Analyzing Customer Behavior Trends

AI companionship just became the top consumer use case. But the EDENS CEO spent 18 years building the opposite. She solved loneliness using real estate. And here’s how: EDENS tracks something most retailers ignore: Emotional attachment. Here’s the data: • 3.5 trips per week per visitor • 5 hours of dwell time • 1.3% additional wallet share for every 1% increase in time spent Her thesis? Connected to a place = more visits, staying longer, and spending more. The kicker? McLean's team discovered something: Over 1 million annual trips by people seeking public space. Not shopping. Not errands. Just human connection. How does EDENS achieve this? The "Consequential Stranger" Playbook: 1. Physical Design: • Wider sidewalks (so people can walk side by side) • "Jewelry on sidewalks". Places to pause and connect • Art installations that spark conversations 2. Tenant Curation: • Local "mayors" - proprietors who know every customer's name • Mix of convenience and experience • Programming for 18-hour daily use cycles The contrarian bet: While capital floods into triple-net drive-thrus and single-tenant boxes. EDENS doubles down on complexity: • Mixed-use, open-air formats • Community programming • Hyperlocal curation • Emotional architecture The result? Exceptional performance in a sector everyone declared dead. What this means for real estate: Physical places that foster human connection are thriving. But it requires a fundamental shift from transactional to relational thinking. McLean's prediction for the 2030s? We'll still be talking about location and humanity as the defining factors in real estate success. In a world where people pay for AI friends. Maybe the real disruption is remembering we're human. Can physical retail spaces combat loneliness? Or are we fighting a losing battle against digital isolation?

Globally, consumer sentiment is still weaker compared to the time Covid pandemic happened. Further, the relationship between sentiment and spending has weakened. Consumers’ expectations for value and convenience have them making unexpected trade-offs across categories - trading down in one place while simultaneously splurging on something else. These choices may be confusing to anyone trying to predict what consumers will do next. What once seemed like short-term adaptations born of the pandemic have solidified into lasting behavioral change. ‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱’ report from McKinsey & Company identifies 5 behavioral forces that will shape the sector in the years ahead - 𝟭. 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 - ↳ They’re more intent on immediate gratification and convenience and have a higher focus on self than before. ↳ Consumer tolerance for friction and inconvenience will continue to decrease while their expectations for service and speed will increase - both within existing categories and beyond them. 𝟮. 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 - ↳ Even though trust in institutions and media is low, always-on social and digital channels unconsciously influence consumers’ purchase decisions and brand perceptions. ↳ Roughly half of surveyed consumers in India research products on social media before they make a purchase. 𝟯. 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 - ↳ Gen Zers are projected to make up not only the largest generation but also the wealthiest in history. ↳ Gen Zers are much more likely, to define themselves based on achievements related to financial security, such as career success and creating wealth. ↳ 38% of Gen Z respondents in India reported using buy-now-pay-later services to make a purchase. ↳ Across key markets, a higher share of Gen Zers say that they use grocery and food delivery services compared with members of any other generation. 𝟰. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 - ↳ Globally, 47% of consumers identify locally owned companies as important to their purchase decision. 𝟱. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 - ↳ Consumers are redefining what value means to them, which is undoubtedly influencing how they shop. ↳ Discount and wholesale channels continue to attract consumers across age groups and income levels. You can check out the full report which has the above & more insights, as also recommendations for brands in the times ahead - https://lnkd.in/gEjRe4vR. #fmcg #consumerinsights

The landscape of digital marketing is rapidly changing, with 2025 poised to be a significant year. Staying ahead means not just keeping up with trends but anticipating them and adapting your strategies. Over a decade of experience navigating the intricacies of this industry has taught me one thing: brands that innovate, embrace change, and keep their audience at the center of it all thrive. Trends in digital marketing for 2025 👇 👉 AI-Driven Personalization AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it’s the foundation of hyper-personalized experiences. From dynamic email content to tailored ad campaigns, leveraging AI tools will be the key to creating deeper customer connections. 👉 Voice Search Optimization With the continued rise of smart assistants, voice search is becoming integral to how people find information. Optimizing for natural language queries and local intent will separate the good marketers from the great ones. 👉 Interactive & Immersive Content Think AR filters, VR experiences, and shoppable live streams. Consumers crave interactivity, and brands that offer immersive experiences will build stronger engagement and loyalty. 👉 Sustainability Messaging Gen Z and Millennials demand transparency and purpose from brands. Marketing campaigns emphasizing sustainable practices and ethical choices will resonate deeply. 👉 Creator-Led Campaigns The creator economy isn’t slowing down. Brands that partner with micro and nano-influencers will see more authentic engagement and higher ROI than traditional ads. 👉 Zero-Party Data Strategies As privacy regulations tighten, collecting zero-party data directly from customers through interactive polls, surveys, and quizzes will be critical for building trust and personalizing marketing. 👉 The Rise of Niche Communities Large platforms are fragmenting into niche communities. From Reddit forums to private Discord servers, marketers must learn to engage in these micro-ecosystems authentically. 👉 Programmatic Advertising Evolution Automation in ad buying is getting smarter. With AI-enhanced programmatic platforms, advertisers can optimize campaigns in real-time, ensuring higher precision and better ROI. 👉 Social Commerce Boom Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest are intensifying their e-commerce features, leading to a blurring of the boundaries between social media and shopping. Shoppable posts and live shopping will become even more impactful. 👉 Video SEO & Searchable Video Content As search engines get better at indexing video content, optimizing video for search (keywords, transcripts, thumbnails) will become a game-changer for discoverability. 2025 is the year of smarter, more human-centric marketing. Success lies in staying agile, embracing innovation, and keeping the customer at the heart of everything you do. Which of these trends do you think will have the biggest impact? Follow #socialJJ for more marketing posts. #digitalmarketing

Are store openings making a comeback, or is the future still digital? After years of predictions that physical stores were finished, 2025 is telling a different story. According to CBRE, store openings in the US actually outpaced closures in 2024, with net growth led by value retailers, specialty food, and experience-focused concepts. In the GCC, new mall expansions and pop-up activations remain on the rise, with UAE retail sales projected to reach $63.6 billion by 2025 (Dubai Chamber of Commerce). Why the shift? Consumers want more than transactions. From Gen Z to Boomers, shoppers are seeking experiences, whether it’s in-store events, live demonstrations, or interactive tech. Gen Z is surprisingly pro-physical: A 2024 NRF study found that 81% of Gen Zers prefer to shop in stores for fashion and beauty, valuing instant gratification, social interaction, and immersive brand storytelling. Millennials still drive online spending but now use stores for pick-up, returns, and brand discovery. Older generations favor physical for trust and service, but even they are using retailer apps for loyalty and convenience. E-commerce sales, on the other hand, continue double-digit growth, especially in categories like electronics, home, and health. “Hybrid” shopping, think click-and-collect, QR code browsing, and virtual store assistants, is becoming the new norm. Is this retail renaissance a sustainable shift or simply a response to post-pandemic fatigue and novelty? As customer expectations evolve, the future may belong to brands that blend the best of both worlds. How has your own shopping behavior changed? Are you visiting stores more, and what’s drawing you in? For retailers, what’s actually working to get people off their phones and into physical space? Share your thoughts, stories, or predictions for the future of retail. #retailtrends #consumerinsight #shopping #storeexperience #futureofretail

The wine industry's biggest problem isn't what you think. My takeaways and spin on Unified Wine and Grape Symposium 2025. 📉 Flat is the new up. That was the underlying theme at Unified, and 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭, 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬. The clear message: wine doesn’t have a consumer problem—it has a brand problem. Key takeaways from the exceptional State of the Industry, according to yours truly. ✅ Frequency, not participation, is the issue. Consumers aren’t quitting wine, they’re just drinking it less often. Why? 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝. ✅ We don’t have a demand problem, we have a differentiation problem. When the industry BANKERS are telling us this, we know we have a problem! (Stephen Rannekleiv) Brands that stand for something—whether it’s balance (Sunny with a Chance of Flowers) or bold occasion-based formats (Beatbox)—are winning. The ones stuck in the middle who do not stand for anything are losing. (Danny Brager) ✅ The white wine boom isn’t random. It’s sessionable, perceived as "healthier," and fits into modern lifestyles. But if that’s the case, why are we still overplanting reds? ✅ The wine industry is in "survival mode." These words were used. Survival thinking is 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜. It leads to short-term moves (discounting, chasing random trends, slashing investment in brand-building) instead of bold, long-term positioning that creates true consumer pull. 💡 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬! (MY POV) ➜ New Occasions = New Growth. What are moms drinking at the sidelines when there’s a beer cooler? Why aren’t we creating formats that match their lives instead of expecting them to conform to ours? ➜ Tight targeting isn’t exclusionary—it’s essential. The McBride Sisters are thriving because they know exactly who they’re talking to. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 "𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠" 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. ➜ Premiumization vs. Accessibility: Why not both? 66% of wine volume is sold under $11 (40% rev), but we’re obsessed with the top end of the market. Who’s thinking about the massive opportunity in reimagining entry-level wines? How about that for reaching young, penny-pinching consumers? 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐈𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 **𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲—𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲—**𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. What do you think? #unified Rethinking the Wine Industry

Follow millennials to succeed in your residential real estate investment. Why? They are shaping the housing market in multiple ways due to their unique lifestyle, financial circumstances, and sheer numbers. 1. Largest Homebuying Cohort Millennials are the largest living generation and currently make up the largest segment of homebuyers, particularly as they enter their peak homebuying years (late 20s to 40s). Their demand drives both rental and for-sale markets, and they often push for more supply in the areas they prefer, such as urban and suburban settings. 2. High Demand for Rental Properties Many millennials are renting for longer than previous generations, partly due to high student debt, delayed family formation, and rising home prices. This trend boosts demand for high-quality rental properties, especially in metropolitan areas. Investors catering to this preference often see a steady flow of tenants. 3. Preference for Urban and Walkable Locations Unlike prior generations who prioritized suburban single-family homes, many millennials prefer urban or suburban neighborhoods that are walkable and close to amenities. This preference influences where and what types of properties investors develop or acquire, making certain urban and suburban neighborhoods more valuable. 4. Tech-Driven Expectations Millennials grew up with the internet, and many expect modern conveniences like high-speed internet, smart home features, and environmentally-friendly options. Real estate investors who integrate technology and sustainable features into their properties can better attract this demographic. 5. Delayed Homeownership, Leading to a Higher Rate of First-Time Buyers Millennials are buying their first homes later in life compared to previous generations, often after they’ve achieved greater financial stability. This delay means that as millennials continue to mature financially, more of them enter the buyer's market, creating sustained demand in both the rental and ownership sectors. 6. Demand for Flexibility and Amenities Millennials value flexibility, with many prioritizing amenities like communal spaces, fitness centers, and co-working areas in rental buildings. Additionally, some prefer smaller, “right-sized” homes that require less upkeep and are closer to urban amenities. Understanding these preferences helps investors align property offerings with what millennials are willing to pay a premium for. 7. Family Formation and Move to Suburbs As millennials age, many are starting families, leading to a gradual shift from urban rentals to suburban homes. However, their preferences for community-focused, walkable neighborhoods often persist, influencing the development of mixed-use suburbs and walkable communities that are well-suited for raising children. Did I miss anything? #Millennials #realestate #multifamily #demographics #SFR

The Perception Project: critically rethinking the wine industry. The wine industry needs to stop thinking about Millennials, Gen Z, or any other demographic segments as uniform segments with shared values and aspirations. They are far from amorphous masses, and significant opportunities exist for the wine industry to capitalize on by breaking these groups down into more specific categories based on a range of factors, including preferences, attitudes, behaviors, aspirations, geography, education, lifestyle, and finances. While it's easy to generalize these generations as having similar values or consumption patterns, they are incredibly diverse in their approach to wine. Not all are interested in or aspire to the same experiences. Some may seek to learn more about wine, aspire to expert-defined quality, or take wine education classes—but many others do not share these aspirations. Some segments within these generations may embrace wine discovery, education, and experiences such as wine and food pairing, or seek out specific wine styles like dry or organic wines. Others seek enjoyable, affordable options that fit their lifestyle without needing deeper learning. This variety in consumer motivations underscores the need for the wine industry to avoid treating these generations as a single entity with uniform preferences and to embrace instead segmentation that takes into account the full spectrum of behaviors, from casual drinkers to wine connoisseurs. Vinotype distribution, which accounts for individuals’ physiological and psychological differences in taste preferences, remains relatively stable across generations, meaning the demand for a broad range of wine styles—sweet or dry, bold or light—will persist. Trends such as fashion, the occasional desire to appear sophisticated, or enjoying wine with friends will always influence consumer behavior, but the diversity of preferences will remain constant. The wine industry must learn to embrace, understand, and communicate with all consumers, acknowledging that some will want expert-driven experiences while others will not. The wine industry must abandon the notion of Millennials and Gen Z as uniform segments with shared values and aspirations. Instead, marketing and product strategies should be shaped by accurate data and behavior, focusing on observable patterns of how individuals in these generations discover and engage with wine. This shift requires the industry to be adaptable, to innovate, and to acknowledge that while some consumers might be drawn to wine education, a significant portion of younger consumers will be driven more by enjoyment and convenience than by the desire to follow traditional wine appreciation pathways. Understanding and catering to this diversity of preferences will help brands connect more meaningfully with consumers and remain relevant across generations. #winemarketing #rethinkingthewineindustry #winebusiness #winemarketdata #wineeducation

What do feng shui, brain-friendly buildings, and “phygital” lifestyles have in common? They’re all driving the latest trends in wellness real estate - and most developers are getting it well… completely wrong. I’ve been advising a major real estate developer in Asia and the Middle East on neuro-architecture: using neuroscience to create environments that genuinely support health and wellbeing, not just look impressive. Here’s what the future of wellness real estate actually looks like: 🧠 Neuro-architecture or “brain friendly” buildings: In simple terms, buildings that take into account sensory elements to optimise health, promote longevity and overall wellness without overwhelming your nervous system. Research shows that cicardian lighting systems, acoustics and spacial lay outs all play a part in reducing stress, improving sleep and significantly increasing cognitive performance. 🌿 Integrated wellness ecosystems: Instead of commuting to separate spaces for work, wellness, and life, we’re creating environments where everything flows together. These hubs prioritize wellness infrastructure like walkability, green spaces, social connections, healthy food access, fitness centers, micro-mobility, and access to healthcare. These communities are designed to increase social connection, create more ease, reduce stress and improve overall life satisfaction. 🤖 AI-responsive environments: Imagine spaces that adapt to your physiological and digital (i.e. “phygical”) needs - adjusting temperature, lighting, and even air quality based on real-time data about stress levels, overall health and cognitive load. The technology exists; most developers just don’t understand how to apply it in a way that actually works and delivers the right outcomes. The result? Environments designed around real human needs, not just aesthetics. Forward-thinking real estate firms are embracing this science-backed approach - especially in Asia and the Middle East where innovation meets demand for wellness. Real wellness isn’t about luxury amenities, green juice bars or even a reformer Pilates studio below your apartment. It’s about creating spaces that actually work for how we live, work and zen.

Why We Need To Anticipate Market Shifts Before They Happen Most developers follow the same cycle: Build what’s already selling today, then scramble when the market shifts. At Red Oak Development Group, we do things differently. We plan based on where the market is going—not where it’s been. How? 🔍 We study shifting buyer demographics. We saw early on that traditional suburban models weren’t keeping up with demand for smaller, more connected home options. 📊 We track financial behavior. The rise in interest rates has reshaped affordability, and buyers want more flexible living spaces at smarter price points. 🏡 We analyze living trends. From remote work to aging-in-place, we’re designing for how people will live in 5, 10, and 20 years—not just today. That’s why we’re prioritizing smarter density, walkability, and mixed-use communities—because we’re not just reacting to the market. We’re shaping its future. #RealEstateDevelopment #RedOakDevelopmentGroup #FutureFocused #SmartGrowth #MarketTrends #Placemaking