Quick Note: Welcome to Two Cents' newsletter. We're here to bring you fresh insights on research, market trends, and future-forward thinking. Not your thing? No worries, you can unsubscribe anytime.

Hi there, it's Steph 👋

If you’re receiving this, it means you’re part of the Two Cents ecosystem. You’ve worked with us, talked with us, or shared feedback that’s helped shape where we’re headed. After a couple of years of deep dives, big questions, and brainstorming with some of the sharpest minds we know, we’re grateful to open up the conversation even more.

I’m excited to share the launch of our newsletter, designed to bring fresh insights, big ideas, and future-focused thinking straight to your inbox.

Here’s what you can expect from every issue:

• TL;DR: The quick takeaway for when you’re short on time.
• Field Notes: Bite-sized takeaways from the work we’re doing or conversations we’re having. Things we hope will spark ideas for you, too.
• Things Worth Sharing: The jobs, resources, or insights we’ve found that are just too good not to pass along.

Our goal is to share insights and knowledge with curious minds. If you know someone who’d enjoy this, we’d love it if you’d pass it along.

And if you have thoughts or questions, just reply. We’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for being part of our journey. Your support means everything 🙏
​
Steph
​Founder

TL;DR: Big changes always start small.

The apps we use, the tech we rely on, and how we connect all began as whispers before they became the roar of change. Listen closely to the small signals in your space. They might just be the start of what reshapes your industry.

Field Notes

Have you ever noticed how the biggest shifts start as small, almost forgettable moments?

When I was at Google, my team ran a competitive market tracker across 25 countries. We started to notice apps like TikTok going from zero to explosive growth, quarter after quarter, in the KPIs that mattered most to the business. What started as a whisper quickly became a roar... and a global phenomenon.

Right now, some of those whispers are happening again. Here are some examples that could grow into massive shifts:

1. AI-powered ads are everywhere, but the best ones feel human​
   What it signals: Consumers are inundated with hyper-personalized, AI-driven ads, but the ones that truly stand out feel authentic and relatable. As our work with Vox and Digitas shows, breaking through the noise means delivering campaigns that connect on a human level, not just a data-driven one.
   ​
2. Gamification is sneaking into everything​
   What it signals: The line between entertainment and utility is disappearing. Fitness apps, learning platforms, even budgeting tools are turning into games to keep you hooked. Next up? Mental health tools designed to feel as fun as they are functional.
   ​
3. The new face of crypto solving real-world problems​
   What it signals: After the hype cycles of speculation, crypto is shifting focus to real-world use cases. From decentralized finance tools simplifying cross-border payments to blockchain technology enabling supply chain transparency, the conversation is moving from “get rich quick” to “get things done.”

The question isn’t if these changes will reshape the way we live and work, it’s when.

Things Worth Sharing

• Pinterest is hiring a Project & Program Manager I, Research Operation, US-Remote
• Nike is hiring a Senior, Survey Researcher, Beaverton, OR
• Bose is hiring a Senior Qualitative Consumer Researcher, Product Innovation, Framingham, MA
• Zillow is hiring a Senior Insights Strategist, Market Research, US-Remote

About Us

​Two Cents is a boutique research agency that partners with brands and digital platforms. We don't just gather data, we translate it into actionable insights that fuel winning go-to-market strategies and customer-centric products. Think of us as the bridge between what your customers need and what your business goals are.