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Not Your Mother's is a popular, affordable hair care brand known for product lines like Curl Talk and Naturals. Widely available at Target, Walmart, and drugstores nationwide, the brand has built a loyal Gen Z following by celebrating every hair type and texture. Like many consumer brands today, they knew their audience — but they wanted to hear directly from them. Specifically, they wanted honest Gen Z brand perception and consumer feedback, fast.<hr>The Challenge: How Do You Get Authentic Gen Z Consumer Insights Quickly?Not Your Mother's goal was clear: understand how Gen Z consumers perceive and connect with the brand — without the weeks-long timelines and high costs of traditional market research.They needed a faster, smarter way to tap into Gen Z's mindset and get actionable brand feedback from real students.<hr>The Solution: A microGIG for Rapid Consumer ResearchNot Your Mother's turned to Home From College's newest product: the microGIG.A microGIG is a lightning-fast, targeted task that connects brands directly with verified Gen Z students for quick surveys, feedback, and research. Unlike a full GIG program, a microGIG launches in minutes and delivers real responses almost instantly — making it one of the fastest ways for consumer brands to collect authentic Gen Z insights.Not Your Mother's launched a survey microGIG through H\FC, asking Gen Z students to share their honest perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about the brand. No lengthy setup. No third-party panels. Just real students, real opinions, at the speed brands need today.<figure><img src="https://d3lrqzm3fer3ds.cloudfront.net/blog-media/150/1773165960366.png" alt="microgig-case-study-blog-posts" title="microgig-case-study-blog-posts"></figure><hr>The Outcomes: 50 Responses in 8 Minutes<ul><li>50 verified Gen Z survey respondents collected</li><li>Completed in just 8 minutes</li><li>Real-time Gen Z brand sentiment and consumer insights delivered same day</li></ul><hr>The Takeaway: Fast Gen Z Market Research Is HereThe Not Your Mother's microGIG proves that brands no longer need weeks of planning or a big research budget to understand what Gen Z thinks about them. With microGIGs on Home From College, consumer brands can run fast, authentic Gen Z research — and get the insights they need to move with confidence. Want to know what Gen Z really thinks about your brand? A microGIG gets you there in minutes.

Not Your Mother's used a microGIG on Home From College to collect real Gen Z brand feedback — in under 10 minutes.

How Not Your Mother's Got Insights from 50 Gen Z Consumers in 8 Minutes

College is more than just classes and exams—it’s the starting point for a student’s future career. That’s why Barnes &amp; Noble College and Home From College have teamed up to launch Campus to Career, a powerful new initiative designed to equip Gen Z students with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive after graduation.<hr><h2>A Shared Mission: Setting Students Up for Success</h2>Both Barnes &amp; Noble College and Home From College understand that today’s students need more than textbooks and study spaces—they need real-world guidance.Through the Campus to Career program, students will gain access to:<ul><li>Career-Building Resources – From resume-writing tips to interview prep guides, students will have the tools to confidently step into the job market. </li><li>Exclusive Workshops &amp; Events – Virtual and in-person events will connect students with industry professionals and career experts. </li><li>Campus-Specific Opportunities – Tailored programming that speaks directly to each school’s unique student body.</li></ul><hr><h2>Why Campus to Career Matters</h2>📊 The Numbers Speak for Themselves:<ul><li>Barnes &amp; Noble College: 6M+ students, 750+ campuses </li><li>Home From College: Representation at every U.S. college campus </li></ul>By combining forces, Campus to Career creates a seamless bridge between college life and the professional world, empowering students to dream big and take action.This initiative is especially impactful for first-generation students and those without access to strong professional networks, leveling the playing field and ensuring every student has a chance to succeed.<hr><h2>Student Testimonials</h2><ul><li>"I didn’t know where to start with my résumé, but the guide made it way less overwhelming. It helped me turn my school projects and part-time jobs into real résumé bullets." - Jenny Y, University of Alabama, Junior&nbsp;</li></ul><ul><li>"I don't know why they don't teach this stuff in school but I'm glad I found this resource before graduating." - Olivia J, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Senior</li></ul><ul><li>"Last semester I got accepted to my first internship and was able to find so many good resources to prep before my first day on the career hub!" - Avery C, The Ohio State University, Sophomore</li></ul><ul><li>"I was SO SCARED of networking in college because I didn't really know what to talk about since I don't have a lot of experience, luckily I found tips on the career hub!" - Thomas G, Bucknell University, Freshman</li></ul><ul><li>"Honestly wish I had found this my freshman year but better late than never! I love all the creative ways to get experience as a college student." - Nicole A, University of Maryland College Park, Junior</li></ul><ul><li>"Great resource for college students! Big fan of the GIG recommendations, just landed my first opportunity last week!" - Jake S, DePaul University, Sophomore</li></ul><hr><h2>Introducing the Career Readiness Journal: A New Student Resource</h2>As part of the Campus to Career initiative, Home From College has partnered with No Particular Order, a mission-driven creative studio, to design and launch the Career Readiness Journal—a first-of-its-kind resource for students navigating their transition from college to career.Available exclusively in Barnes &amp; Noble College bookstores nationwide, the journal serves as both a practical guide and an interactive workbook, offering:<ul><li>Goal-Setting Tools to help students define their career ambitions </li><li>Resume &amp; Cover Letter Planning Pages for job application prep </li><li>Interview Practice Exercises to build confidence and communication skills </li><li>Networking &amp; Relationship Mapping Tools to expand professional connections </li><li>Weekly Reflection Prompts to track progress and personal growth </li></ul>This journal is designed to meet students where they are, whether they’re just starting to explore career paths or actively preparing for internships and job interviews. By making it accessible in campus bookstores, students can easily integrate it into their academic and career development journey.<figure><img src="https://d3lrqzm3fer3ds.cloudfront.net/blog-media/141/1757717817617.jpeg" alt="Book Tour" title="Book Tour"></figure><hr><h2>Looking Ahead: A Future-Ready Student Community</h2>Campus to Career is just the beginning. Over the coming months, students will see new content, resources, and events designed to make career development accessible and exciting.From learning how to ace an internship interview, to discovering networking strategies for landing that first job, Barnes &amp; Noble College and Home From College are dedicated to helping every student turn their goals into reality.<hr><h2>Join the Campus to Career Movement</h2>Check out the Campus to Career landing page <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://homefromcollege.com/brand/barnes-noble-college">HERE</a>.Together, Barnes &amp; Noble College and Home From College are creating the ultimate nationwide career ecosystem—a place where students don’t just imagine their futures, they build them.

Campus to Career is a nationwide initiative offering students resources, events, and tools to build their future careers.

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Barnes & Noble College x Home From College Unite to Empower Students’ Career Journeys

Extra is a next-generation email app built to make your inbox something you actually want to open. Currently in beta, Extra uses AI to organize, summarize, and surface what matters most — turning a daily chore into a genuinely delightful experience. With a new feature on deck and a launch window approaching, the team needed something most early-stage products can't easily get: honest feedback from real users, fast.<hr>The Goal: Pressure-Test a New Feature Before It Goes LiveExtra wasn't looking for a rubber stamp. Before rolling out a new feature to their broader beta audience, they wanted to put it in front of real users who would engage with it critically: people who'd notice what worked, flag what didn't, and give them something actionable to work with.The goal wasn't just volume. It was quality signal from the right audience, delivered quickly enough to actually inform the rollout.<hr>The Approach: A microGIG for Pre-Launch Product TestingExtra launched a microGIG through Home From College, connecting directly with verified Gen Z students on the platform. Students were given access to the feature, asked to put it through its paces, and invited to share their genuine, unfiltered impressions of the experience.No recruited test panels. No curated focus groups where everyone's on their best behavior. Just real users who live in their inboxes interacting with the product and telling Extra exactly what they thought: the good, the confusing, and the "why does this work like that?"<figure><img src="https://d3lrqzm3fer3ds.cloudfront.net/blog-media/156/1773360153236.png" alt="microgig-case-study-blog-posts-(10)" title="microgig-case-study-blog-posts-(10)"></figure><hr>The Outcomes: 100 Testers and Full Feedback in 23 Hours<ul><li>100 verified Gen Z product testers recruited and completed</li><li>Honest, actionable feature feedback collected from every participant</li><li>Full results delivered within 23 hours of microGIG launch</li><li>A built-in pool of early adopters ready to keep engaging as the product grows</li></ul><hr>The Takeaway: Ship With Confidence, Not Just SpeedExtra's microGIG proves that moving fast doesn't have to mean skipping the part where you actually talk to your users. With a microGIG, product teams can get a real feature in front of 100 Gen Z users, and have their feedback in hand, before most research tools have even finished onboarding you.Ready to know what Gen Z thinks of your product before you ship it? A microGIG gets you there.

See how Extra used a microGIG on Home From College to stress-test a new feature with real Gen Z users and collect the feedback they needed before rolling it out.

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How Extra Got 100 Product Testers and Real Feature Feedback in 23 Hours With a microGIG

Fanbravo is a fan engagement app that connects athletes and creators with their biggest supporters, giving fans a direct line to the people they love most. With a fresh app ready to launch, Fanbravo needed real users, fast — and not just any users. They needed Gen Z early adopters who would download, engage, and tell them exactly what they thought.<hr>The Goal: Drive App Downloads and Collect Real User Feedback SimultaneouslyFanbravo's goal was twofold: get the app into as many hands as possible right out of the gate, and gather honest, actionable feedback from first-time users to inform their next round of improvements.They didn't want vanity installs. They wanted engaged users who would actually explore the app and share what they experienced.<hr>The Approach: A microGIG for App Launch ActivationFanbravo launched a microGIG through Home From College — deploying a fast, targeted task to verified Gen Z students on the platform. Students were asked to download the app, explore it firsthand, and submit genuine feedback on their experience.No bot installs. No incentivized click farms. Just real Gen Z users engaging with the product and sharing their unfiltered thoughts in their own words.<figure><img src="https://d3lrqzm3fer3ds.cloudfront.net/blog-media/155/1773358519362.png" alt="microgig-case-study-blog-posts-(9)" title="microgig-case-study-blog-posts-(9)"></figure><hr>The Outcomes: 100 Downloads and Feedback in 24 Hours<ul><li>100 verified app downloads completed</li><li>Real user feedback collected from Gen Z first-time users</li><li>Actionable insights delivered within 24 hours of launch</li><li>A built-in early adopter community ready to engage further</li></ul><hr>The Takeaway: Launch Smarter, Not LouderFanbravo's microGIG proves that the best app launches aren't about noise — they're about getting the right people in the door fast and learning from them immediately. With a microGIG, apps can generate real downloads and real feedback in the same motion, cutting weeks off the traditional beta testing timeline.Ready to launch your app to an engaged Gen Z audience? A microGIG gets you there.

See how Fanbravo used a microGIG on Home From College to drive immediate app installs and collect authentic Gen Z feedback — all within a single day.

How Not Your Mother's Got Insights from 50 Gen Z Consumers in 8 Minutes

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Barnes & Noble College x Home From College Unite to Empower Students’ Career Journeys