My Take on "Watching Trends"

For my blog critique, I chose to examine a blog on trendwatching.com entitled, “Half a Dozen Consumer Trends for 2009.” I was initially drawn to this blog because I enjoy watching consumer trends and I wanted to see what this blog had to say about the current trends in the marketplace. Some seem pretty straight forward and others seem to be more obscure, but they were all trends none the less.

The first trend the author mentions is “Nichetributes,” which are additions to existing products that make them more appealing to certain niche groups. These refer mainly to practical adaptations to existing products to make them more in sync with the changing marketplace. One example given is a new pair of gloves that have metal tips on the fingers that you can use with your iPhone or any other touch screen device in cold weather. While I agree with the author that these adaptations are necessary, nifty, and very common these days, I hardly think it is a trend. I think that these innovations are happening constantly and have throughout history. Successful new product innovations are what drive entrepreneurs to keep thinking and designing, and although this is notable today, I hardly think it is just a trend in 2009 that will fade away. I feel confidant that as the market evolves and more and more products are introduced, revolutionary complimentary products will continue to be introduced.

Another trend mentioned in this blog is the trend of “Econcierges,” or firms and services that consult households to help them “go green.” The trend of going green seems to be especially strong right now but the reasoning seems to be hardly environmental. The recent economy crisis has caused households and businesses to cut back in many areas, and saving energy, water, and reusing goods all seem to be in line with this goal. I agree with the author that these new green consulting services are definitely a new trend. I also believe that the sudden rise in consumer awareness of their consumption is more a product of their desire to save money and less a product of their desire to protect the planet.

The final trend mentioned in the Trend Watching blog is one called “Happy Ending” and talks about “the silver lining of each downturn.” The blog goes on to discuss how 2009 is the time to show customers that your company really does care. As consumers get back to basics and try to discover what really matters to them, several opportunities arise for innovation and creativity. The author gives some advice how to apply this trend. I think the advice he gives is really valid because although the recession is causing some major changes in the workforce and the marketplace, there is definitely opportunity to be found. The author suggests shaping your company’s vision, looking for new business concepts for the masses or for a particular segment, and also focusing on the customers that are already living a trend. All these things can allow for a “silver lining” in the current downturn and I am excited to see what new innovations come out of 2009!

I enjoyed reading this blog and thinking about all the trends mentioned. There were definitely a few trends that I had noticed myself and some that were completely unfamiliar to me. Trend watching is a fascinating yet difficult and unpredictable area of study. Some trends are predicted and some are completely random. I thought it was interesting to see what the author of this blog had picked up on.