Case Studies

Over the last 7 years, we have been working with the U.S. Bank commercial banking division to help them better understand their clients. Our insight hunting work drives deeper engagement from the sales and marketing teams, inspires and optimizes communication strategies and sparks product/service development ideas.

In 2024, we helped Sprouts Farmers Market gather a deeper understanding of why core shoppers “love to shop Sprouts” while also uncovering why prime prospects don’t frequent the store as often. Using our mobile ethnography and journaling methodology, our research illuminated the brand experience through the eyes of the shopper - sparking new communication strategies and advertising campaigns rooted in what makes Sprouts special.

Since 2016, we’ve been a lead insights and strategy partner for Hidden Valley Ranch. Our work has been laser focused on helping this leadership brand stay on top in a fiercely competitive world of flavor and condiment growth. The Strategy: be consumer and culturally obsessed. Find new ways to talk about the brand and product experience that celebrates Super Fans and galvanizes Developing Fans to try HVR in new ways.

We partnered up with the Kingsford team to inspire the brand’s innovation plans.

Leveraging our mobile ethnography research platform, we documented hundreds of grilling occasions over Memorial Day weekend - the official start of grilling season!

Our deliverable: Map the functional and emotional needs of the grilling journey and craft an innovation strategy for Kingsford to stretch into CPG food products.

Our work with Coors Light spans across two decades. In 2017, the brand found itself bumped out of the top 3 position in light beer and was on a mission to reverse 12 quarters of declining share growth. They had a strong and differentiated brand positioning around owning Rocky Mountain Cold Refreshment but after a decade of beating the blue mountains they needed a new way to talk about their core equity. The answer, illuminate the “reality” behind light beer drinking occasions and connect the brand to those authentic moments. Research uncovered cracking open a light beer is the coolest way to chill and relax.

In 2021, we embarked on a multi-phase brand strategy project to reposition the Auntie Anne’s brand. At the core of our work was understanding what makes the brand and product experience so special that it sparks so many spontaneous eating moments. Using mobile ethnography, we documented 75+ shopping journeys and eating occasions. The output: A crystalized insight around the total brand experience and a refreshed strategy to guide and inspire a total brand relaunch.