Trendwatching.com presents the latest trends that are shaping our actions and future. While examples vary, the concepts can be incorporated into what newspapers offer on their pages and online or they can be translated into new initiatives. Presented are seven powerful trends – look for seven more next week.
STATUS = SKILLS
One of the new status symbols is acquired skills. Seattle’s Sorrento Hotel leverages this by offering a Drinking Lesson series at the hotel's bar. Leading bartenders and drink historians highlight the preparation and history of distinct cocktails. This, along with other unique initiatives, has increased food & beverages sales at the hotel by 25%.
GENEROSITY
There seems to be growing interest in generosity (almost an anti-greed sentiment) in both society and business. A noteworthy example sources to the UK where Givemetap.co.uk offers cafe locations where consumers refill their water bottles for free. To participate, consumers buy a GiveMeTap branded bottle and 70% of profits fund much-needed water projects.
LOCAL
While there is a whole world out there, local is where most people live and work. Location-based services are a timely example of this trend in action with key ones being: Foursquare.com, Gowalla.com or Twitter Places (i.e. social networking where users 'check-in' providing their location); Loopt Mix (i.e. users find and chat to people nearby); and Google’s Latitude or Where the Flock, an iPhone app (i.e. used see the approximate location of friends).
CURATED COMSUMPTION
With too much choice, editors are relied upon to pre-select and recommend what to buy, what to experience, what to wear, what to read, what to drink and so on. An example of this is magalogues (combinations of shopping catalogues and magazines) like Luckyor DailyCandy.com.
DAILY LUBRICANTS
These are products or services that make our busy lives easier. Belgian’s OrgaSizer.com provides a place to check the sizes, preferences and wish-lists of friends and family. The idea is that shoppers, hoping to purchase a gift, can then check the site to see what the recipient wants.
PERSONALIZE
Made for me … consumers want customized and personalized goods and services. Facebook’s Bookoffame and TweetNotebook allow consumers to create a personalized notebook with posts from their online content. Japan’s otetetoanyo.com offers original stamps of babies' hand and foot prints.
INFOLUST
Consumers demand relevant and timely information.Stickybits.com has an app that allows users to attach digital content to any barcode.The barcode can be attached to anything. When someone else scans the barcode they can see what was attached to it along with who else has scanned it.
CROWD-EXPRESS
Crow
