News 15.04.2021

Need to Know

Four Seasons’ hybrid event futures, Masks for Good give new life to disposable PPE and UK citizens admit to short-term money mindsets.

Four Seasons’ phygital meetings connect global attendees

Meetings, Reimagined: Hybrid Meetings by Four Seasons

Global – International hotel chain Four Seasons is enhancing meeting and event experiences for its guests, catering for both in-person and remote attendees.

The chain’s Hybrid Meetings concept future-proofs conferences, galas and events using audio-visual technology, flexible interiors and versatile catering options. Rolled out across Four Seasons’ hotels and resorts, Hybrid Events offers a multi-broadcast studio – a professional environment for hosting large-scale virtual conferences or webcasts – alongside its Hub & Spoke meetings, which can connect multiple Four Seasons venues to create a single event. In some cases, guests attending remotely can also receive Four Seasons dining services delivered to their door.

‘Hybrid Meetings offer the service excellence, innovation and creativity that Four Seasons is known for, while elevating the safety and care required to bring people together in the current environment,’ explains Ben Trodd, senior vice-president of sales and hotel marketing at Four Seasons.

With hospitality venues increasingly adopting immersive technologies, Media-tels are going mainstream in their offer of experiential events.

Stockly syncs retailers’ e-commerce inventories

Stockly, France Stockly, France
Stockly, France Stockly, France

France – Shared inventory start-up Stockly is a platform benefitting retailers by providing third-party supplies in place of out-of-stock items.

The burgeoning service helps e-tailers mitigate abandoned transactions by allowing them to sell items even when they’ve run out of stock. Using a bespoke algorithm, Stockly can identify availability of millions of products elsewhere in its distribution network and attribute orders to suppliers according to demand, and considering factors such as price, distance and quality score. Each third-party supplier is advised to send items in neutral packaging to avoid any confusion from recipients.

While Stockly is already working with retailers such as Galeries Lafayette and GoSport, this system provides an example of how small-scale e-commerce sites can enhance and protect sales.

This form of adaptable retail that caters for wavering consumer demand reflects the need for Flux Capital – a trend we identify in Elastic Brands.

Masks for Good positively upcycles PPE waste

"I protect you. You protect me" #masksforgood by Blessing Mutore

UK – Creative agency Backlash is launching Masks for Good – a social initiative that turns disposable PPE into new products, while supporting local community projects.

At its branded Masks for Good kiosks, opening initially at UK shopping centre Westfield Stratford, people will be able to buy an affordable, re-usable facemask and know that proceeds are going to community groups in the local area. The kiosks also give people a chance to recycle their used masks and other PPE items, by doubling as a dedicated drop-off point. From there, campaign partner TerraCycle will safely collect and recycle used masks and PPE into new products such as garden equipment and office furniture.

‘The ready-to-go campaign for businesses creates a positive social movement that aims to turn mask-wearing into a force for good,’ says Katie Peake, creative director at Backlash. ‘Through the simple purchase of a reusable mask the public will simultaneously be supporting charities in their local community while also being kinder to the environment.’

As consumers explore retail destinations during the inter-Covid period, initiatives like Masks for Good are highlighting retail’s growing community focus.

Stat: UK citizens lack future financial plans

Liberty by Pentagram Liberty by Pentagram

The majority of UK citizens don’t have long-term financial plans, according to a new financial wellbeing study by Aegon UK.

The research finds that 87% do not have a financial plan in place to achieve long-term life goals. Elsewhere, 38% of people say they have a vague idea of where they want to be financially in 10 years, and 29% have a specific idea. Building on these figures, the report suggests that a mindset shift is key to developing positive financial behaviours and planning.

‘Financial wellbeing is an increasingly hot topic, but it’s usually talked about in very narrow terms – money in the bank or levels of debt,’ explains Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon. ‘For most people, the biggest improvement they could make to financial wellbeing is to reframe the way they think about money.’

To discover more about how brands are supporting consumers in adopting healthier money habits, read our Financial Wellness microtrend.

Previous News Articles
Big W embraces the beautiful chaos of parenting in new campaign

News

Big W embraces the beautiful chaos of parenting in new campaign

Department store chain Big W is shaking up family advertising with a bold new campaign celebrating the chaos, meltdowns and small wins of everyday ...
Advertising & Branding : Parenting : Retail
George at Asda unveils new adult adaptive clothing range

News

George at Asda unveils new adult adaptive clothing range

George at Asda has launched a 28-piece adult adaptive clothing collection, designed in collaboration with the late breast cancer campaigner Nicky N...
Retail : Fashion : George At Asda
Stat: Girls’ sport participation could unlock leadership potential at work

News

Stat: Girls’ sport participation could unlock leadership potential at work

Girls who play extracurricular sport in the UK are 50% more likely to go on to achieve senior professional roles at work, according to Game Changin...
Sport : Women's Sports : Teenage Girls
Vattenfall and Samuel L Jackson’s seaweed snack is grown on wind farms

News

Vattenfall and Samuel L Jackson’s seaweed snack is grown on wind farms

Swedish energy company, Vattenfall has teamed up with actor Samuel L Jackson to launch Wind Farmed Seaweed Snacks, a limited-edition delicacy grown...
Visual : Sweden : Energy
Happy Head debuts DNA-based system for personalised hair growth

News

Happy Head debuts DNA-based system for personalised hair growth

Happy Head has launched StrandIQ, the world’s first dermatologist-developed hair growth system powered by genetic analysis, giving patients tailore...
Health : Wellness : Happy Head StrandIQ
Stat: Luxury consumers’ optimism is improving amid global slowdown

News

Stat: Luxury consumers’ optimism is improving amid global slowdown

Saks’ latest Luxury Pulse survey shows rising confidence among luxury shoppers, with more than half planning to maintain or increase their spending...
Stat : Statistics : Statistic
Louis Vuitton brings La Beauté to life with immersive Soho pop-up

News

Louis Vuitton brings La Beauté to life with immersive Soho pop-up

Louis Vuitton has marked the launch of its first cosmetics line with a limited-time pop-up in New York’s Soho, transforming 104 Prince Street into ...
Retail : Luxury : Beauty
Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

News

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Foresight Friday
Stat: US adults are losing confidence in capitalism 

News

Stat: US adults are losing confidence in capitalism 

Stat : Statistic : Money
Knight Frank’s research signals the rise of wellness in luxury real estate

News

Knight Frank’s research signals the rise of wellness in luxury real estate

In The Residence Report, released in September 2025, global real estate consultancy Knight Frank explores the future of luxury residential developm...
Luxury : Real Estate : Wellness
You have 1 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN