory presents The Synthocene Era macrotrend at Première Vision

The Future Laboratory’s co-founder and chief creative officer Christopher Sanderson presented The Synthocene Era macrotrend at the fashion industry...
Global Events : Technology : The Synthocene Era
Gen Z in China are using AI to transform themselves into collectable merchandise

News

Gen Z in China are using AI to transform themselves into collectable merchandise

Gen Z in China are using AI art tools and 3D printing to transform themselves into ‘guzi’ – personalised collectable merchandise.
China : Kidults : Kidult Craze
Stat: Gen Z stay indoors for days as screen time replaces nature

News

Stat: Gen Z stay indoors for days as screen time replaces nature

Two-thirds of Gen Z in Britain confess they can go days without stepping outside, according to new research by Super, Natural British Columbia.
Gen Z : Nature : Health And Wellness
Big W embraces the beautiful chaos of parenting in new campaign

News

Big W embraces the beautiful chaos of parenting in new campaign

Department store chain Big W is shaking up family advertising with a bold new campaign celebrating the chaos, meltdowns and small wins of everyday ...
Advertising & Branding : Parenting : Retail
George at Asda unveils new adult adaptive clothing range

News

George at Asda unveils new adult adaptive clothing range

George at Asda has launched a 28-piece adult adaptive clothing collection, designed in collaboration with the late breast cancer campaigner Nicky N...
Retail : Fashion : George At Asda
Stat: Girls’ sport participation could unlock leadership potential at work

News

Stat: Girls’ sport participation could unlock leadership potential at work

Girls who play extracurricular sport in the UK are 50% more likely to go on to achieve senior professional roles at work, according to Game Changin...
Sport : Women's Sports : Teenage Girls
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN