LSN : News : Instacart gamifies grocery shopping with Caper Cart upgrades

Rewear Chair puts a stylish spin on sustainable laundry habits

The Rewair Chair by Ecover and Uncommon Creative Studio, The Netherlands

UK – Uncommon Creative Studio has introduced a sustainable design innovation with its Rewear Chair, created in collaboration with eco-cleaning brand Ecover. The chair, which will make its debut at Dutch Design Week 2024, is designed to promote eco-conscious laundry habits by encouraging people to rewear and air clothes instead of washing them unnecessarily.

The Rewear Chair’s collapsible arms extend from its circular seat, offering space to hang garments for up to a week, allowing them to air without cluttering the room. Made from sustainable wind-felled cedar, the chair highlights how eco-friendly behaviour can also be aesthetically pleasing.

The initiative is part of Ecover’s wider sustainability campaign challenging societal pressure to over-wash clothes. Research by Falmouth University reveals that one in five adults in the UK are unaware of the environmental impact of excessive laundry, while societal expectations lead one in 10 to wash more frequently, despite their carbon footprint concerns.

This functional, stylish design pushes consumers to rethink everyday habits, while also showing how brands need to innovate to contribute to a more sustainable Laundry Landscape.

Strategic opportunity

Take inspiration from the Rewear Chair and design functional products that combine sustainability with aesthetics to encourage consumers to adopt eco-friendly habits while positioning your brand as an eco-leader

Instacart gamifies grocery shopping with Caper Cart upgrades

US – Leading grocery technology company Instacart has launched gamified quests, location-based coupons and aisle-aware advertising formats on its smart shopping trollies, Caper Carts.

The latest Caper Cart upgrades use AI to elevate the smart cart experience, transforming grocery shopping into a more engaging, tailored journey. Through interactive digital screens, these enhancements allow brands and retailers to directly connect with customers in real time as they move through the store.

Shoppers can embark on quests such as treasure hunts for flash deals or earn rewards through repeat visits and coupon clipping, while location-aware coupons allow brands and retailers to connect with customers in real time. A shopper in the bakery aisle, for instance, might see creative branded imagery from baked goods brands on the screen and receive a coupon for muffins, driving product discovery and boosting sales.

In Autonomous Retail Futures we explored the potential for autonomous technology not only in engaging consumers but also in helping retail environments lower staff costs, reduce shrinkage and increase inventory management efficiencies.

Caper Cart by Instacart, US

Strategic opportunity

Consider how you can introduce interactive experiences such as app challenges that reward in-store activities to drive repeat visits and strengthen brand engagement

Uber launches airport shuttle in New York

Uber, US

US – Ride-hailing app Uber is offering an affordable £13.82 ($18, €16.53) shuttle service from Manhattan to LaGuardia Airport, marking its first airport shuttle in New York. Launched in October 2024, the service uses 14-passenger vans and picks up at three central locations: Port Authority, Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station.

While regular Uber rides to LaGuardia can cost over £76.77 ($100, €91.82) this shuttle aims to make airport trips more accessible. For its first month, Uber is discounting the service to just £6.91 ($9, €8.26) per ride. The company plans to expand the service to other airports and events in the future, although no timeline has been announced for routes to Newark or JFK.

This move comes as New York faces increased traffic congestion and emissions, with Uber’s shuttle initiative aligning with wider climate goals. The shuttle system, originally launched in 2019 in Egypt, has already expanded to countries such as Brazil, India and Mexico.

With New York having some of the worst traffic in the world, this cost-effective service may offer a welcome Mobility alternative for travellers while helping to reduce urban congestion.

Strategic opportunity

Brands should embrace flexibility in their offerings, adapting to consumer demand, shifting market dynamics and urban challenges

Stat: US Gen Z spending shows resilience despite economic concerns

Photography by Mart Production, Russia

US – Piper Sandler’s 2024 Taking Stock with Teens survey has revealed that, despite 67% of US teens believing the economy is worsening, their spending is up 6% year on year.

The study of 13,515 US teenagers reveals that clothing leads the wallet share for Gen Z girls (27%), followed by food (20%) and personal care (14%), while teen boys prioritise spending on food (23%). Fragrance registered in the top 10 most popular trends for the first time, at number two among male teens.

Nike continues to dominate both apparel and footwear categories, although upper-income teens’ loyalty to the brand has dipped by 11%. Adidas has ousted Converse as the second leading shoe brand behind Nike, while Lululemon’s grip is also weakening, especially among upper-income consumers.

The beauty category remains a priority, with teen wallets reaching a five-year high of £263 ($342, €314). Fragrance is the fastest-growing segment, up 25% year on year and Elf Beauty maintains its position as the leading cosmetics brand among teens. Meanwhile, TikTok reigns as the top social media app.

Our Gen Z Now and Next: 2024–2025 report takes a deeper look into the behaviour driving Gen Z’s spending habits and the brands resonating most with the teens of today.

Strategic opportunity

As fragrance becomes a fast-growing category for male teens, cosmetics brands should develop bold, identity-driven scents that emphasise sustainability, inclusivity and eco-conscious production to resonate with Gen Z’s values