2014 Trends
by Linda Rink, President of Rink Consulting
It's time to check out trends for 2014! Here are some particularly interesting predictions from the experts.
CONSUMER TRENDS
Trendwatching is my favorite source for on-target, sometimes unique takes on our "Zeitgeist". Here are two of their 2014 trends:
Crowd Shaped "Connected consumers are creating vast profiles and data trails that relate to everything from their music preferences to their daily movements...CROWDSHAPING [means] new products and services shaped by the aggregated preferences or behavior of (small and big) groups of consumers, as expressed via their data."
Mychiatry "Consumers will increasingly see their smartphones as devices for total lifestyle assistance. Improving techniques for self-treatment, developments in stress-detecting technologies and near-total smartphone penetration in many markets, means consumers will lap up innovations that help track and improve mental wellbeing too."
BUSINESS & MARKETING TRENDS
Ian Altman, blogging for Huffington Post, includes these two trends in "Key Trends in Sales and Business Development for 2014": http://tinyurl.com/ot4zppn
Content Becomes Emperor
"Last year, people said: 'Content is king.' In 2014, content will continue to be the core to building value and getting heard above the noise... It used to be that companies feared sharing their best stuff on their websites. As more initial investigations for solutions move to search engines, your ability to stand out from the crowd comes down to whether or not you are addressing the most important questions for your ideal customer."
Honesty Prevails
"With so much hype and old-school tactics, buyers will reward sellers who identify their own limitations. Claiming you are an expert at everything will be hard to believe when the buyer can search to discover the truth. Humility and candor will be sought after skills in 2014."
TECH TRENDS
Three current tech trends:
3-D Printing 3-D printing, very useful for sales presentations and prototypes, will become affordable for even small businesses. Bennett J. Loudon of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle writes: "The 3-D printing craze that burst onto the scene last year is continuing to establish itself as a reliable technology for prototyping and small-scale production." http://tinyurl.com/l4lpll3
Jamie Carter, writing for Techradar.com, adds two more tech trends of note:
http://tinyurl.com/kmqypd9
Tablets Will Get Bigger
"The iPad mini was just a phase. The 12-inch Samsung Galaxy Note has already had its details leaked and could make an appearance at CES 2014 or soon after...Tablets will also get bigger in reputation as they spread beyond our homes and offices to... everywhere."
Movement Data
"'Wearable technology, particularly health-related devices, have finally become affordable, accurate and accessible...,' says Norm Johnston, Chief Digital Officer for global media network Mindshare Worldwide. 'Brands will truly begin to explore their role in this new space, whether by co-developing new products and applications, or inserting relevant advertising into the experiences.'"
FOOD TRENDS
Kate Taylor bids farewell to the ubiquitous cupcake in Entrepreneur's "R.I.P. Cupcakes: The 6 Most Exciting Food Trends for 2014." "Once upon a time, cupcakes ruled the trendy food market. So, what should restaurants be whipping up for dessert in 2014?" The answer, from the San Francisco-based hospitality consulting firm Andrew Freeman & Co., is ice cream sandwiches. Yum!!
http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow2/
29839#1
And my final trend, from the world of fashion and d�cor, is:
2014 Color of the Year: RADIANT ORCHID
PANTONE� 18-3224 "Radiant Orchid" is color of the Year for 2014. "An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality... An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health... Radiant Orchid beckons with tropical breezes, exotic flowers, and a new refreshment for the eyes."
www.pantone.com
Looking out my office window at snow, ice and freezing temps, "tropical breezes" and "exotic flowers" would truly be refreshment for my eyes!
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