It all started with the love of an island. After decades of running a successful diving business on St. John in the US Virgin Islands, the business owners could feel that there was just more that they could offer. They saw an opportunity to tap into the island lifestyle and offer more: leisure wear, swim, and diving gear, even home décor; to build a lifestyle around the island life. But with limited existing product, and no existing tangible brand beyond the diving business to speak of, where does one start? That’s where J.Schmid came in. We started with research to understand the unique connection that people have to the island; then we used that learning to craft a brand story, and bring it to life in words and pictures. Read the case study at: https://www.jschmid.com/blog/portfolio/low-key-branding-case-study/

Lawmakers on a House subcommittee on Thursday advanced a draft privacy bill that would impose sweeping nationwide restrictions on companies' ability to collect and use data. The American Privacy Rights Act -- introduced in both chambers last month by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington), and revised earlier this week -- now moves to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which could make additional changes. The current version of the bill appears to require businesses to allow consumers to opt out of online behavioral advertising -- meaning ads served based on cross-site and cross-app data. The original version had language that would have either required companies to obtain opt-in consent for behavioral advertising, or banned online behavioral advertising altogether.

Amcor has released the third edition of its European consumer claims research report. The report reveals that recyclability claims are the most influential on consumer purchase decisions. This coincides with a growing preference for paper-based packaging. The report shares Amcor’s 2025 findings, which builds on the company’s previous 2020 and 2022 research. Based on the responses of 3,351 consumers surveyed in the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, and Poland – the report provides brands with valuable insight into ‘The Sustainability Influence’ and how consumer preferences are accelerating the move to more responsible packaging. Key findings include: *Awareness and interest in recyclability is strong with 84% of consumers reporting that they check on-pack instructions to inform how they dispose of products. *71% of consumers understand claims that state ‘made with recycled materials’. This has risen by 4% since 2022. *Paper-based packaging is a growing trend, with 72% of consumers reporting that they understand paper-based packaging claims and use them to inform purchasing decisions.