10 CPG brands turning insights into inspiration
C U LT U R E I N Q UA RA N T I N E
CO
NT
EN
TS
INSIGHTS FROM LIFE IN LOCKDOWN AND THE BRANDS THAT DISCOVERED THEM
01Support immunity
and defense
07Inspire DIY
AV E DA + K RA F T
S P E R O FO O D S
08Spot new occasions
04Travel while
staying home
05Bring confidence
to self-care
G U E R L A I N
M & M S + G E N E RA L M I L L S
06Reinvent
celebrations
DA I RY Q U E E N
02Facilitate
a new start
DA N O N E 03Rebuild
routine
H & M
PAC I F I CO B E E R
The following pages contain
both insights and examples of how
companies have spotted them and
put them to use to engage with
consumers at home.
While many brands struggle to find
authenticity and relevance during
crisis, these 8 use cases offer timely
inspiration to researchers and
marketers to connect and relate
during a time of isolation and change.
Are automated and real-time insights the research industry’s new normal?
Since it’s breakout moment in 2015,
digital transformation has become
an escalating priority for consumer-
centric global brands.
As part of this tidal change,
leading CPG companies have
supplemented classical research
with AI-powered social intelligence,
providing speed and democratic
access to real-time insights across
the organization.
For those lagging behind in digital
initiatives, COVID-19 has been the
ultimate change agent, making no-
touch, real-time research a necessity.
Discussions about digital transformation have frequently come up in conversations about COVID-19.
Of all the topics discussed in relation to digital transformation and COVID 19, it’s impact on businesses is a major discussion point.
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
When immunity is discussed overall in the context of COVID-19, gut health is the most important topic to consumers, and primarily discussed on Instagram.
The topic of immunity when discussed alongside major CPG products spiked in the month of March.
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
I M M U N I T Y I S A G R OW I N G T H E M E I N U S E R - G E N E RAT E D - CO N T E N T.
@nourish_deliciously As much as I love eating treats and cozy comfort foods its important to balance it with nutritious salads, fruits and vegetables. Specially now in this environment to bolster ones immunity. This Mediterranean inspired salad is very easy to make with easily accessible ingredients that you probably have in your pantry [...]
I N S I G H T FO R I N S P I RAT I O N # 1
Support immunity and defense
While healthcare workers are
the first line of defense against
COVID-19, the risk of getting
sick has created a higher level of
attention to wellness in general,
and many have applied this
awareness to their daily routines,
going beyond using hand sanitizer
and wearing a mask.
Combined with the extra time
resulting from staying at home,
many people have adapted their
cooking to include foods to fight
infection and maintain a higher
level of basic health.
#quarantinecooking not only
emcompasses comfort foods,
but also recipes that boost the
immune system and give a sense
of purpose to cooking.
S P E R O FO O D S U S ES I N F LU E N C E R S TO E F F ECT I V E LY E N T E R T H E CO N V E R SAT I O N A B O U T I M M U N I T Y A N D R ES I STA N C E .
@charlie_fyffe Is this virus contagious? YES. Is it lethal if you’re healthy? NO. TV is going to keep us updated on a potential ‘cure’, but what about our beautiful and amazing body, it’s cells, and our immune system that is constantly fighting off sickness on a daily basis? We must [...]
S E E P O ST
S E E P O ST
I N S I G H T FO R I N S P I RAT I O N # 2
Facilitate a new start
Uncertainty and instability is a
major theme of social media
posts during COVID-19, resulting
from isolation and being forced to
change behaviors they previously
relied upon for a sense of purpose
and stability.
As isolation becomes a longer-
term proposition, people crave
a new start and pursue it with an
unprecedented creativity and
commitment that comes from
imposed limitations. This includes
ways of working, eating, exercising,
and shopping.
For brands, this is opportunity to
inspire consumers to find purpose
through food, drink, or home care,
and to establish behaviors that will
become a part their lives in the
long-run.
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
DA N O N E ' S ACT I V I A YO G U RT S U G G EST S R EC I P ES TO C R E AT E A N E W S TA RT U N D E R I S O L AT I O N .
@activiaus Which house are you cozy-ing up to? #pickahouse #startwithactivia #isolatedyetunited
S E E P O ST
Gucci, Ford, Johnnie Walker, Unilever and Reebok lead in mentions related to creating a
'new start' during the period of lockdown.
H & M E N CO U RAG ES P EO P L E TO M A I N TA I N T H E I R R O U T I N ES , BY WA I V I N G R E T U R N F E ES FO R A L L C U STO M E R S .
@hm Keep your daily routines, especially your skin-care routine.
I N S I G H T FO R I N S P I RAT I O N # 3
Rebuild routine
If creating a 'new start' is about
drawing a line in one's life, the
result of that new start is the
shedding of old routines and
creation of new patterns.
New routines come about rarely,
especially lasting ones, so
inspiring a new routine is not only
a golden chance for brands to fill
a need during a crisis, but to help
establish a better lifestyle and
lifetime value of a new customer.
The popular saying goes that
it take 30 days to establish a
routine. In fact, it can take much
longer – an average of 66 days –
meaning that the earlier brands
recognize and support new
routines, the more likely they are
to create a lasting relationship.
Discussions mentioning #newroutine from the beginning of lockdown in the United States in March even surpass the number of mentions from the new year.
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
S E E P O ST
R O G U E C R E A M E RY A D D R ES S ES F E E L I N G S O F CA B I N F E V E R W I T H A PAC I F I C N O RT H W EST T RAV E L L I N G G I F T PAC K .
@roguecreamery Feeling cabin fever creepin’ on? Travel with your taste buds with our Pacific NorthBEST pack! This deluxe box is filled with our 2019 award-winning cheeses paired with our favorite local, organic accompaniments and a card explaining which cheese won what award [...]
I N S I G H T FO R I N S P I RAT I O N #4
Travel while staying home
The months of isolation resulting
from lock-down have created
a cabin fever most people
have never experienced. To
deal with this and the resulting
wanderlust, many consumers
turn to food and drink to bring
back memories of other places,
or to use their senses to travel
to places they’ve never been.
People are finding inspiration
for “virtual travel” through
foreign recipes that “tastes
like vacation” or novel drinks
that feel “like sunshine”. Others
find comfort in food that takes
them to grandma – often using
brands as a bridge to memories
of their childhood home.
Consumers discuss virtual travel and express their desires with sunshine, tropical fruit, avocados,
palm trees, and other aspirational emojis.
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
PAC I F I CO B E E R TA K ES P EO P L E O N A V I RT UA L S K I T R I P V I A H A P PY H O U R W I T H W I N T E R S P O RT S AT H L E T ES .
@pacificobeer Tune in Thursday as freeski legend @twallisch chats with fellow athletes @colby_stevenson, @britasig and @aaronblunck during our first ever virtual happy hour with the @usfreeskiteam! They’ll be chatting through highlights from the past ski season, how to #livelifeanchorsup [...]
S E E P O ST
S E E P O ST
Nothing has made the
importance of self-care more
visible, both to ourselves and
others, than spending the first
month of isolation wearing
pajamas, neglecting shaving
and makeup, and having a good
excuse to avoid the gym. It’s even
created a wave of memes around
#quaratinehaircuts and other
adventurous acts of self-care.
Beauty influencers and brands
have jumped on the sudden
lapse in self-care to illustrate how
important these behaviors are,
not just for physical appearance,
but for confidence, and that
our bodies are for ourselves to
appreciate, not just appearances
we need to maintain for others.
I N S I G H T FO R I N S P I RAT I O N # 5
Bring confidence to self-care
In examining performance across multiple e-commerce and review sites, Guerlain gets high
reviews and empowers customers to use self care for relaxation for body-care for themselves.
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
C E L E B R I T I ES L I K E B E L L A H A D I D U S E AU T H E N T I C A N D ACC ES S I B L E P O ST S TO R E L AT E TO P EO P L E ’ S E V E RY DAY L I V ES I N I S O L AT I O N ( @ BA BY B E L L A7 7 7 ) .
S E E P O ST
CONSUMERS HAVE FOUND NOVEL WAYS TO CELEBRATE IN ISOLATION TOGETHER, CREATI NG OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRANDS TO PARTI CIPATE.
@cgtn A couple celebrated their wedding Tuesday at a drive-in cinema in Duesseldorf, #Germany, while their relatives and friends attended the ceremony in their cars. The theater has been registering official marriages, as [...]
Consumers associate brands with
experiences, and celebrations
are the high points of human
experience. We can easily think
of the holidays associated with
Jameson Irish Whiskey, Cadbury
Eggs or Moët & Chandon
Champagne.
Under isolation, each one of these
celebrations is recontextualized
and represents a rare occasion
for brands to create emotional
connections that had previously
been occupied by other brands
or that simply didn’t exist in the
first place.
I N S I G H T FO R I N S P I RAT I O N # 6
Reinvent celebrations
Consumers find many ways to incorporate brands into their isolated versions of previously social celebrations, and brands have many opportunities to embrace and expand on these occasions.
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
DA I RY Q U E E N E N CO U RAG ES P EO P L E TO C E L E B RAT E AC R O S S D I STA N C ES BY M A K I N G I T E ASY TO G I F T A B I RT H DAY CA K E .
@dairyqueen Don’t let #socialdistancing keep you from wishing a happy birthday. Become a #DQBdayHero and surprise your best friend – cakes ready to be delivered from 2pm-3am Snoonu and Fingertips. #stayhome #socialdistancing #Happy_Tastes_Good #qatarlife [...]
SEE POST
SEE POST
People have more time than
ever before. Whether they’re
saving forty hours a month
not commuting, or among the
millions furloughed or laid-off,
consumers are using this time to
plan and create.
And while many people have less
money to spend, they’re spending
it in ways that make more with
what they have and which
entertain and pass the time.
Aveda has expertly used the
DIY-friendly aspects of Pinterest,
while Kraft turns packaging into
activities for kids at home. And
DIY comes easy to Converse
and Doc Martens, which have
creativity in their DNA.
I N S I G H T FO R I N S P I RAT I O N # 7
Inspire DIY
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
@myfoodandfamily #KraftSTEMKitchen is here! We've compiled DIY, family-friendly learning activities that use your favorite Kraft Heinz products from the packaging to what's inside to develop fun and engaging Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math projects!
@aveda Looking to hair masque and relax at home? Hydrate & replenish dry, frizzy locks with our super-versatile Nutriplenish Multi-Use Hair Oil. 1️️Before bed apply 3 to 4 pumps of Nutriplenish Multi-Use Hair Oil into the palm of your hand. 2️️With your fingers & palms, gently massage into dry, unwashed hair from the ends to the roots. Or you can apply directly to the dry or damaged area. 3️️Sleep on it & let the oil absorb into hair. Wake up to hydrated, softer locks & wash hair as usual. .
SEE POST
SEE POST
Nestle is the most discussed food brand when talking about DIY, with Milo garnering huge amounts of fandom in Southeast Asia.
M & M S CO N N ECT S W I T H C H I L D R E N ( A N D A D U LT S ) S U D D E N LY PA RT I C I PAT I N G I N H O M ES C H O O L I N G .
@mmschocolate We love seeing all the art you guys make with and of your M&M’S! Check out the latest with Evan’s drawing! Looks great. Tag us in yours! #MMSArtChallenge
G E N E RA L M I L L S CO N N ECT S W I T H T H E T H O U SA N D S O F N E W G A M E R S C R E AT E D U N D E R LO C K D OW N .
@generalmills Have you heard? #ChexQuest is back, now with high-definition graphics and split-screen multiplayer functionality. Learn more and start playing.
People don’t frequently change
the way they consume. Sports
fans drink beer at the bar and at
the game. Puzzles are played by
children, hobbyists, and retirees.
Most people won’t make a gin
fizz at home, and leave fancy
cocktails to mixologists.
These consumption occasions
are hard-fought territories won
over decades and millions of
dollars of advertising investment.
But sometimes new occasions do
appear, or more rarely, and more
recently, created as a result of
sudden change.
Quarantine culture has leveled
the playing field overnight,
providing many new ways
for brands to connect.
I N S I G H T FO R I N S P I RAT I O N # 8
Spot new occasions
R E L AT E D R E A L-T I M E I N S I G H T S F R O M L I N K F LU E N C E S O F T WA R E
SEE POST
SEE POST
The #quarantini represents a new occasion around learning mixology at home rather than drinking a fancy cocktail out.
Despite people’s grand aspirations, the humble Gin and Tonic remains the most discussed cocktail in the quarantini trend.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, digital transformation
presented both an opportunity and looming threat to
every consumer business, with Forbes claiming in 2017
that 75% of the companies on Fortune 500 would be
replaced within the next 10 years.
The pandemic has accelerated the race to digital
mastery, and insights professionals equipped with social
intelligence tools are taking the pole position. In addition
to an attitude of embracing change, strategy, insight, and
marketing teams at the leading CPG brands have 3 things
in common:
1. Access to real-time data from social media, news
outlets, and reviews, across global networks.
2. Cutting-edge AI and data analysts to structure
the data to the context of their specific business.
3. An organization with initiative and digital maturity
to deploy technology and training at scale.
A D D I N G R E A L T I M E I N S I G H T S TO YO U R R ES E A R C H TO O L K I T
The 3 keys to transforming your organization
Watch to see how two of the world's leading brands are using automated and real-time insights.
To access more reports, webinars, and training materials, and for guidance on accelerating
your organization with AI-enabled consumer intelligence, visit
DA N O N E : STAY I N G A H E A D O F CO N S U M E R T R E N D S W I T H S O C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E
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