Gen Z Business Spotlight: Chamberlain Coffee World events and economic conditions impact how each generation behaves as consumers and business owners. A decade ago, millennial consumers were constantly making headlines for “killing” certain products. From a business standpoint, millennial entrepreneurs in the 2010s saw notable success marked by increased access to venture capital and early adoption of social media to acquire customers. Now, as interest rates are higher, venture capital funds are harder to come by, and privacy laws have made paid customer acquisition on social media more challenging, Gen Z entrepreneurs are following a different playbook when it comes to building their businesses. Per The Business of Fashion, Gen Z businesses are differentiating themselves from their millennial counterparts by creating super-niche products. This route requires less capital and calls for slower, more sustainable growth. To better understand the ins and outs of Gen Z entrepreneurship, we’re doing a deep dive into a uniquely Gen Z business: Chamberlain Coffee. Founded by popular YouTube creator Emma Chamberlain in 2020, Chamberlain Coffee has become a cult favorite among young coffee drinkers. The brand launched offering whole bean coffee and has expanded to sell cold brew packets, matcha, chai, ready-to-drink coffees, and branded merch including a milk frother and mugs. What Makes Chamberlain Coffee Uniquely Gen Z So what makes Chamberlain Coffee distinctly Gen Z compared to other beverage brands? Natural Connection to Chamberlain’s Content Not all brands founded by popular creators succeed, but Chamberlain Coffee is off to a strong start....

Should Brands Address Social Issues? When it comes to social justice, what role do brands play? As conflict around the globe continues, marketers are put in a challenging position when it comes to making brand statements. It’s nearly impossible to make a perfectly neutral statement that will satisfy all points of view, which is what many brands try to do in an effort to avoid alienating potential customers. Interestingly enough, consumer preferences on how involved brands should be in social justice movements are evolving in real time as world events unfold. In 2021, 54% of American consumers expressed companies should take a stance on social issues. However, according to research by Gallup and Bentley University, some consumers are walking back that claim. Per this year’s Business in Society Report, only 41% of Americans now believe brands should take a public stance on social causes. However, it’s important to note that the drop in interest in brand advocacy doesn’t ring true for all demographics. According to the Gallup and Bentley study: 53% of buyers between the ages of 18 and 29 believe brands should take a public stance on current issues (compared to 47% of buyers between 30 and 44, and 35% of consumers over 45) 44% of women believe brands should advocate for social issues compared to 38% of men Consumers who identify as Black or Asian (61% of both populations) want to see brands take a public stance 57% of consumers who identify...