Thinking Ahead: Your Leading-Edge Insights Podcast

The future of work and a digital lifestyle

The digital lifestyle has made leaps and bounds this year. In this episode, subject-matter experts Jola Burnett and Stacy Bereck cover the attitudes and behaviors of consumers when it comes to living a life dependent on technology. Understand how consumers feel about recent digital developments, the way it changes their daily lives, and what you -as a company- should be prioritizing in this tech-evolved world. 

 

More information: https://hubs.ly/H0B_M6Q0

"Driving" consumer expectations in 2021

Air travel has hit record lows due to COVID-19, but did the pandemic bring back the classic road trip? In this episode, Julie Kenar explains how the auto industry has been affected in 2020 – for better and worse. From pricing to sustainability, this episode will help you understand consumer priorities and expectations – and how you can encourage them to take the risk of buying a new car.

 

More information: https://hubs.ly/H0BfgRM0 

The world according to Biden and Trump supporters

They are calling it one of the most historic and important elections the country has ever had. In this episode, MRI-Simmons’ Kelly Augustine takes us through 5 polarizing election issues between Biden and Trump supporters in the US presidential elections- and the issues they surprisingly align on. She also sheds some light on the undecided voters and what is keeping non-voters from the polls. Tune in to understand why these groups collide on some of the biggest topics on the political stage.

More information: https://www.mrisimmons.com/ 

A timeline of COVID and its impact on consumers and brands

As we head towards the end of the year, COVID remains the biggest buzzword of 2020. In past episodes, we’ve discussed specific topics about the virus, from behavior and lifestyle changes to the back to school season. In this episode, we bring it all together for a full look at this year's pandemic-driven timeline. How has COVID-19 shaped our “new normal” as both consumers and brands? Tune in to find out.

 

More information: https://hubs.ly/H0ym2WV0 

The future of the smart home today

Here's an obvious statement- technology surrounds our lives. From security systems and lighting to refrigerators and window shades, the futuristic smart home is here today. In this episode, we sit down with Consumer Trends Expert, Veronica Chen, to learn about the current state of smart home products and how the COVID-19 pandemic has propelled it. Who are the real consumers? And how do marketers reach them? Tune in to find out.

 

More Information: 

Leveraging the new home tech landscape: https://hubs.ly/H0y4bTS0 

Smart homes today & tomorrow: https://hubs.ly/H0y4cCY0 

The future of sustainability: What brands & marketers need to know

From a presentation to your headphones. In this episode of Thinking Ahead, we give you an audio version of GfK’s recent webinar, where thought leaders from Hanesbrands, Colgate, and Hyundai came together to discuss the prospects for sustainability – as a movement, a message, and a way of doing business. Drawing on decades of insights from the Green Gauge® study, they explore questions such as how COVID-19 has affected attitudes towards sustainability and what consumers want brands to say and do about the environment and climate change.

 

More information: https://hubs.ly/H0xg9s20 

Going back to school in the time of COVID-19

In another milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools are in the midst of 'opening' their doors. In this episode, Frank Guagenti takes us through how parents are feeling as their kids start a new year- in-person, online, or both. Tune in to understand the varying opinions on how education systems are handling the pandemic, how it has affected brands that rely on back-to-school sales, and what it means for everyone listening.

 

More information: https://hubs.ly/H0w5FX50 

The changes and challenges of advertising

No matter who you are, you can’t escape ads. The challenge is- how can your ad speak louder and become more memorable to your audience than the rest? In this episode, we sit down with Jon Brand, who takes us through best practices in creating an effective digital ad campaign. Tune in to learn how COVID-19 has changed the game, why you need to utilize screen sizes, and most importantly, how your ad can reach its full potential.

More Information: https://hubs.ly/H0vn7cq0 

How does Gen Z feel about COVID-19 and the future?

As the youngest generation in the workforce, Generation Z is facing unprecedented challenges as young professionals. In this episode, we sit down with NextGen Competition winners Sabrina, Emily, and Ibrokhim as they take us through the moment their college shut down. Tune in to hear first-hand how this generation is already being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, their attitudes towards the "new normal", and the surprising optimism on what it offers them for the future.

 

More Information: 

• Consumer Pulse Study 
• NextGen Competition

The Rise of eSports and its Fans

Esports describes the world of competitive, organized video gaming. But who is its audience? And why should brands and marketers pay attention? In this episode, we sit down with Ben Paro, Category Director of Sports and Gaming at MRI-Simmons, as he explains the rise of this unique and faithful segmentation. Tune in to understand the innovative entertainment that eSports is serving up- and the opportunities it gives brands and advertisers.

 

More Information: https://hubs.ly/H0t492k0