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<ul><li>The global foldable smartphone shipments have declined by 1% in Q3 2024.</li><li>Samsung has emerged as the top company in foldable smartphone shipments in Q3 2024.</li><li>Samsung continues to account for over half of the market share, despite a huge decline in shipments.</li></ul>The global foldable smartphone shipments declined for the first time in Q1 2024, recording a 1% year-on-year decline. This marks the first decline for foldable smartphones in Q3. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, one of the factors for the decline in shipments was Samsung’s<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-review/articleshow/112497472.cms"> Galaxy Z Fold 6</a> and<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-galaxy-z-flip-6-galaxy-ring-and-more-launched/articleshow/111637913.cms"> Galaxy Z Flip 6</a> smartphones not performing as expected. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112497472" title="Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review – the complete package" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> “The global foldable market appears to have entered a transitionary phase where it is facing challenges as it progresses from a niche segment to the mainstream. User satisfaction is particularly high with book-type foldable devices, but the prohibitively high prices remain the biggest obstacle to mass adoption,” said Jene Park, Senior Analyst, Counterpoint Research. <h2>Global foldable smartphone market share</h2> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#000000;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Company </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#000000;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Q3 2024 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Samsung </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">56% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Huawei </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">15% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Honor </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">10% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Motorola </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Xiaomi </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5008695000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5pt 0pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">6% </td></tr></tbody></table> Source: Counterpoint Research Samsung has emerged as the market leader in Q3 2024, with a market share of 56%, down from 70% in Q3 2023. While the company’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 performed decently, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 failed to match its predecessor’s sales. The company recorded a 21% year-on-year decline in shipments. Huawei has emerged second, with a 15% market share in Q3 2024, up from a 13% market share in Q3 2023. The company recorded a 23% year-on-year growth in shipments. Honor and Motorola take the third and fourth spots, with a 10% and a 7% market share respectively. Both companies have recorded good growth. While Honor has recorded a 121% year-on-year growth, Motorola has recorded a 164% year-on-year growth. Xiaomi is in the fifth position, with a 6% market share. The company recorded the highest year-on-year growth at 185%. This growth was driven by the Mix Flip, the company’s first clamshell smartphone. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/honda-activa-e-and-qc1-electric-scooters-unveiled-in-india-to-go-on-sale-in-2025/articleshow/115725242.cms">Honda Activa e and QC1 electric scooters unveiled in India, to go on sale in 2025</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-pc-market-reaches-new-high-with-4-49-million-shipments-in-q3-2024/articleshow/115719599.cms">India’s PC market reaches new high with 4.49 million shipments in Q3 2024</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-gt-7-pro-with-snapdragon-8-elite-chipset-launched-starting-at-59999/articleshow/115689685.cms">Realme GT 7 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset launched starting at ₹59,999</a>

Global foldable phone shipments decline in Q3 2024, Samsung leads with 56% market share

<ul class="summary-list"><li>ByteDance's publishing company, 8th Note Press, plans to release physical books.</li><li>BookTok's success has driven book sales, influencing TikTok's publishing strategy.</li></ul>Viral marketing on TikTok has helped book publishers and authors reach new heights. Now, TikTok wants in on that action.After the monumental success of "BookTok" — a community of bibliophiles on the platform that discusses books and shares what they are reading — TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, started publishing digital books through its publishing company, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-bytedance-may-form-book-publisher-8th-note-press-trademark-2023-5">8th Note Press</a>, last year.8th Note Press is now teaming up with Zando, an independent publishing company, to release a line of print novels to sell in retail stores starting in 2025."This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for 8th Note Press," Jacob Bronstein, head of editorial and marketing, told Business Insider in a statement. "By joining forces with Zando, we'll be able to expand our reach and bring our amazing books to even more people in all the formats in which they love to read."Molly Stern, Zando's founder and CEO, told BI that 8th Note's list of book titles "encompasses some of the freshest and fastest growing genres out there."BookTok's viral videos have rocketed both new and experienced authors to fame over the last three years.Sales of Colleen Hoover's 2016 romance novel "It Ends with Us," for instance, jumped 650% in 2021, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-authors-and-publishers-are-using-tiktok-to-sell-books-2022-2">selling 1.9 million copies</a> after going viral on TikTok five years after it was originally published.Hoover's novel inspired a series of videos that garnered millions of views. In the videos, frustrated or desperate readers commented on the character's behavior in the book, often with emotional songs in the background, like Taylor Swift's "All Too Well."Now TikTok looks to reverse the process: Watch trends online and print print books in response. Zando told BI that 8th Note Press is focused on bringing a wide range of author voices to "millennial and Gen Z readers looking for stories that reflect their diverse experiences."The company plans to release 10 to 15 books a year, with titles that focus on genres popular with younger TikTok users, like romance and young adult fiction, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/16/books/tiktok-bytedance-8th-note-press-print.html">The New York Times</a>.Debut novelist Sanibel — who writes under a mononym — sold her book "To Have and Have More" to 8th Note Press last year. She told the Times that she initially worried her book would be "an e-book only situation, but was reassured when she learned about 8th Note's partnership with Zando."8th Note is a brand-new press, so I knew I was going to be a guinea pig to some degree," she told the outlet. "There's this very ambitious, building the airplane while it's flying kind of feel."

TikTok's innovative new idea: printing books on paper

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Hello there! An Aldi diehard tried using their weekly budget at Trader Joe's instead. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shopping-at-trader-joes-on-budget-not-worth-aldi-better-2024-8">Here's how the two stack up</a>.In today's big story, we've unlocked a new vacation trend: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/slowcation-travel-trend-tourists-booking-longer-trips-2024-8">the "slowcation."</a>What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: The SEC takes a shot <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/carl-icahn-enterprises-sec-fine-stock-pledge-disclosure-margin-hindenburg-2024-8">at a Wall Street Icahn</a>.</li><li>Tech: The companies that are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-stocks-upside-boosting-profit-margins-gdp-chipotle-starbucks-bofa-2024-8">making the most of AI</a>.</li><li>Business: How to know <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pwc-hr-signs-interview-went-well-2024-8">if you actually nailed that interview</a>.</li></ul>But first, let's take it slow.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="5170ee9c-682d-4e35-9727-49f65015aec6">The big story</h3><h2 id="bc54c5e2-803a-4458-9c8f-a377a99d8eee">What's the rush?</h2><div type="image" title="A turtle on a beach chair" height="1500" width="2000" msid="112658278" hostid="261" sizebytes="105312"></div>Taking a trip these days is all about taking your time.The "slowcation" is the hottest new trend in vacationing this summer as travelers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/slowcation-travel-trend-tourists-booking-longer-trips-2024-8">look to book longer trips with a slower pace</a>, writes Business Insider's Joey Hadden.It's hard to pinpoint what a "slowcation" entails, but it's generally about spending more time in a location than jet-setting around to maximize your Instagram feed. One report on the trend describes it as "exploring somewhere on a deeper level" and "making space mentally and physically for things to happen spontaneously."The result has been travelers taking longer trips. One luxury travel agency told Joey 11-day vacations are now the most commonly booked trips. (The irony of writing about this trend after only taking two days off from work isn't lost on me.)A catalyst for "slowcations" has been a focus on destressing. Whether it's fears over the economy, the job market, the election, or something else, Americans have plenty to be worried about. Adding a multi-stop vacation to the mix isn't the best way to unwind.<div type="image" title="Image of woman relaxing in a pool" height="1275" width="1920" msid="112658120" hostid="261" sizebytes="254884"></div>Not everyone has the luxury of a longer vacation, but you can still optimize trips.US workers, on average, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unlimited-vacation-pto-wins-risks-2024-8">take 11 days off a year</a>, meaning a two-week vacation isn't realistic for many. But as a self-appointed expert of the short-term trip, here are some tips to make the most of your time off.Clean before you leave. Between packing, confirming trip details, and wrapping up work, you've got enough on your plate before heading out the door. But tidying up goes a long way when you finally get back home.Always book the early flight in. Not everyone's a morning person, but a late flight can cost you in the long run. You're less likely to get stuck with delays in the morning, especially in the summer when <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-meteorologists-avoid-booking-flights-summer-afternoons-evenings-2024-7">afternoon and evening thunderstorms can lay havoc on flights</a>.Don't forget the most important meal of the day. I've skipped my fair share of breakfasts, but carving out time for it on vacation keeps me on track. The food and caffeine serves as fuel (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dietitian-researches-ultra-processed-foods-shares-easy-breakfasts-2024-7">it doesn't have to be fancy</a>) and you can figure out what you want to accomplish for the day.Book the early flight out. I know what you're thinking: "If I'm trying to maximize my trip, shouldn't I leave as late as possible?" Flash cut to you milling around a Hudson News store at your terminal three hours before your flight because you're tired of dragging your bags around and just want to go home. First one in; first one out.Give yourself an extra day at home. If you can spare a bit more time, don't be afraid to spend it at home. Heading into work right after vacation is a great way to destroy the relaxing vibes you accrued. But knowing you have an extra day or two once you get home — I call it an "encore vacation" — makes your actual trip that much sweeter.<h3 id="142686f5-0f79-4efb-8c64-594dda8f696a">News brief</h3><h2 id="3fee77be-c70a-4e3e-b821-33200035c790">Top headlines</h2><ul><li>At the DNC, Biden finally kept his promise to be a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-harris-bridge-to-future-dnc-speech-2024-8">bridge to the Democratic Party's future</a>.</li><li>US says Israel accepted a cease-fire deal — <a target="_blank" href="https://businessinsider.com/blinken-warns-hamas-may-not-get-another-chance-ceasefire-2024-8/">and warns Hamas may not get another chance to say 'yes.'</a></li><li>Who is Mike Lynch? The controversial tech tycoon is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-life-of-mike-lynch-autonomy-hp-2017-5">missing after a superyacht disaster.</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-wants-elon-musk-on-his-cabinet-2024-8">Donald Trump said he'd want Elon Musk in his Cabinet</a>.</li><li>The Canadian company behind Circle K wants to buy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/7-eleven-japan-owner-takeover-bid-canadian-rival-circle-k-2024-8">7-Eleven's Japanese owner in a blockbuster deal</a>.</li><li>Serial liar George Santos pleads guilty, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/george-santos-pleads-guilty-criminal-fraud-case-2024-8">avoiding a looming criminal trial</a>.</li><li>Elon Musk's X is being sued again — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musks-x-sued-120-million-worth-of-server-parts-2024-8">this time over $120 million worth of server parts</a>.</li><li>Pelosi defends role in pushing Biden out, saying she's 'sorry' for those who are upset but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pelosi-defends-pushing-biden-out-country-is-very-happy-2024-8">'the country is very happy.'</a></li><li>Business Insider <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/business-insider-wins-murrow-award-2024-8">wins Murrow Award</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="3ed77371-7965-45d0-ab02-11e56c264ba5">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Red stock market bull overlaying the American flag and stock chart candles." height="1500" width="2000" msid="112658133" hostid="261" sizebytes="145196"></div><ol><li>The stock market's showing some green flags. One signal — the 40-Day Trading Index — indicates stocks were oversold last week. Another was the recent 10:1 day, which happens when rising stocks outpace declining ones on a 10:1 ratio. Strategists at Ned Davis Research noted <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-outlook-buy-signal-bullish-indicator-selloff-rally-prediction-2024-8">these short-term indicators</a> seem to have "confirmed the bullish message" in stocks.</li><li>Carl Icahn gets hit with a fine from the SEC. The billionaire investor was fined $500,000 and his firm, Icahn Enterprise, $1.5 million for <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/carl-icahn-enterprises-sec-fine-stock-pledge-disclosure-margin-hindenburg-2024-8">failing to disclose billions in stock pledges</a>. The SEC's probe was sparked by a short-seller report highlighting Icahn's use of margin loans in addition to accusing the investor and his firm of <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/short-seller-hindenburg-research-wall-street-legend-carl-icahn-enterprises-2023-5">inflating the value of its assets</a>.</li><li>How four possible presidential election results could impact stocks. UBS conducted a market-scenario analysis for four possible election outcomes, depending on the results of the presidential contest and who wins control of Congress. Here's how the bank thinks <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-harris-democrat-republican-presidential-election-outlooks-impact-stock-market-2024-8">the stock market will react</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="765e41a2-5560-478f-ab56-81188ef207a2">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="An illustration shows a man leaning in with puckered lips to kiss a woman as the unwilling object of his affection pulls away with hands up in the air to shield her face." height="613" width="1024" msid="112658132" hostid="261" sizebytes="189898"></div><ol><li>"I'm not your dream girl — I'm literally just a girl." A female software engineer shared how her career success has made dating tricky. She said men are often intimidated by her success, or overly idealize her as their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dating-men-as-a-female-software-engineer-is-difficult-2024-8">manic pixie dream girl</a>.</li><li>Netflix is flexing its power in its latest TV deal. Whereas it used to have to depend on media companies to get what it wanted, the tides have since changed in Netflix's favor. Its new deal with AMC Networks, the home of "Breaking Bad," <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/netflix-amc-collection-license-power-content-2024-8">shows just how much leverage Netflix has</a>.</li><li>These nine companies are putting AI to work. The AI hype isn't over just yet. According to Bank of America, the tech is expected to revolutionize corporate efficiency in the next five years. It found that Starbucks, JPMorgan, and other companies are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-stocks-upside-boosting-profit-margins-gdp-chipotle-starbucks-bofa-2024-8">already using AI to transform their businesses</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="d64b13eb-2cc7-434b-a868-09ee5e5e8f43">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="Trump and Taylor Swift" height="1334" width="2000" msid="112658134" hostid="261" sizebytes="208524"></div><ol><li>Donald, now we've got bad blood. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-fake-taylor-swift-ai-pictures-swifties-furious-election-2024-8">Taylor Swift's fans are furious</a> with Donald Trump after he posted photos that appeared to show Swift and her fans endorsing him for president. Many of the photos bear telltale signs of AI. Swift has yet to respond — but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-could-sue-trump-fake-ai-endorsement-images-lawsuit-2024-8">she could definitely sue him</a> if she wanted to.</li><li>Can't stop thinking about that job interview? You can't always trust your gut feeling about how you did in an interview, according to longtime HR exec Michael Doolin. But body language, building a rapport, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pwc-hr-signs-interview-went-well-2024-8">and these five other signs</a> might help put your mind at ease about how you did.</li><li>Your new favorite TV shows might feature a whole lot more product placement. Brands increasingly want to be part of filmed entertainment, and filmmakers are in search of new funding as Hollywood trims budgets. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sonic-gods-studios-making-brand-funded-entertainment-tv-shows-2024-8">Sonic Gods Studios is bringing the two goals together</a>: It's already got one reality show on a major streamer fully financed by brand deals.</li></ol><h2 id="2ecb2379-8d98-4644-9fd1-9b90a6e64415">In other news</h2><ul><li>The top 10 holdings of the Mormon church's $55 billion stock portfolio <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/mormon-church-stock-portfolio-top-10-holdings-new-ai-stock-2024-8">include a new AI stock</a>.</li><li>Meet the 15 members of the $100 billion club — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealth-billionaires-musk-bezos-zuckerberg-net-worth-jensen-huang-waltoans-2024-8">who are jointly worth more than Google</a>.</li><li>Meta director who used to work for Elon Musk says companies without an internal AI tool <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-director-companies-without-internal-ai-tools-already-behind-2024-8">are 'already behind the curve.'</a></li><li>Fast-food price hikes reach 'tipping point' as chains try to reset their menus with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-price-rises-tipping-point-value-deals-combos-mcdonalds-2024-8">value deals and combos</a>.</li><li>Why your favorite S&amp;P 500 index funds are in for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sp500-index-funds-stock-market-valuations-cape-ratio-future-returns-2024-8">a decade from hell</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="0adfd45c-003e-439c-8082-d33eebe52fc9">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Barack Obama speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.</li><li>Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) resigns. Last month, a federal jury convicted him of accepting bribes from the Egyptian government.</li><li>Lowe's and other companies <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/earnings-calendar">report earnings</a>.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

Slowcation is the hottest new trend in vacationing

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rucking workouts are replacing traditional meetings for networking and business deals.</li><li>The exercise can enhance the camaraderie of a group while helping people multitask and build fitness.</li></ul>Forget about a working lunch, grabbing a coffee, or hitting up a happy hour. These days, executives are throwing on a weighted backpack and trekking a few miles with colleagues and new contacts.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://businessinsider.com/how-wearing-backpack-rucking-working-out-build-muscle-2023-7">Rucking</a> — walking while carrying weight, typically in a wearable pack — has skyrocketed in popularity in the fitness world as a way to enhance longevity, build muscle, and burn fat.Now, the workout is replacing Zoom calls and desksides as the face-to-face activity of choice for sharing ideas, developing relationships, and creating career opportunities. Welcome to the era of the rucking meeting.Former NFL player turned entrepreneur <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ceo-rucking-workout-save-time-boost-performance-busy-schedule-2024-10">Jeff Byers</a> told Business Insider he rucks on a treadmill desk during meetings and invites guests to join him in the exercise during one-on-ones.Lee Heisman, an Atlanta-based entrepreneur and CEO of several businesses, including Exit Stage Left Advisors, has been rucking for years. For Heisman, the unique features of rucking make it an ideal activity for anyone willing to break a sweat, regardless of fitness level. As a networking tool, it can enhance connections while also fitting a workout into a buy schedule, he said."I don't really have that much time or interest in sitting in front of someone at a desk or an office meeting and not doing something while we're doing it," Heisman said. "We're going to have our meeting and we're going to walk away feeling so invigorated. And it really helps your negotiation power when you're working with someone, and they're in a great mood."<h2 id="73e469fd-1993-49ac-b842-37626a53fa37">Health-conscious execs are redefining the work social</h2>Wellness has already been seeping into the workplace.Founders, investors, and venture capitalists are openly sharing the lifestyle tweaks they are making to be at the top of their game in business, from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intermittent-fasting-benefits-and-risks-for-longevity-weight-loss-cancer-2024-4">intermittent fasting</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-founders-vcs-startups-sober-no-alcohol-2023-4">getting sober.</a>Casey Strunk, the president of Strunk Insurance Group in Phoenix, said he started taking his fitness and nutrition more seriously over the past few years, and conventional socials like boozy cocktail hours and rich restaurant meals weren't always a good fit for his goals."I was still craving that sense of community with people that I enjoyed, that were leaders that helped level me up," he told Business Insider.He first learned about rucking about a year and a half ago at an entrepreneur conference featuring Michael Easter, a journalist whose books have driven a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rucking-startup-founders-investors-look-for-ways-optimize-workouts-2023-10">rucking renaissance</a>.Strunk heard a friend had begun a rucking network event and last fall, he launched his own local version called Rise &amp; Ruck Phoenix.Once a month, a hand-selected group is invited to meet up in a local park at 7 a.m. on a Friday for an hourlong ruck, followed by 30 minutes of coffee and conversation.You need an inside connection to get an invite, and discussions often involve hot topics in the community across various fields from business to economics to medicine."We've been highly intentional. While it's invite-only, we're not exclusive. We're inclusive of anybody that knows somebody who's high performing in one aspect of their life" Strunk said.<div type="image" title="A group of people in workout gear and weighted backs or vests pose for a photo in front of mountainous Arizona terrain" height="3024" width="4032" msid="114623013" hostid="261" sizebytes="919840"></div><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rucking-longevity-burn-fat-build-muscle-no-gym-2023-11">Rucking</a> is a natural fit for the ambitious multitasker, since it helps improve cardiovascular health, improves strength and stability, and burns fat all at once."For me, rucking was really about optimization," Strunk said.<h2 id="32458bf5-7151-42e5-a481-7baa65ac6bb4">The networking appeal of rucking</h2>Exercising at work isn't only a convenient way to multitask on a busy schedule. It's also strategic."When you have those endorphins kicking, how can it go wrong when you're doing that type of exercise together?" Heisman said.It can be humbling; getting in and out of the rucksack can feel like being a beetle stuck on its back, according to Heisman, and you risk looking out of breath if you go hard.But rucking is fundamentally a scaleable exercise, making it relatively accessible. It can be adjusted for varying fitness levels by changing factors like the weight of the ruck, movement speed, and terrain.Since everyone's equipment is a backpack, it's not about keeping up appearances; no one can compare weights the way you might visually do on a barbell."The beauty of the ruck is that there's no egregious feeling of 'You're doing less than me or I'm doing more than you.' It is so much more about 'We're doing this together'" Heisman said.Heisman, a fan of ruck meetings for years said he puts a lot of thought into each meeting, often starting his guests out with lighter weight, offering them an option to add on the way back, and even planning the route so it ends on a hill. The overall effect is a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie that's hard to replicate in an office.For Strunk, the meditative monotony of rucking is what makes it so productive for a meeting. He and his associates have time to communicate and contemplate."I sure wouldn't want to be in an F45 or Orange Theory group with other people where we were trying to communicate and network. But from a barrier-to-entry perspective, most people can walk for 60 minutes," said Strunk.Strunk's group rucks end with the accoutrements of a good social, but he packs coffee with protein bars, shakes, and bananas to enjoy in a scenic park instead of pastries or donuts in a conference room.Still, a bit of a challenge is part of what sets the ruck meeting apart. Getting your heart rate up prompts you to save your breath, cutting through the fluff: there's no such thing as a ruck meeting that could have been an email."I think it lends itself for people to contribute in more meaningful ways when they have something to say rather than talking to talk," Strunk said.

Rucking meetings, the hot new business trend, combine networking with a popular fat-burning workout

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The "TSA tray aesthetic" trend is taking over <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-ban-app-american-us-not-worried-2024-9">TikTok</a> with over 16 million posts.</li><li>Some creators are having fun with their flat lays, while others are just documenting their travel.</li></ul>In the ever-evolving world of travel trends, it's time to say goodbye to raw-dogging — flying without devices or any other distractions — and hello to the "TSA tray aesthetic."Gen Z's fall travel trend requires participants to conceptualize, style, and photograph their personal belongings at the TSA's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-express-platinum-card-perks-annual-fee-worth-it-2024-5">airport security</a> checkpoint before hopping on their flight.The "TSA tray aesthetic" has been all over TikTok for the past few weeks, with over 16 million related posts drawing thousands of views.Before her trip to Mexico, 24-year-old creator Ckalysta Hutchings made one such video, in which she artfully arranged her personal belongings in a gray bin.In her video, she shows an iPad in a black textured case, matching headphones, a pair of sunglasses, a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rhode-hailey-bieber-addressed-golloria-georges-pocket-blush-issues-2024-9">Rhode Beauty</a> lip gloss on a gray iPhone cover, and a blush, which are methodically positioned. "We just got a bin and snapped a few photos in under 10 minutes," Hutchings told Business Insider, emphasizing that she and her sister had only done so "after we had gone through security."Like many other people her age, Hutchings uses <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-grow-online-business-with-pinterest-social-media-2024-8">Pinterest</a> to plan her trips. From outfits and accessories to aesthetically arranging her airport security bins, everything is conceptualized in advance. She thinks of it as a way of organizing her life and planning for what's next.Not everyone can creatively thrive under airport security pressure, though. Some, like Vicki Rutwind, a former lawyer turned travel content creator, prefer photographing in the comfort of their home. That meant purchasing a plastic security bin before travel to keep up with the trend."I created my video all in one afternoon in my kitchen. I am not a put-together person at the airport, and I fly a lot," Rutwind told BI. <h2 id="f554022e-56f6-4c2e-8d08-117598ff51f4"> A travel ritual before it turned into a viral trend</h2>The practice isn't totally new, though. When Emily Abbate, a former magazine editor and current podcast host of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.hurdle.us/">Hurdle</a>, began traveling a lot for work in 2015, she wanted a unique and quick way to capture her adventures.That's when she turned to airport bins and began putting together flat lays."I started throwing a few things into my bag before I would travel that would be indicative of where I was heading," she told BI, adding that she only took photos after going through security and taking her tray off to the side.Her items included a mix of practical products, such as a Lonely Planet book on Paris when she attended the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/olympian-adeline-gray-raising-twins-harder-than-the-olympics-2024-9">Olympics</a> earlier this year, or a pair of sneakers if she collaborated with a particular brand.Abbate saw this as a fun way to commemorate her travels. While she has not participated in the recent viral trend, she understands its value."I found it really fun to look back at [them] end of the year and have a personal scrapbook of all the cool places that I had been to," she said. Rutwind also considers it a unique way to relive her travels. Upon seeing the trend, she ordered a $17 bin on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rto-amazon-relocate-remote-work2024-8">Amazon</a> — which doubles as a storage bin — and then styled it using different colorways representing destinations and products, such as a pair of red sneakers and matching NARS lipstick for Paris or a pair of blue Adidas and matching knitwear for Santorini.<h2 id="8546f31a-1967-464e-8355-166a8095db7f">Some lifestyle brands and creators are monetizing this trend</h2>From fashion label Reiss to publishing house Faber, brands have participated in the trend by showcasing a collection of products — books, mules, designer knitwear, or claw clips — that would be part of their "airport aesthetic.""This trend specifically aligned perfectly for us, curating an aesthetic selection whilst focusing on our travel-friendly products," storage solutions brand Stackers told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/08/travel/why-people-are-making-videos-of-their-airport-trays-now/index.html">CNN</a>. Lifestyle <a target="_blank" href="https://businessinsider.com/what-is-onlyfans-content-platform-explained-2024-4">content creators</a>, like Symphani Soto, have also used the microtrend to boost their personal brands, arranging everyday essentials she uses and linking them to their LikeToKnow.It or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ltk-weapon-against-affiliate-competition-from-youtube-shopping-tiktok-2024-7">LTK</a>, an e-commerce platform that allows creators to share and sell products from partner brands."It's just a fun way to curate what I actually use every day and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://liketk.it/4MKZa">share</a> with people; if they want to purchase something like a lipstick or a bag, for instance, they can automatically go over there and purchase it," Soto told BI.<h2 id="0b7a2dbe-e128-4773-a54d-7f43dc6b4417">Not everyone is on board with the trend</h2>When Caleb Harmon-Marshall, a former <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-tsa-agent-what-not-to-do-during-air-travel-2024-1">TSA agent</a>, started receiving calls from his old co-workers stating that several people at the airport were holding up the lines to take photos of their bins, he knew he had to say something.Since leaving his job, Harmon-Marshall has run a travel newsletter, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://gateaccess.substack.com/">Gate Access</a>, which focuses on passengers' flight and security rights. So he decided to make a video and "not tell people not to do it, but just be mindful of the people behind you," he told BI.Harmon-Marshall isn't the only one to flag this. Several news outlets have reported that some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/acquisition-spree-in-influencer-marketing-is-bolstering-the-creator-economy-2024-9">influencers</a> have made what's already an annoying part of traveling even worse by holding up the lines.Creators who spoke to Business Insider emphasized they would never hold up the security line or encourage their followers to do so.A TSA representative told BI they're aware of the trend and that "as long as the staged glamor photos are not causing delays or issues with other passengers in the checkpoint, there are no issues."The spokesperson added that people who wish to snap their bins should do so after they've crossed security and that "setting up a bin 'just so' for that ideal <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/names-easy-spell-for-kids-2024-9">social media</a> photo might take a minute or two, so best to go through the security checkpoint and take the photo afterward. At that point, take all of the time you want to set up the bin."As with most online <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/popular-trends-interior-designers-dont-like-get-rid-of">fads</a>, this one has received strong and mixed reactions from people online.Hutchings said she had a series of hate comments on her video, but what really matters is "how you, as an individual, feel about your feed."The cute photos she uploads make her happy and hopefully inspire others, so, she said, "at the end of the day, if it's not for you, keep scrolling."

TikTokers are taking 'aesthetic' photos of their TSA trays in the latest travel trend. But not everyone's on board.

It took something surprisingly small — something that's been described as "teeny tiny" and "ultra-cropped" — to propel <keyword id="19948011" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Prada" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Prada" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Prada">Prada</keyword> to its place as one of the year's few luxury winners. In fact, it measures under 10 inches long. <keyword id="20885719" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Miu-Miu" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Miu Miu" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Miu Miu">Miu Miu</keyword>'s micro miniskirt, which debuted in 2021 and subsequently went viral, taking over both TikTok and magazine front covers, is emblematic of the brand's show-stopping couple of years — and has no doubt helped its parent company, Prada, do what few luxury companies have been able to do this year: grow. "I think the 'miracle' at Prada is Miu Miu," Luca Solca, a senior analyst at Bernstein, told Business Insider. Thanks to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/miu-miu-revenue-jumps-93-gen-z-asia-sales-prada-2024-7">Miu Miu's hot streak</a>, as well as a series of smart business moves at Prada itself — a focus on a controlled retail pipeline and store productivity, plus some experienced new hires — the company is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zara-inditex-pandora-thrive-amid-luxury-downturn-aspirational-consumer-trends-2024-9">bucking negative luxury trends</a>. It's selling well in Asia, its stock is up, and investors are excited. Net revenue for the first half of the year was 14% higher than in the same period in 2023 and 34% more than 2022. At luxury bellwethers LVMH and Kering, first-half sales fell 1% and 11%, respectively, compared to last year.Its stock is up more than 30% year-to-date, even more than that of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hermes-became-ultimate-status-symbol-2024-2">Hermès, luxury's perennial market leader</a>. Along with Moncler, it's one of only two buy-rated luxury stocks at HSBC. The 111-year-old, family-run, Milanese leather goods shop turned cutting-edge fashion superhouse is now enjoying one of its greatest runs in history. <h2>The trendy little sister</h2>As any elder sibling knows well, sometimes the flashy, fun younger sister can outshine even the most well-prepared eldest. Miu Miu is doing just that. The more experimental brand has become the "It" girl of the fashion industry. It's number two on The Lyst Fashion Index, a quarterly measure of the hottest fashion brands. Searches for Miu Miu are up 47% this year on luxury resale platform The RealReal. The micro minis that stormed the runway in 2021, a sneaker collab with New Balance, and the quilted Wander bags have become must-have looks. That's translated into impressive results: <keyword id="19957111" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail-sales" source="keywords">Retail sales</keyword> were up 50% in 2023 and 86% in the first half of this year. Last quarter, website traffic was up 110% year over year, Stifel's Rogerio Fujimori reported in his July note. The brand will likely hit $1 billion in revenue this year. <div type="image" title="Miu Miu micro miniskirt" height="3109" width="4663" msid="113815737" hostid="261"></div>Part of it is the brand's messaging. "Miu Miu is resonating with consumers because of a savvy mix of product and communication marketing," Solca said. In a recent note, he highlighted the brand's events — a tennis club, literary club, and film series — that go beyond just fashion to form a "cultural aesthetic." Miu Miu has embraced stars (Sydney Sweeney and Gigi Hadid were featured in recent campaigns), which has energized its following. The brand has also managed to tap into Asian markets — one of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-luxury-retail-sales-slowdown-brands-fashion-2024-7">most challenging sectors for luxury brands</a>. Again, some smart marketing has helped. The brand enlisted K-pop icons as ambassadors and dressed Chinese stars Lexie Liu, Zhao Jinmai, and Wu Yanshu. It also increased spending on Little Red Book, a social media platform in China, and threw events in Tokyo, Taipei, and Nanjing. In short — pun intended — you can't get trendier than Miu Miu right now, and being trendy is good for business. <h2>The business behind the boom</h2>But Miu Miu's popularity, as attention-grabbing as it is, is only part of the story. The brand accounted for 15% of Prada's sales last year. HSBC analysts called its growth a "(big) cherry on the cake" — the cake being Prada (which didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider for this story). Behind Miu Miu's Mary Jane shoes and Arcade bags is a success story at its parent company. The group's namesake line is growing, albeit at a slower and steadier pace. Prada's retail sales were up 3% in the first half of the year compared to last year and 7% in 2023. It's been among Lyst's top five hottest brands since 2022. This didn't happen by accident: In 2017, Prada committed to a turnaround strategy following a few losing yearsand a drop in profitability. At more than 100 years old, Prada hadn't entered the new millennium: Its full product line wasn't available through e-commerce, and its advertising wasn't digitized. "In 2015, the tide really turned for them," Jelena Sokolova, a senior analyst for Morningstar, told Business Insider. "They fared worse than the industry: Sales were negative for a number of years; their earnings plummeted." In response, Prada focused on retail, a channel in which it can control prices and cut back on wholesale, which now represents only 11% of sales. It made an effort to cut down on discounts — a problem that has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-burberry-became-fashions-biggest-fail-stock-drop-ceo-ousting-2024-8">plagued labels like Burberry</a> and Gucci and can lead to diminishing brand perception. At its retail stores, new CEO Andrea Guerra, who arrived in 2023 from LVMH, has drilled down on productivity, or how much money each square foot of retail space generates, by launching in-store installations, forming one-to-one relationships between sales associates and customers, and infusing stores with wearable pieces and collaborations. The company closed stores that weren't performing and renovated the ones that were. It's worked: Retail productivity has increased 32.5% between 2019 and 2023. <div type="image" title="Prada store" height="3333" width="5000" msid="113815742" hostid="261"></div>There has also been a slew of management changes. In 2020, the company brought on Raf Simons, heralded as one of the biggest stars in the design world, as co-creative director, sharing the title with Muccia Prada — the company's billionaire heiress who The New York Times has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/04/style/miu-miu-chanel-louis-vuitton-paris-fashion-week.html">referred</a> to as "the most influential woman in fashion." Prada now has more time to use her keen sense of design at Miu Miu. In the years following, it recruited talent from LVMH and Goldman Sachs to join its top ranks. And then there is the sheer cyclicality of fashion and the fact that, after a few years of being less-than-hot, Prada is once again on the rise. It has embraced the 1990s and Y2K aesthetic — a heyday for Prada — popular with Gen Z and was the most searched brand among the demographic on The RealReal. Hit products pushed the profitable leather goods category to revenues of more than $2 billion last year. There was a reimagining of the early 2010s it-bag, the Galleria, complete with a Scarlett Johansson-led campaign. Other handbag rereleases, like that of the Nylon, have taken off, while new purse styles like the Buckle and Arqué got callouts in last year's earnings report. That momentum gave the brand an upper hand going into the luxury downturn. "People prioritize which brands they want to spend on. With a limited budget, first, you drop the ones that were not hot to begin with," Sokolova said. <h2>Can Prada's hot streak last?</h2>Just as fashion comes in, it can come out. And Prada's story — particularly Miu Miu's rapid-fire growth — in some ways mimics that of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gucci-sales-profit-reputation-falling-luxury-kering-michele-china-2024-5">Gucci's hype-driven rise and plummeting fall under Alessandro Michele</a>. "You kind of become a victim of your own success," Sokolova said. Both Prada and Miu Miu are susceptible to volatility, though for different reasons. Miu Miu is still relatively small, meaning its brand identity is not yet established enough to withstand the whims of consumers. CEO Guerra has acknowledged that such incredible growth can lead to a challenge. "There appears to be a glass ceiling," Solca wrote in a recent note. "Being prominent brings fatigue: after a while, consumers feel they have seen and done enough with these brands and move on." Prada, meanwhile, is more exposed in the cyclical ready-to-wear category — which makes up 32% of sales — than other brands like Gucci and YSL. But there are signs of continued growth: Miu Miu is adding 10 to 15 stores next year, while Prada is adding five to 10, the company has said. The brand's retail footprint is particularly underpenetrated in the US. The company's beauty business is still nascent. Last year, it launched skincare and makeup through a partnership with L'Oréal, and there is more money to be made in that sector. With so much control of its sales chain, the company can raise prices and limit overexposure through low-end collaborations or expansion into cheap categories. Plus, the slowdown hasn't happened yet: Miu Miu website traffic and sales continued to grow between the first and second quarters, and the company maintains it's not a flash in the pan. "This is a result of many years of work on the brand, on the products, on the people," Guerra said about Miu Miu's success on the company's most recent earnings call. Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prada-white-tank-top-status-symbol-2024-2">Prada has maintained its brand value</a>. But the woman Miuccia Prada herself knows the pressure is on. "I was very nervous for this show," she told reporters backstage at the line's fashion show earlier this month about the new collection, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/20/style/prada-fendi-milan-fashion-week.html">The New York Times reported</a>. "Much more than usual." September 30, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of Miuccia Prada.

How Prada is beating the odds and bucking the luxury slump 

When <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wendys-surge-dynamic-pricing-controversy-fast-food-cost-uber-airlines-2024-2">Wendy's ignited the internet's ire in February</a> with its dynamic-pricing proposal, the fast-food chain was forced to do some haphazard cleanup. It insisted that, despite rumors, it wouldn't implement surge pricing and charge more for burgers during busy times. Instead, it said it might offer discounts during slower times of the day and roll out promos based on the weather. The new framing made sense — who doesn't love a deal — but the overall notion was exhausting. Since when do we need to gamify the cost of fries?Thanks to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-prices-inflation-sticking-interest-rate-hikes-stock-market-2024-5">inflation</a>, people have found themselves in the grocery aisle or a restaurant or a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-used-cars-are-still-so-expensive-2023-9">car lot</a> over the past few years wondering just what is going on with prices. Maybe they're not sure exactly how much the item in question used to be, but they know it sure wasn't this. And now that uncertainty has been compounded by tech-enabled (and greed-fueled) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theme-parks-dynamic-pricing-legoland-madame-tussauds-merlin-entertainments-2024-3">dynamic pricing</a>, which is creeping across the economy. Want to know what your Uber ride or concert ticket or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surge-pricing-increasingly-being-used-at-restaurants-and-theaters-2023-3">bowling-alley visit</a> is going to run you? It depends! Even Walmart is testing out digital price tags, which it says make life easier for associates and improve the customer experience. There's been speculation that the tags could be used for variable pricing, though Walmart says its "every day low price" strategy isn't changing.All these changes add up to one pervasive sensation: America is suffering from a major case of price fatigue.It's incredibly frustrating not to know what anything costs, and the situation is only getting worse. While inflation is cooling, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stores-cutting-prices-summer-list-walmart-target-amazon-aldi-walgreens-2024-6">return of discounts</a> doesn't mean a reversion to pre-pandemic prices. People are still on edge that high inflation could rear its ugly head again. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-quietly-picking-your-pocket-with-personalized-pricing-2024-7">use of surge pricing</a> is extra anxiety-inducing."If you're going to introduce something that's new and that may give a pause or a hesitation, you might not want to necessarily do it when people are very price sensitive," said Carly Fink, the head of research and strategy at Provoke Insights, a market-research company. "If it was a great economy and everyone felt like, 'Oh, yeah, I have the money to spend,' I would assume they would be less nervous."It goes without saying that inflation has been a problem in recent years. The consumer price index is up by more than 20% since February 2020. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-cost-of-living-what-is-middle-class-housing-market-2024-4">Financially and psychologically</a>, it's a pain.When wages don't rise along with inflation, it hurts people's buying power and forces them to change their budgets and spending habits. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-housing-food-alice-rent-poverty-healthcare-wage-growth-cpi-2024-6">Low-income people in particular suffer</a>, and workers blame their employers' greed for their wages not budging. Even when pay does rise with prices, everything costing more still feels like a loss. Inflation is stressful, and it can make planning extra challenging. If prices are going up, how are you supposed to know how much money you need to save for your next vacation — let alone <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-social-security-gen-z-millennials-uncertainty-fears-pensions-2024-4">stash away for retirement</a>?And even as inflation settles down, the tool employed to fight it — higher interest rates — adds another layer of uncertainty. If you're in the market for a house, it's tough to gauge whether you ought to wait for mortgage rates to come back down or whether you should pull the trigger now. It's a similar story if you're in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/car-prices-falling-forecast-outlook-new-used-electric-vehicle-market-2024-6">the market for a new car </a>— maybe prices have come down some but interest rates have not, and it's hard to know what the right move is. Fink said her surveys indicate that even though inflation is calming, consumers are still nervous about it, with nearly two-thirds ranking it in April as one of their top two concerns. A similar proportion said they'd become more budget-conscious than they were six months earlier. We're looking at a very "price sensitive" and "worried" consumer, she said, adding, "It's very hard for them to keep up with everything that's happening."Even relatively small-ticket items can come with a price tag that provokes a sense of whiplash. A "good" price for something today may have seemed outlandish five years ago, and it's understandable to wonder whether today's price is just as fleeting."I absolutely understand shoppers who have price fatigue. It just beats you down, and certain commodities have increased so quickly," said Jon Hauptman, the founder and president of Price Dimensions, a retail consultancy. "Think of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pepsico-pepsi-high-prices-putting-off-us-shoppers-sales-america-2024-2">carbonated soft drinks</a>. The whole idea of what's a good price for a 12-pack of carbonated soft drinks has changed dramatically over the past few years."Consumers tend to be price sensitive, meaning their buying behaviors change as prices go up or down, though they're not very price aware. Most people can name the specific prices of only a handful of things at the grocery store that they buy all the time, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/egg-prices-falling-to-normal-after-high-inflation-groceries-food-2023-6">like milk or eggs</a>. Overall, however, they intuitively sense that prices are increasing, and broad-based inflation means purchases big and small require a second thought."It forces shoppers to shop more carefully," Hauptman said.The proliferation of dynamic pricing — meaning prices that fluctuate based on market conditions such as supply and demand — makes the landscape harder to navigate. The prices of a variety of products and services aren't just different from what they were a year ago; they may be different from what they were a day ago or even a few minutes ago.Dynamic pricing isn't new. For better or for worse, it's well established in some industries. People have long been used to it when they're booking flights or hotels, for example. It can make sense in some of these settings, like hospitality, said Timothy Webb, an assistant professor of hospitality business management at the University of Delaware who's worked on pricing strategies for sports teams and tourism spots. "It really centers around the perishable nature of the product and that its capacity is constrained," he said. A hotel can't store up more rooms to rent out during the summer, so raising prices for peak times lets it stay afloat all year, financially, and may help prevent overcrowding. Conversely, dropping prices during the slow season means it's not sitting empty all winter. Still, nobody likes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-is-the-cheapest-time-to-book-flights-for-christmas-2023-10">paying extra for a Christmas flight</a> or their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airlines-and-hotels-tacking-on-extra-fees-during-travel-season-2023-5">summer hotel room</a>. Yes, happy hours and early-bird specials have been around forever, but the idea of paying extra for a restaurant reservation or meal during busy times is not great. The supply-demand forces that make peak-time Ubers outrageously expensive or Taylor Swift tickets prohibitively pricey may be real, but that doesn't mean consumers feel they are fair or good.People often interpret dynamic pricing as a mechanism for companies to maximize profits. Provoke Insights' research shows that most consumers still aren't super familiar with the concept, but when asked what they would do if a restaurant they visit implements it, two-thirds say they would eat there less often. A survey from consumer analytics platform CivicScience found that a majority of consumers say they agree with the statement that dynamic pricing is "price gouging."Instead of focusing on getting a discount when they pop into Starbucks during a slow period, people think about the experience of trying to order a Lyft in the rain. They're not wrong to feel this way — making money is how companies talk about their pricing choices to Wall Street."Companies have framed this debate around profit maximization. And so as a result, people see it as zero-sum," Ravi Dhar, a professor of management and marketing and the director of the Center for Customer Insights at the Yale School of Management. "People don't like the fluctuations because you always feel like somehow it's exploiting you."Constant prices aren't guaranteed and never have been. Discounts and promotions are well-trodden retail tactics, and the invisible hand of the market moves on the principles of supply and demand. Every business wants to charge a higher price to customers who can and will pay more and a lower price to those who can't and won't, said Z. John Zhang, a marketing professor at Wharton who focuses on pricing. We can't blame consumers for feeling like it adds uncertainty to an already tumultuous world, he said, but this is sort of the way things go."If you look at the big picture, there is actually no presumption for a constant price for a long time for a particular product, and the reason is that's not what prices are supposed to do," he said. "What price is supposed to do is to mediate between demand and supply to make sure that the product is really delivered into the hands of the right people, the right customers."That sounds fine and good, except we do not live in a world where markets are perfectly efficient, and nobody wants to be constantly watching for changing prices throughout their day. Many industries are uncompetitive, meaning consumers aren't even getting a fair shake. Plenty of companies can move their prices, whether by using dynamic prices or downright raising prices, because they're the only game in town. That's true for airlines and car-rental companies and wireless providers. It's why if you call your internet company to threaten to change services unless your bill stops creeping up, the answer you'll probably get is "LOL good luck with that.""With the airlines, if you asked people 30 years ago if they wanted to pay different prices, they'd be like, 'No way, it's not fair,'" Webb said. "But the airline also knows that, hey, there's limited providers here, so competition does matter, and if you don't want to pay, well, that's fine. We're still at this price."Technology is a modern-day X-factor as well. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-amazon-adjusts-its-prices-2015-1">Amazon changes the prices of various items</a> throughout the day. Both Uber and DoorDash have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-controversial-pricing-charging-more-based-on-neighborhood-2017-5">accused of displaying higher prices</a> for certain customers with low phone batteries or those with iPhones, though both companies have denied this. Today's Blue Light Special is no longer in a store aisle on a Wednesday at noon; it's on a website that knows exactly who you are and is intimately familiar with your spending habits. Companies can use your data to identify an exact price for you, which may work in your favor but may not."Because of this optimization, it reduces trust in the company," Dhar said. "I don't trust them to do things that are good for me. They're going to do things that are good for them."If companies were more transparent about what they were doing and how, it might ease some discomfort. But many aren't.There are no easy solutions here. Most economists agree that government-mandated price fixing is a bad idea. Achieving a more competitive economy is a long-term project that won't happen overnight. Inflation is getting better, but the threat of it getting worse again still looms. The answer to getting accustomed to high prices is basically to forget what those numbers were in 2019. We didn't even get into hidden fees, another layer in the what-does-anything-even-cost-and-why maze.You can't fault anyone for feeling tired of it all. After so much economic uncertainty, and with more uncertainty ahead, we're all in our feelings about prices. A prix fixe menu sounds pretty good right now, just to, for a moment, know what we're getting into cost-wise and enjoy a meal.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/emily-stewart">Emily Stewart</a> is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, writing about business and the economy.

The exhausting new shopping trend that's breaking all of our brains

<ul class="summary-list"><li>More TikTok users are using the app to find their next vacation, the company's travel lead told BI.</li><li>Companies have leveraged the destination dupes trend, promoting alternatives like Bruges over Paris.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-ban-explainer-bill-courts-2024-4">TikTok</a> is helping travelers find new places for a vacation as users increasingly use the app for search rather than just scrolling for entertainment.That's according to Hannah Bennett, the travel lead in TikTok's global business solutions team. "People are now really leaning into TikTok to search for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-trips-to-book-for-2024-underrated-destinations-travel-planner">the next destination</a>, where to travel, and who to fly with," she told Business Insider.Bennett said that since 2021, TikTok has seen a fivefold increase in views of travel content. In a survey of UK users last year, 82% said the app inspired them to consider new destinations.Bennett told BI the "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-2024-destination-dupes-according-to-intrepid-travel-2024-5">destination dupes"</a> trend has been noticeable, with users interested in a location that's "not completely off the beaten track, but somewhere that's a little bit more undiscovered."Travel companies like Booking.com and Expedia have been leaning into the travel dupe hype with videos on the app promoting <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/major-tourist-cities-alternatives-2017-6">alternative destinations</a>. As examples, Bennett pointed to people choosing to visit Albania or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millionaire-lifestyle-montenegro-yachts-luxury-photos-2019-4">Montenegro</a> instead of Greece or Italy, or the Slovenian capital <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-european-cities-according-to-frequent-traveler-2024-4">Ljubljana</a> instead of Prague. Taipei and Zanzibar have also recently seen more traction, she added.A record 6.19 million people visited Slovenia last year, and the Zanzibari government's most recent statistics show a 66% increase between February 2022 and this year.Airlines have also been taking advantage of TikTok's popularity.Bennett recalled how <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ryanair-easyjet-wizz-europes-budget-airlines-compared-2024-5">easyJet</a> capitalized on the virality of scenes from "Airline" — a reality TV show about the budget airline — by reconnecting with its former operations manager Jane Boulton to make a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@easyjet/video/7315094126217743648">video</a> for TikTok.She also said she liked how <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/british-airways-first-class-learned-how-to-be-cabin-crew-2023-4">British Airways</a> "championed their crew" in videos, making the company more personable. "We've focused very much as a company on the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-shop-better-at-keeping-customers-than-temu-shein-2024-4">e-commerce side</a>, and now we're able to really lean into travel as we continue to see that steady growth following COVID," Bennett told BI.Booking a holiday isn't an option on TikTok Shop, but she said the app will "dynamically serve you the destination that we think you would like based on the algorithm.""So the ultimate purchase will happen on the brand's website, but we'd be able to track that and optimize toward it, which is the next step for our brand conversations."

TikTok's algorithm is helping travelers discover the next hot vacation spot and lean into trends like 'destination dupes'

Online accommodation hosting platform <keyword id="19900375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airbnb" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Airbnb" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Airbnb">Airbnb</keyword> on Friday said it has witnessed a 30% rise in bookings from Indian guests for the <keyword id="22385954" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Olympic-Games-Paris-2024" source="keywords">Olympic Games Paris 2024</keyword>. Beyond <keyword id="19916613" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris" source="keywords">Paris</keyword>, Indian travellers are also exploring other locations in <keyword id="19899242" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="France" source="keywords">France</keyword> such as Nice, Aubervilliers, Colombes, and Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, Airbnb said in a statement, citing data for bookings made by Indian guests between January 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, for stays in and around the host cities during the period of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. These areas, including key Olympic venues like Colombes (field hockey) and Chateauroux (shooting events), along with cities hosting <keyword id="64" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="football" source="Orion">football</keyword> matches like Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Nantes, Nice, and <keyword id="65651" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bordeaux" source="Orion">Bordeaux</keyword>, are experiencing significant interest, it added. Airbnb said travellers from over 160 countries and regions have already booked their stays on its platform during the sporting event. The <keyword id="4833237" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-Olympics" source="Orion">Paris Olympics</keyword> will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, nights booked during the dates of the Olympics are over five times higher than they were in the Paris region the same time a year ago, it added. Paris remains the top-searched city on the platform, with a nearly 40% increase in active listings in the region, ensuring ample availability for guests. In terms of growth in bookings, Asian countries are on the leaderboard, Airbnb said, adding that it has witnessed the highest increase in travellers coming from India, Mainland China, <keyword id="24349" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hong-Kong" source="Orion">Hong Kong</keyword> (SAR) and Japan. India alone witnessed an approximately 30% increase in booking of stays in and around Paris during the games, Airbnb said. "The surge in bookings for Paris reflects an exciting trend among Indian travellers, who are increasingly planning trips around iconic sporting events like the Olympics, showcasing their growing appetite for unique, global experiences," Airbnb General Manager for India, <keyword id="19952305" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="southeast-asia" source="keywords">Southeast Asia</keyword>, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Amanpreet Bajaj said. He further said, "Interestingly, while Paris remains a top destination, these travellers are also venturing beyond traditional tourist spots to explore cities like Saint-Denis and Bordeaux to catch their favourite sports."

You Searched For "booking trends" and got 9 results

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