Generations

Tracking the key characteristics and values of generational demographics as each cohort evolves.

Download: Generations Now and Next

From Baby Boomers and Gen X to Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, uncover what unites and divides consumers across generations

Macro Trends

Boomers: Ageing to Becoming

By 2030 they will all have reached the average Western retirement age of 65, supercharging a wider re-assessment of later life purpose along the way

Macro Trends

Gen X: Ambiguity to Advocacy

Having long lived in the shadow of Baby Boomers and Millennials, Gen X are racing against time to make their influence felt

Macro Trends

Millennials: Pink to Prime

After a stuttering start to their adult lives, the first generation to use the internet as children are hitting their prime earning years

Macro Trends

Alphas: Sandbox to Roblox

Many of the technologies, careers and crises that will define and shape the lives of Gen Alpha are yet to exist

Big Ideas

Robots brought into service at Aloft Hotels in California

Aloft Hotels has announced the debut of robotic butlers at its Silicon Valley location.

Robotics : Artificial Intelligence : Starwood Hotels

Big Ideas

Google Street View sweetens exhibition closure with online extension

The Google Art Project provides browsers with a permanent street view version of a temporary installation by artist Kara Walker.

Google : Google Street View : A Subtlety

Micro Trends

Flawed Fashions

Bored and disenfranchised by the airbrushed vapidity of mainstream fashion, some designers are celebrating imperfection, chiming with The Sharded...

The Sharded Self : Me-conomy : The Me-Conomy

Big Ideas

Falling sales of celebrity scents cause a stink at Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden has reported its biggest ever quarterly loss because of a sharp decline in sales of celebrity perfumes.

Me-brands : Justin Bieber : Taylor Swift

Big Ideas

South Korean dramas boost luxury brands in Asia

The runaway success of a recent South Korean television show in China has led luxury brands to consider the marketing clout of Korean culture acros...

Korean Wave

Big Ideas

Digital coupons keep consumers coming back for more

Digital coupons are key to maintaining customer loyalty and influencing purchases, according to a report by Forrester Consulting.

Shopping : Digital Coupons : Promotions

Big Ideas

UK confidence high, but consumers continue to spend cautiously

UK consumer confidence is at its highest in seven years, according to Nielsen’s Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions

Spending Habits : Nielsen : Consumer Confidence

Viewpoints

Alex Stephany: How to understand the sharing economy

Where does the sharing economy go after Airbnb?

The Sharing Economy : JustPark : Collaborative Consumption

Viewpoints

Have it your way: Fast food gets personal

McDonald’s and other fast food brands are ramping up their collaborative credentials, but will it be enough to tempt the Millennial generation?

Millennial : Fast Food : McDonald's

Viewpoints

Caryn Franklin: How to make diversity profitable

Brands need to engage with women differently, says fashion commentator and activist Caryn Franklin.

FABs : Caryn Franklin : I-D

Big Ideas

Millennials will drive rise in digital banking in North America

A new wave of technology start-ups is set to change the world of finance in the future as Millennials turn away from traditional banks.

Startups : Millenials : Accenture

Big Ideas

Yoox joins forces with WeChat for m-commerce push

Shopping for luxury brands online has become more personal thanks to a new global partnership between Yoox Group and instant messaging service We...

Yoox : WeChat : Social Commerce

Big Ideas

AT Kearney predicts the future of retail is phygital

The future of retail remains predominantly phygital, according to a new report by AT Kearney. While bricks-and-mortar locations are where consumer...

Omnichannel : AT Kearney : Physical Stores

Viewpoints

Eoghan O’Sullivan: Making XBox Kinect work for retail

The founder of technology start-up Von Bismark on how laser-scanning technology is changing the way people shop at home.

Von Bismark : Microsoft Kinect : E-commerce

Big Ideas

US start-up Sproutling to sell wearable baby monitor

The Sproutling Baby Monitor will use infant-friendly wearable technology to track babies’ wellbeing.

Sproutling Baby Monitor : Wearable Technology : Smartphone

Big Ideas

Manhattan hotel creates travel package for childless women

The Westin New York Grand Central has launched a three-day travel package aimed at women who don’t have children.

No-Mos : Melanie Notkin : Childless

Viewpoints

Bea Appleby: We need feminism for boys too

Boys don’t cry. Really? It’s not just girls who feel gender pressure, says the editor of pre-teen magazine Girl Talk.

Tiny Tot Feminism : Re-Con Man : Girl Talk

Big Ideas

London’s first steam-only restaurant opens on Baker Street

That’s Vapore restaurant is bucking fast food conventions to serve a raft of health-conscious, time-poor consumers.

That's Vapore : Steam : Health

Big Ideas

Flexitarianism gaining ground as consumers turn away from meat

Consumers are increasingly opting for a Flexitarian lifestyle, reducing their meat intake rather than completely eliminating it from their diets.

Flexitarian : Diet : Flexitarianism

Big Ideas

McDonald’s courts Millennials with personalised experiences

McDonald’s has moved to make its products more individual.

McDonald's : Millennials : Fast Food