LSN : News : Snap is launching a pocket-sized selfie drone

Poolsuite is crowdfunding a luxury manor

Manor DAO by Poolsuite, US

Global – Poolsuite, the team behind summer-themed radio station Poolsuite FM, is further merging the worlds of Web3 and leisure by launching a Manor DAO. The aim of the decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) is to crowdfund a luxury guesthouse designed in collaboration with its backers.

To bring the manor to life, backers must purchase a limited-edition non-fungible token (NFT) artwork from Poolsuite. As Marty Bell, its founder, explains: ‘Everything from the location of the manor to the interiors – even the mosaic at the bottom of the pool – will be decided with our founding members.’ As well as informing these key decisions, backers will earn allocated time slots to stay at the guesthouse, highlighting the real-life benefits to investing in Web3.

By inviting people to crowdfund a physical venue, Poolsuite is showing how Wealth Squads will drive a future of Neo-collectivism. In future, we can expect more travel and hospitality brands to be guided by the shared mechanisms of DAOs.

Strategic opportunity

DAO collectives can benefit all sectors by allowing consumers to literally shape the future of their favourite brands or venues

Snap is launching a pocket-sized selfie drone

Pixy by Snap Inc, US

US – The social networking and camera company is introducing its second piece of hardware, a pocket-sized drone called Pixy. Positioning the device as a ‘friendly flying camera’, Pixy is an accessible selfie tool that has been designed to complement its social media platform Snapchat.

The easy-to-use device can float and orbit at the touch of a button, and be recalled when a user turns up their palm. Its wireless functionality also allows users to easily save their photos and videos in their Snapchat profile, catering for social media users in a convenient and playful way that doesn’t require technical expertise. ‘We first created Snapchat as a new way to use the camera for self-expression and communication,’ says Snap. ‘Today, we're taking the power and magic of the Snap Camera to new heights.’

It's key to note that Pixy arrives on the market at a time when young people are re-embracing in-person socialising, and will be seeking more fun ways to capture their shared experiences.

Strategic opportunity

Media and tech brands should reposition devices as social facilitators, highlighting how tech can improve shared experiences rather than detracting from them

Australia trademarks its home-grown fashion

Australia – Making its mark on the global fashion stage, Australia is introducing The Australian Fashion™ alongside a campaign to identify its national fashion brands.

The initiative will promote the nation’s fashion industry against four key pillars: Effortless Style, Raw Nature, Boundless Optimism and Fearless Innovation. A consumer-facing website will also be launched in Australia and the UK later this year.

By creating this trademark, Australia communicates the idea that products holding The Australian Fashion trademark will be of high quality, using original design and materials, as well as aligning with environmental and social impact strategies. While such initiatives are more common to sectors such as the luxury market, this trademark sets an example to other countries or regions aiming to promote their home-grown talent.

As we explore in The State of Luxury: Australia, the nation’s fashion and tourism economies are experiencing a boom that’s leading it to celebrate and promote its local businesses.

Showroom-X, Australia

Strategic opportunity

Beyond fashion, reflect on how your brand or organisation might create such communication strategies to establish itself on the global stage. What are the core values that make your heritage unique and covetable?

Stat: Switching to alt-proteins could protect forests

Future Farm is creating plant-based protein that captures the taste and texture of real meat, Brazil

As global societies become more aware of the effect of meat-based diets on the planet, new research reveals its specific impact on deforestation. The research, by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), finds that swapping 20% of beef for microbial protein could halve deforestation over the next three decades.

It would also halve emissions from the global food system by reducing the destruction of trees and methane emissions from livestock. Looking ahead, a 50% replacement of beef would lead to an 82% cut in deforestation by 2050. These figures offer a tangible metric for brands and consumers and can provide a greater incentive for people to switch to flexitarian diets.

With such findings set to encourage a shift towards alternative meats, the market for Next-generation Proteins will become increasingly lucrative – and vital.

Strategic opportunity

Plant-based brands should consider using such environmental messaging to promote a switch to flexitarian diets. How might your brand work with restaurants to communicate these ideas too?