The Broadmind Business & Innovation Tracker
How global brands use cultural placemaking, sustainability, and innovative retail experiences to drive growth and customer loyalty.
News on how top brands and cities leverage innovation and culture to redefine their markets. PepsiCo is investing in critical water sustainability, Johnson & Johnson boosts U.S. healthcare manufacturing, and Apple prepares to launch AI-enhanced smartwatches. Meanwhile, EV infrastructure expands rapidly, luxury retail brands like Printemps and DICK'S Sporting Goods create immersive experiences, and community-driven initiatives from Plantclub highlight fresh approaches to consumer engagement.
And… if your eyes are tired with all this reading, give your ears some work to do by subscribing to Broadmind’s Apple or Spotify podcasts.
To start, there were two stories we noticed over the weekend that reminded us of the economic importance of cultural placemaking. The Tate Modern is 25 years old (already??) and in this piece in the Guardian, their arts and media correspondent argues that the art-gallery-experience changed the map of London. Over two decades later and the city Nagoya is suffering brain-drain to Tokyo because of a lack of investment in culture. SoraNews points out that young professionals are leaving for the big city because bands and artists, in particular, won’t play in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture as there’s of lack of cultural spaces there, especially music and entertainment venues.
Another kind of about local investing: PepsiCo is stepping up to address water scarcity, investing roughly $1.8 million in restoration projects across drought-sensitive regions like California, Colorado, and Texas. Their pep+ sustainability initiative aims to restore around 480 million liters of water annually, benefiting local ecosystems and communities—a big step towards their net-positive water goal by the year 2030.
Next, Johnson & Johnson is breaking ground on a massive $2 billion biologics facility in North Carolina. Set to create around 500 specialized jobs, this site will boost production of advanced therapies for cancer, autoimmune, and neurological conditions. It's part of J&J's ambitious plan to invest $55 billion over four years, expanding U.S. manufacturing, R&D, and technological infrastructure.
A bunch of links re. electric vehicles. News is that California now boasts 48% more EV chargers than gas nozzles—over 178,000 chargers statewide—giving consumers more convenient options for zero-emission transportation.
And speaking of charging, Consumer Reports recently compared EV charging experiences, and Tesla and Rivian came out way ahead on reliability. Tesla stations have just a 4% problem rate, with Rivian close behind at 5%. Third-party networks like Shell Recharge and EVgo didn't fare nearly as well (48% and 43% problem rates respectively), highlighting how automakers with their own infrastructure could grab market share (and build out community ‘EV’ hubs we discussed in the PSFK Future of Automotive report).
Related: a new battery recycling process from China now recovers nearly 100% of lithium and 97% of nickel from used EV batteries, marking another step toward sustainability in the EV sector.
Speaking just a little more about electric vehicles: at the end of last week innovator and EV maker NIO reported solid Q4 results, with revenues up 15% year-over-year, maintaining a strong 40% market share in China's high-end electric segment. Despite challenges with rising costs, NIO's ambitious European expansion and product innovation keep it positioned well for future growth. This week sees the earnings report from major rival BYD - sign up for the alert on Broadmind's site.
Here's tech new to scratch a little: Apple reportedly plans to launch camera-equipped Apple Watches by 2027. These AI-enhanced cameras in Series and premium Ultra models will identify objects and places instantly, thanks to Apple's "Visual Intelligence" feature. The tech company has been misfiring recently so let's watch if this will stop users from leaving the Apple ecosystem.
In retail, DICK'S Sporting Goods recently purchased a rare, one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card for over $1 million. The card, featuring the pitcher's autograph and debut jersey patch, will be showcased at their House of Sport near Pittsburgh, enhancing the customer experiences and connecting with local sports fans.
Meanwhile, luxury retailer Printemps New York has opened at One Wall Street, blending luxury hospitality, dining, and immersive experiences across ten thematic areas. With a thoughtful mix of historic preservation and contemporary design—including stunning Art Deco elements and sustainable practices—Printemps aims to set a new standard for experiential retail.
Finally, let's wrap up with something for spring: Last weekend in Berlin, Plantclub's Retired Plant Sale rehomed unwanted houseplants and fostering community among indoor gardening enthusiasts. Participants adopted plants potted in eco-friendly substrates while enjoying tips, design concepts, and plant-themed products from local creators. Talk about place making, eh!!
That's all for today's roundup - sign up for Broadmind.ai alerts to track this week’s key earnings reports: BYDDY, CHWY, DLTR, ZGN, HNNMY, LULU, POAHY, RH and WBA.