Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

Kibu offers kids sustainable headphones that they can learn to build, repair, and recycle. By providing not only a sustainable option for parents but a customisable and educational product for children, Kibu's appeal could cut through the often unsustainable world of kids' products.

The way that people are listening to music is changing. Gone are the days of tinny, low-quality sound – they want something better. British audio brand KEF has long stood at the higher end of innovation and price, but it’s shifting gears in an effort to democratise high-fidelity sound.

Research has found that podcasts can have a profound effect on life decisions. Whether it's due to the perceived intimacy of listening via headphones or their ability to liven up mundane everyday tasks, this medium has a persuasive power that may enhance brands' ability to get a message across.