So it’s 2011 and you’re thinking to yourself, what are this year’s ‘Big Consumer Trends’ you need to be aware of?
Well you’ll be happy to know that
trendwatching.com, (a London based Consultancy firm) used its networks to provide some good insights into what’s ahead.
Not surprisingly, Social Networking will continue to shape our activities/directions. Further we can expect more Group Buying and GPS driven deals, and we are taken by ‘status symbols’ (i.e. purchasing luxury goods) which will [apparently] define who we are, because we all want to be perceived as special!
We will become commentators [advisors] and therefore offer comment and/or share or recommend content, products, purchases and experiences to not only friends, but the broader community. Suffice to say in 2011, we’ll all become critics!
Interestingly, it is predicted that we will abandon the idea of buying/ownership and so we’ll embrace the idea of what’s called ‘owner-lessness’ and so be more inclined to rent and share products and services instead. The reason being is that it’s better for the wallet and the environment.
From an economic perspective, the market research firm “Mintel’ identified changes to consumer spend relative to the Global Financial Crisis… consumers seem uneasy about the recovery and so are expected to spend less and save more, which of course is bad news for the Retailers!
Retailers of course are planning ways to combat this and will (for example) offer advice and demonstrations rather than just being a place to part with money. Marketing towards women will increase especially in the areas of automobiles and sports and there will be more focus placed on health, beauty, vitality energy and longevity in the marketing of food and drink.
In the workplace we are more likely to see greater opportunity for Companies to invest in their employees through company sponsored learning & education programs…rather than through salary and benefits.
Whilst the above is a prediction of what’s to come, it seems that some companies are already moving in this direction, which means the trends are now taking shape, so watch this space!!!
