TheFutureParty
A Community-based Media Company
A crop of startups are trying out-of-the-box packaging to stand out in a sea of products on store shelves. Why It Hits: Becoming a conversation starter is the goal of marketing. But when you don’t have the marketing budget, making the product itself the marketing may be a key to reaching consumers. Between The Shelves: […]
Arkansas looks to be home to enough lithium — the raw material used to make electric batteries — to meet the entire world’s demand. Now, energy companies are swooping in. Why It Hits: Lithium is a super in-demand material as the world hopes to switch to electric and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Establishing lithium mining […]
Consumer product brands are experimenting with absurd humor to stand out from the crowd and craft marketing campaigns that leave a lasting (or, at least, bewildered) impression. So far, it seems to be working. The Big Picture: Crafting marketing that doesn’t offend consumers has become a tightrope, especially after a decade of message-driven, serious campaigns. By leaning into […]
Space startup Vast has unveiled their flagship project — the world’s first commercial space station that will launch into low-Earth orbit in 2025, where guests will have the opportunity to be ferried to the station for an all-inclusive 10-to-30-day stay. Why It Launches: The modern space race is the privatization of space, turning the stars into a frontier that can […]
For the launch of a single menu item, McDonald’s opened up a “dupe” version of its fast-food restaurant called “McDonnell’s.” The Big Meal: Large-scale activations have become a crucial way to create buzz around products and devise a marketing moment with the potential for virality… something that McDonald’s, more so than any other chain, has recently embraced. Between The Buns: Partnering […]
Cultured, curated, glossy magazines are making a comeback… this time backed by brands that want to use them as an out-of-the-box way to build community. Why It Hits: There have been endless headlines about the death of print media over the past decade (which only fueled more decline), so the resurgence of print — from publishers like […]
Instacart is disrupting grocery shopping with games, meal suggestions, ads, store maps, and in-cart checkout — all on its smart Caper Cart. Why It Hits: There’s probably nothing as lo-tech as the humble shopping cart. So, if Instacart can scale its smart cart to groceries nationwide, it could become one of the hottest companies around. Between The Aisles: The […]
23andMe, the once buzzed-about biotech startup, is on the rocks… leaving a big question mark as to what will happen with the DNA of some 15 million customers since 2006. Why It Hits: The seemingly inevitable fall of 23andMe (a company mostly built on customers having their DNA tested once and then moving on) may be the most high-profile case […]
Live-shopping broadcaster QVC has struck a deal with the USA Pickleball league for everything from streaming rights and original content to, of course, merchandising. The Big Swing: Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US, so clinching exclusive rights is a big win for such an unconventional player… opening up the possibilities for other niche companies […]
Jaylen Brown, the NBA star who helped lead the Boston Celtics to a championship win last season, is launching his own footwear company instead of signing a deal with an established sneaker brand. Why It Hits: Signing an endorsement deal with one of the major athletic shoe labels, like Nike, Adidas, or Puma, is seen as the pinnacle […]