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John Lewis reinvents pocket money for a cashless generation

Nestlums, UK

UK – With physical pocket money becoming a relic of the past, John Lewis has introduced Nestlums, an interactive pet designed to teach financial literacy to children aged four to eight. Unlike traditional money management tools, Nestlums operates without apps or real cash, offering a parent-controlled 'secret mode' to update balances and simulate spending decisions directly on the toy.

Created by London-based design studio Those Beyond, a spin-out of fintech innovator Thought Machine, Nestlums seeks to instil positive financial habits at an impressionable age. Research from the Money Advice Service highlights that core attitudes towards money are often set by age seven, making early intervention crucial to fostering long-term financial responsibility for Gen Alpha.

Priced at £24.99 ($31.84, €30.31) and available exclusively at John Lewis, Nestlums bridges the gap between play and education, providing a Tamagotchi-style experience that aligns with modern, cashless lifestyles while shaping healthy money habits for the next generation. Read more about Alphas in our Alphas Now and Next: From the Sandbox to Roblox macrotrend report.

Strategic opportunity

Consider adapting the Nestlums model to other critical life skills, such as environmental responsibility, healthy eating, or emotional intelligence, targeting similar age groups

Sunnei and Mid/night 00.00 host multi-sensory pop-up

SUNNEI x mid/night 00.00 pop-up store, Milan, Italy

Italy - Milan’s retail scene took an avant-garde turn with the Sunnei x Mid/night 00.00 pop-up, running from 6 to 8 December 2024 at Corso di Porta Vittoria. Eschewing traditional storefronts, the concept features discreet window displays and a single point of interaction — a small aperture where a sales assistant’s hand facilitates purchases and product trials.

The curated collection from Italian fashion brand Sunnei and Barcelona-based hair and body care label Mid/night 00.00 emphasises tactile and olfactory engagement, offering products such as scented face mist, solid perfume and hand lotion.

This minimalist yet immersive design transforms shopping into an artistic sensory experience. In our Luxury Recrafted macrotrend report, we explored how, against the backdrop of recession and an economy that is leaning towards experiences over goods, companies can take steps not only to stay top-of-mind but also to build brand values.

Strategic opportunity

Design retail spaces or pop-ups that emphasise experiential creativity, encouraging consumers to view shopping as an immersive, multi-sensory journey rather than a transactional activity

Positive Luxury partners with Briink to bring AI to ESG reporting

UK – Positive Luxury, known for its Butterfly Mark sustainability certification, has teamed up with Briink, an AI-driven ESG solutions provider, to streamline how luxury brands approach sustainability assessments and reporting.

By integrating Briink’s cutting-edge technology into its ESG+ framework, Positive Luxury aims to improve the efficiency and accuracy of its certification process. This innovation will allow luxury brands to better analyse and disclose ESG data, responding to increasing demands for transparency in the sector.

'Positive Luxury exemplifies what it means to lead with transparency and excellence in sustainability,' said Tomas van der Heijden, co-founder and CEO of Briink, in a statement. 'This partnership empowers their experts to focus on transformative work, shaping the future of sustainability in luxury.'

Amy Nelson-Bennett, CEO of Positive Luxury, also stated: 'By leveraging AI, we can reward businesses that disclose ESG data and practice openly, helping the luxury industry drive real change.' For more insights on ESG excellence in luxury, head to our interview with Positive Luxury's co-founder Diana Verde Nieto.

Celium by Polybion, Mexico

Strategic opportunity

Consider exploring AI-driven tools to streamline sustainability assessments, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations and boosting transparency

Stat: India overtakes China as the top source of international students for US colleges

Photography by Ali Arapoğlu

US – India has overtaken China as the top source of international students for US colleges, according to the Open Doors 2024 Report published by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education.

For the 2023–2024 school year, India experienced a significant 23% increase in the number of students attending US colleges, reaching 331,602. China, meanwhile, saw a 4% decline in the number of students enrolling in US colleges and universities.

The US recorded a historic high in international student numbers in the 2023–2024 academic year, with a total of 1.1 million students, representing a 7% increase compared to the previous year. Together, China and India—India last ranked as No. 1 in 2009—comprise more than half of these students. A majority of international students in the US pursue STEM fields, such as engineering, computer science, and mathematics.

Conversely, more students from the US are also studying abroad. In the 2022–2023 academic year, over 280,000 US students went abroad to study, marking a 49% increase compared to the prior year, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more insights into India's youth behaviours, values, and mindset, read our Gen Z in India report.

Strategic opportunity

As college campuses adapt to the growing presence of young Indians, consider how your brand or business can find opportunities to build goodwill and visibility by engaging in events such as Diwali celebrations, cricket tournaments, or Bollywood movie screenings