Today trendwatching.com released its list of the "8 trends to capitalize on in 2008." Based in Amsterdam, trendwatching.com watches consumers around the world and builds its forecasts on reports from 8,000+ spotters in 70 countries. Here are its 8 to watch in the coming year.
1. Status Spheres - "A variety of lifestyles, activities and persuasions, which can be mixed and matched by consumers looking for recognition from various crowds and scenes." Two examples: Online Sphere and Eco Sphere.
2. Premiumization of "everything and anything."
3. Snack Culture - This trend "embodies the phenomenon of products, services and experiences becoming more temporary and transient; products that are being deconstructed in easier to digest, easier to afford bits, making it possible to collect even more experiences…in an even shorter timeframe."
4. Online Oxygen- The company identifies this "connecting sphere" as a mega-trend. In 2008, the phone will introduce even more people to the online world.
5. Eco-Iconic "Eco-friendly goods and services sporting bold, iconic design and markers, that help their eco-conscious owners to visibly tout their eco-credentials to peers."
6. Brand Butlers- This trend embraces the idea of assisting your potential customers "in smart, relevant ways, making the most of your products and whatever it is your brand stands for."
7. MIY: Make It Yourself - The "participation sphere": digital creation - movies, blogs, music.
8. Crowd Mining - This is how the company sees "crowd-based business concepts evolving in 2008."
For complete explanations and examples of these trends visit www.trendwatching.com/briefing/. These trends may not apply to your business but it never hurts to look at consumers and the market in new ways.