Nearly a quarter of employees say they now use AI daily for creating workplace emails, according to recent research. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Agencies working with SMBs face rising pressure to prove ROI. Adding SaaS offerings helps create recurring income, retain clients, and differentiate services. Learn how. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Mooie Boules, a Dutch hospitality company built around jeu de boules and other games, is tackling isolation and division in an unexpected way: by handing over its venues. Through a newly established foundation called Mooie Buurt ("beautiful neighborhood"), all nine of its locations across the Netherlands will be available free of charge during daytime hours for community groups and residents who want to bring people together. No rental fees, no minimum spend just space, games and drinks provided at no cost to anyone organizing events that foster connection.Through the foundation, each venue doubles as a commercial bar in the evenings and a community hub during the day. A pilot program last year hosted 50 social initiatives, generating 5,500 new encounters, with 45% of participants reporting they felt more connected to their neighborhoods afterward. With half a million annual visitors across its locations, Mooie Boules is betting its scale and foot traffic can amplify impact where government programs fall short.TREND BITEAs political polarization deepens and social safety nets fray, businesses can leverage their physical infrastructure to build common ground and facilitate connections. Mooie Buurt exemplifies a shift from corporate social responsibility theater to structural intervention brands deploying their real estate, customer base and operations to address social fragmentation.For hospitality businesses, daytime is often either dead time or a struggle to fill. Instead of trying to squeeze marginal revenue out of quiet hours, Mooie Boules is giving them away to community groups. For businesses sitting on underutilized space during off-peak hours, the question becomes: can your empty tables, meeting rooms or storefronts become engines of social cohesion? And will customers reward brands that use their infrastructure to stitch communities back together?
Most agency-side marketing strategists say their discipline is at a crossroads and often considered expendable by clients, according to recent research. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
This infographic from LinkedIn explores how to create effective video campaigns on the professional social network. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
AI algorithms are eroding inbox visibility and email metrics. Discover why marketers are turning to SMS for reliable engagement, transparency, and audience ownership in an AI-filtered landscape. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Nike has unveiled Project Amplify, a "powered footwear system" designed to make running and walking easier for everyday athletes. The system combines a lightweight motor, drive belt and rechargeable battery that integrate with a carbon fiber-plated running shoe. According to the company, the technology augments natural ankle and lower leg movement, helping people maintain a 10- to 12-minute mile pace with less effort. Testing data from over 400 athletes suggests the system can help runners shave up to two minutes off their mile time, with some describing the sensation as making uphill terrain feel flat.The technology draws clear parallels to electric bikes, which transformed urban commuting and recreational cycling by making them more accessible for a broader audience. Nike developed Project Amplify in partnership with robotics company Dephy, conducting extensive testing at the Nike Sport Research Lab. Participants logged over 2.4 million steps across nine hardware iterations. The first-generation product isn't intended for competitive runners seeking marginal gains, but rather for people who want to extend their walking commute, add more movement to their daily routine or simply enjoy running for an extra mile or two. The shoes can be worn with or without the robotics system attached.TREND BITEAugmentation technology is moving from workplace exoskeletons into consumer products that enhance everyday activities. While Skip integrated a battery-powered knee brace into Arc'teryx hiking pants to reduce joint strain, Nike is embedding power directly into footwear to make running more accessible. This shift reflects a broader opportunity: rather than pushing people to perform at elite levels, brands can use technology to lower barriers to participation. The question for businesses isn't whether augmentation will become mainstream electric bikes already proved that model works but which everyday activities could benefit from a similar assist. As populations age and sedentary lifestyles increase, products that make movement easier and more enjoyable could reshape expectations around physical activity while creating entirely new categories of sports and recreation equipment.
Dutch bike subscription company Swapfiets launched "Bike Buddies" during this year's Amsterdam Dance Event, offering festival-goers safe accompaniment from DGTL parties to a nearby ferry between midnight and 7 AM.
