Category Archives: Clients

Clients May 21, 2012

BANG! And they’re off!: An Update on Mobile Payment

The buzz about mobile payment is turning into a roar.  Just a couple days ago, ISIS, the NFC-based mobile-payment venture founded by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, announced that it has teamed up with Coca-Cola, Foot Locker, Macy’s, and several other … Continue reading →

Clients May 17, 2012

The Future is Mobile Payment: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love NFC

Want to make a purchase? Disappointed by our severely uncool current payment options? Debit and credit cards are so last year. Checks have all but crossed the line into social taboo. And cash is basically, like, archaic. Ugh, it’s like … Continue reading →

Technology April 18, 2012

Buy Milk and TP While Waiting on the Train? Sure, Why Not.

Last year, a virtual grocery store in a South Korea subway station debuted and let consumers scan a QR code to purchase hundreds of common items straight from their smartphones. With the ability to have orders delivered straight to consumers’ … Continue reading →

Clients March 28, 2012

Gender Bender and The Richer Sex

Call us geeks, but the trends team at Upshot can get pretty enthusiastic about demographic statistics. US Census Bureau, Roper GfK, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and don’t even get us started on our love of the Pew Research Center! We’re … Continue reading →

Marketing March 26, 2012

Mad Men and Human Insights

With anticipation growing for the new season of AMC’s hit series Mad Men, the show is garnering discussion about everything from whether Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce would survive in today’s age of advertising to how the civil rights movement complicates … Continue reading →

Clients March 19, 2012

Potty Posting: How Brands Can Use Pinterest to Spark Her Fire

Recently hitting 10 million unique monthly views faster than any standalone site in US history, Pinterest is becoming too big to ignore, especially for brands and marketers. Curious about what this site is and how to utilize it? Check out … Continue reading →

Clients March 12, 2012

New Movie Service May Tugg on Your Heartstrings

There’s a new movie service that’s getting some buzz. Meet Tugg. It’s part movie on demand. Part Groupon. Part local promotion. And a whole lot of social fun. They’re still in the beta phase, but have some potential to catch … Continue reading →

Clients February 20, 2012

The Great Recession Hasn’t Changed Consumers’ Drive to Consume

Today’s conventional wisdom says the Great Recession has permanently changed the way the American consumer will shop and consume; I don’t agree. Whoever is right, it’s an issue that will affect marketing for the next decade or more. The argument … Continue reading →

Clients February 14, 2012

Find Your Brand’s Love Connection on Pinterest

Valentine’s Day marketing can be really cheesy. Hearts, balloons, flowers, chocolate, teddy bears, 2-for-1 coupons… It’s nice and all, but is that what your target really wants, or is it what a hackneyed, old-fashioned marketing campaign wants you to think … Continue reading →

Clients February 10, 2012

How to Eat Like a Buddhist

When we released our 10 Trends for 2012 report we promised to bring you updates throughout the year which highlight new manifestations of these prescient prognostications, but never in a “we told you so” sort of way. Imagine our delight … Continue reading →