Daily Signals 03.09.2019

Signals

An algorithm promising cities a new talent pool, using pornography to promote sustainability, and how a rise in single women will affect athletic brands.

This upscale launderette promotes sustainability

Le Nettoyeurs White's designed by Ivy Studio, Montreal
Le Nettoyeurs White's designed by Ivy Studio, Montreal
Le Nettoyeurs White's designed by Ivy Studio, Montreal

Montreal – Les Nettoyeurs is looking to revolutionise the dry cleaning market with the opening of its flagship launderette White’s.

Designed by local architects Ivy Studio, the space offers a monochrome colour palette and minimal brass fittings to replicate the look of a traditional Parisian apartment. White’s proudly displays its sustainability credentials via custom-built ‘library’ shelving – complete with sliding ladder – used to proudly exhibit all of its eco-friendly cleaning products.

As Ivy Studio architect Philip Staszewski explains, White’s is hoping to elevate the dry cleaning experience and bring a new level of transparency to the market. ‘We wanted people to feel comfortable asking questions about the products or about work done by the seamstress,’ he explains. ‘We see it as a hotel's lobby – although you often spend very little time there, you should feel comfortable.’ In a bid to address the widespread use of dated and damaging laundry habits, brands are looking to educate consumers around the concept of Conscious Aftercare.

Pornhub wants to clean up the world’s beaches

Dirtiest Porn Ever by Pornhub Dirtiest Porn Ever by Pornhub
Dirtiest Porn Ever by Pornhub Dirtiest Porn Ever by Pornhub

US – The adult video website has launched its Dirtiest Porn Ever campaign to raise awareness of plastic pollution’s impact on the planet.

As part of its Pornhub Cares initiative, the company has shot a film of amateur porn couple Leolulu on one of the world’s most litter-filled beaches. Each time someone watches the video in its entirety, Pornhub has pledged to make a donation to Ocean Polymers, a non-profit-making organisation that collects and processes waste from the world’s oceans. To date, the 11-minute video has been played 3m times.

To encourage viewers to integrate more sustainable practices into their daily lives, Pornhub has created a landing page with tips on how viewers can avoid single-use plastics. ‘This is a brand with significant global reach spanning all demographics, so it is a very effective platform to raise awareness and support for the crisis we face in our oceans today,’ says Heather Wigglesworth, executive director of Ocean Polymers.

With pornography platforms attracting more daily visitors than Instagram or Netflix, Pornhub is using its influence over millions to make societal change and prove itself to be a Civic Brand.

An algorithm that matches refugees with local jobs

US – Researchers have developed an algorithm capable of matching refugees arriving in the US with the city where they are most likely to find employment.

Known as Annie MOORE (Matching and Outcome Optimisation for Refugee Empowerment), the algorithm is the result of a partnership between Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, Lund University in Sweden and the University of Oxford in the UK. According to the researchers, it is able to improve people’s chances of finding work within three months by more than 20%.

‘The manual resettlement process was riddled with issues, not least the sheer volume of cases that are processed each week – we are talking hundreds,’ says Alex Teytelboym, lead researcher and professor of economics at Oxford University. ‘This does not give the organisations enough time to thoroughly think about where and why they place a refugee family.’

With the number of displaced populations rising rapidly, brands will need to help reframe the narrative around refugees and recognise the potential these workers have as the next generation of industry leaders. For more, read our Viewpoint with the ReDI School of Digital Integration.

WeWork Refugee Initiative, UK

Stat: Single women will drive growth for fitness brands

Not only are women staying single longer, they are also driving spending growth in categories such as health and wellness, according to a new report by Morgan Stanley. Its analysis estimates that 45% of American working women aged 25-44 will be single by 2030, up from 41% in 2018.

Furthermore, this group are helping to fuel gains in categories where they outspend their married counterparts, such as clothing, personal care, luxury and electric vehicles. Morgan Stanley cites Nike, Lululemon and other fitness apparel brands as companies that will benefit the most from this demographic shift. ‘More singles means more people exercising more frequently, buying more athletic goods and replacing them more often,’ states the report.

As consumers remain single for longer, their spending habits will favour brands that recognise them as individuals in their own right, rather than only being valued as part of a couple or traditional family set-up. To learn more about the attitudes of those who reject traditional relationships, meet our tribe The Uncoupled.

Previous Daily Signals Articles
The Ordinary exposes beauty industry buzzwords in dystopian new video

Daily Signals

The Ordinary exposes beauty industry buzzwords in dystopian new video

In a provocative new campaign, skincare brand The Ordinary is calling out the beauty industry’s reliance on pseudo-scientific language.
Beauty : Skincare : Misinformation
Luxury travellers prioritise value, experience and climate-conscious choices for 2026

Daily Signals

Luxury travellers prioritise value, experience and climate-conscious choices for 2026

Luxury travel is set to evolve in 2026, with affluent travellers seeking deeper meaning, personalisation and sustainable choices, according to Virt...
Luxury : Gen Alpha : Luxury Travel
Stat: Public confidence in UK food safety reaches record high

Daily Signals

Stat: Public confidence in UK food safety reaches record high

Public trust in the UK’s food system has hit its highest level since 2020, according to the Food Standards Agency’s Food and You 2 survey.
Food : Health : Stat
Swedish campaign encourages doctors to prescribe visits

Daily Signals

Swedish campaign encourages doctors to prescribe visits

Visit Sweden has launched The Swedish Prescription, making it ‘the first country in the world prescribed by doctors’.
Health : Travel : Tourism
Airbnb and Strava champion countryside run-cations

Daily Signals

Airbnb and Strava champion countryside run-cations

Airbnb and Strava are tapping into ‘the rural run-cation’, staycations built around scenic runs, fresh air and connection with friends. As explored...
Sports : Travel And Hospitality : Health And Wellness
Stat: Gen Z lead European travel boom with highest spending and trip frequency

Daily Signals

Stat: Gen Z lead European travel boom with highest spending and trip frequency

Gen Z are driving a significant surge in European travel, outspending and out-travelling all other generations, according to MMGY’s 2025 Portrait o...
Travel
Rosewood leans into modern luxury with refreshed brand identity

Daily Signals

Rosewood leans into modern luxury with refreshed brand identity

Luxury hotel group Rosewood is repositioning itself as a lifestyle and cultural leader, with a focus on storytelling and experiential travel.
Luxury : Hospitality : Rosewood
Foresight Friday: Olivia Houghton, insights and engagement director

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Olivia Houghton, insights and engagement director

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, insights and engagement d...
Culture : Beauty : Fashion
Stat: Study shows decline in social media use among younger adults

Daily Signals

Stat: Study shows decline in social media use among younger adults

Adults are spending less time on social media, following a peak three years ago. By the end of 2024, those aged 16 or older were spending an averag...
Media : Technology : Statistic
Ulta Beauty opens UB Marketplace to 100 emerging brands

Daily Signals

Ulta Beauty opens UB Marketplace to 100 emerging brands

Ulta Beauty has launched UB Marketplace, a new online platform introducing more than 100 emerging beauty and wellness brands to its website and app...
Beauty : Retail : Ecommerce
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