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Sotheby’s digital marketplace taps into next-gen luxurians

Buy Now by Sotheby’s

Global – Auction house Sotheby’s is moving into the e-commerce space by allowing consumers instant access to luxury items.

Dubbed Sotheby’s Buy Now marketplace, the auction house’s digital space presents fine jewellery, contemporary art, collectible sneakers and designer handbags, among other products. The marketplace makes these items available without having to wait for an auction or go through a competitive bidding process. Through this diversified product range, the auction house seeks to connect with new and younger audiences.

‘What sets the Buy Now marketplace apart is our unparalleled expertise provided by our global network of specialists, the trust and confidence that comes with purchasing from Sotheby’s, and a highly curated assortment of items spanning a range of luxury and collecting categories,’ says Josh Pullan, managing director of the global luxury division at Sotheby’s Geneva.

By providing an ‘always open’ outlet, Sotheby’s is reworking its existing offering to tap into the needs of modern consumers and join a wave of next-generation auction houses.

Obé inspires at-home fitness with workout parties

Workout Parties by Obé, US

US – Digital fitness platform Obé is recreating the social element of group workouts through its online Workout Parties.

The concept aims to replicate the sense of community often apparent in physical fitness studios. By allowing up to seven friends to connect pre- and post-workout, Obé hopes to boost engagement and differentiate the platform from its many global and local competitors. The Workout Parties also follow on from the platform’s Obé Friending feature, which lets members connect with one another more easily and share fitness tips within the Obé eco-system.

‘By ‘eventising’ what we do, it makes our classes more of a celebration,’ explains Mark Mullett, co-founder and co-CEO. ‘It’s fun for our clients, but it is also a drive to our live classes.’ Already, the platform has reported uptake of its Friending feature, with users connecting over cocktails in post-workout meetings as they continue to embrace At-home Fitness.

A data privacy label for IoT devices

US – Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab Security and Privacy institute are working on a prototype for a data privacy label designed for electronic products.

The label, aimed at Internet of Things (IoT) device-makers, standards organisations and others, is designed to provide greater transparency on data privacy for consumers. This data can be made available for any smart device connected to the internet – including security cameras, refrigerators, speakers, doorbells and more. Labels are intended to be visible on a product’s packaging or on the websites where the devices are sold.

Early iterations of the cyber-labels detail information about a device’s security mechanisms, along with an outline of the four mechanisms that could be used by the device for data collection: video, audio, physiological and location. Through this, consumers can gain insight into what their data is being used for, how and where it is stored, and whether their data remains anonymous.

With consumers' lives increasingly connected across digital devices, there is growing demand for data transparency and control through new digital economies.

Accessories for the Paranoid by Pia-Marie Stute and Katja Trinkwalder

Stat: Music proven to boost fitness performance

Peloton, Las Vegas

Many US consumers count on music to elevate their mood and focus while exercising, with a majority even revealing that music improves their fitness performance.

According to a survey commissioned by RockMyRun and conducted by OnePoll, about 68% of respondents reported an increase in performance due to listening to music while working out. Meanwhile, some 39% say that they prefer to listen to a pre-made playlist created specifically for exercise – also referring to the importance of fast-paced tracks for cardio sessions.

The findings further suggest that the feelings most associated with exercising to music included feeling active, energetic and motivated. In this way, the potential for music as medicine is increasingly playing out as a way of boosting moods, focus and overall wellbeing.