HOW TREND REPORTS CAN ESTABLISH THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & GENERATE MEDIA COVERAGE

Recently, Zapwater worked with our client, Ace Hardware, to formally announce Clark+Kensington’s 2026 Color of the Year - Hazelnut Crunch. The exciting announcement was the perfect chance to go beyond just sharing a trend but also placed Ace Hardware at the center of timely conversations. Exclusively available at Ace Hardware stores nationwide and online at The Paint Studio, the unveiling was more than just a color reveal, it was an opportunity to shape the narrative and place Ace Hardware at the center of timely, design-driven conversations.

For our team, this moment wasn’t about simply amplifying the color shade. It was about leveraging the cultural power of trends to elevate Ace Hardware’s visibility and solidify Clark+Kensington’s role as a leader in the paint and design categories.

Above all, our media relations efforts were designed to set the brand apart and continue positioning Ace Hardware as a thought leader at the intersection of paint, retail, and design.

To achieve this, we focused on three core goals:

• Driving cultural relevance
  By tying Hazelnut Crunch to movements like biophilic design and cozy minimalism, we showcased Ace Hardware and Clark+Kensington’s agility in responding to consumer lifestyle shifts. This ensured the announcement resonated with both DIYers and design professionals.

• Delivering thoughtful storytelling
  Instead of pushing a product, we framed the announcement as part of a broader narrative around trend-driven living. Our pitches emphasized how Clark+Kensington helps homeowners translate cultural signals into fresh, livable design.

• Elevating brand equity
  By connecting Clark+Kensington’s product innovations to design insights and cultural conversations, we positioned Ace Hardware as more than a retailer—it became a resource, authority, and voice of leadership in the space.

The strategy paid off. Within days of distribution, the proactive outreach in collaboration with the Ace Hardware team secured top-tier coverage across the outlets to reach consumers:

• Better Homes & Gardens and The Spruce spotlighted Hazelnut Crunch in their 2026 trend roundups, cementing Clark+Kensington’s role in the national design dialogue.

• Veranda positioned the brand alongside high-end tastemakers and influencers in the design world, elevating its relevance to aspirational audiences.

• HGTV featuring Ace Hardware’s selection in a round-up of top colors of the year.

• Family Handyman doing a dedicated feature about the Ace Hardware announcement.

This campaign reinforced an important truth: trend reports are more than seasonal insights; they are powerful PR tools. When leveraged strategically, they allow brands to:

• Anchor themselves in timely, culturally relevant conversations.

• Provide editors with storylines that align with predictable content cycles.

• Strengthen brand equity by connecting products to consumer lifestyle shifts.

By pairing data-driven forecasts with smart storytelling, we turned a single-color launch into a powerful media moment that continues to shape the narrative around Ace Hardware and Clark+Kensington.

At Zapwater, our mission is always to put clients at the center of the conversation. Trend reports, whether tied to color, consumer insights, or seasonal shifts, are incredible platforms to showcase collections, launches, and event programming in ways that feel timely and resonant.

How is your brand embracing and driving trends? Reach out to see how we can help position your company as a thought leader and ensure your next big moment makes headlines.