Category: Trends (Page 2 of 2)

How to Predict Product Trends Before They Happen

March 4, 2013 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

Want to know how to predict product trends before they happen?

In December, Pantone chose Emerald Green to be its color of the year. Do you think it had anything to do with the fact that the movie, Oz, the Great and Powerful was coming out in spring, in which Emerald Green plays a large part in the story? Just how much does pop culture influence trends in fashion and other types of product categories, such as Home, Wedding, Kids and Lifestyle.

Movies Influence Product Trends

When the Great Gatsby movie was scheduled to come out last fall (it has been delayed to this spring), the 1920s vintage trend starting showing up in early 2012. That was also helped along by the movie The Artist, another 1920s period film, which won the Academy award for best film in 2012 and television shows like Downtown Abbey.

If you were wondering why baroque styles came back into fashion two years ago and has stayed, you just had to look at the movies Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), Anna Karenina (2012), Mirror Mirror (2012), Lincoln (2012) Jane Eyre (2011) and Alice in Wonderland (2010) to see the influence.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is obviously focused on Smaug the dragon and the new, very popular trailer for Game of Thrones also features a dragon. So does this mean that dragons will be one of the creatures of choice in 2013/2014?

What about human-type monsters? Remember how popular vampires have been the last few years? Well that looks to be overtaken by zombies, thanks to movies like ParaNorman, the upcoming movie, World War Z and the popular TV show, The Walking Dead.

Books Influence Product Trends

Books are an influence as well. Studs and spikes are showing up in both fashion, jewelry and home decor, citing a definite 50 Shades of Grey influence.

So if you want to get in on a trend before it starts, keep an eye on the things in pop culture that influence us – movies, books, television, music, world events, technology, and see what commonality you can find.

FINAL WORD: While product trends don’t have a long shelf life, they do help to get you publicity (because editors only want to write about what everyone is talking about) and publicity gets people into your shop to check out what else you offer.

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Quirky Products That Sell

February 14, 2013 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

quirky products that sell I love quirky products, and they sell. To me they show innovation and creativity and are so inspiring in terms of product ideas. Plus, as I’ve said many times, quirky products always sell and always get publicity!

Quirky Product: Word Search Dish

Word Search Crystal Dish by Kate Spade New York

I love this crystal dish by Kate Spade. There are also matching mugs with crossword patterns as well. It is fun, colorful and conversational, which is perfect when you are using a dish like this to serve to guests.

Quirky Product: BFF Pendant Set

Zelda and Becky Play Telephone from Flapper Doodle

Just when you thought there were no more ways to do a BFF necklace (Best Friends Forever), Flapper Doodle comes out with this adorable pendant set. What I love about this is the originality. No heart divided in two that has to fit together or one pendant says “Best” and the other says “Friend”. Instead they really did something fresh and eye catching.

Quirky Product: Skeleton Shirt

Quirky Products That Sell

What I like about this Skeleton shirt from Romwe, is that it is definitely not something you would normally see on a traditional white shirt. Now, it is made to be street fashion, but you could probably get away with wearing it to work on Halloween.

Quirky Product: Office Chair Cell Phone Holders

Office Chair Cell Phone Holders from the Lakeside Collection

Cell phones have created quite the cottage industry, and unusual holders have been one of the most popular products to result. This set of 3 office chair holders from the Lakeside Collection is pretty whimsical if your daughter doesn’t steal them for her Barbies.

Quirky Product: Cat iPhone Case

Grey Wool iPhone Case from TokyoInspired on Etsy

There are so many creative iPhone cases out there, but you have to love this one from TokyoInspired on Etsy, especially for the cat lady in your life. Really creative design by incorporating the zipper as the mouth and using wool fabric. Love it!

New Product Ideas for Artists and Photographers

February 5, 2013 / Gail Oliver, Online Small Business Consultant

product ideas artists photographers Want some product ideas for artists and photographers?

Art and photography can be a tough sell these days. Thanks to the online marketplace, it is becoming even more saturated and as a result, prices have dropped. It is a wonder that artists can make any money any more.

But that is when you have to get creative! Just like any product that is in a saturated market, you need to find new ways to repurpose your art for different markets in a manner you don’t feel hurts your artistic integrity.

Everyone has gone in an art museum gift shop and seen Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, among others, repurposed onto umbrellas, note cards, coasters, you name it. Now, I have found a few other unique ways art and photography have been “repurposed” that may inspire the artists out there.

Add Art to Textiles

There are so many opportunities to add your original art and photography designs to various types of textiles for resale, from dish towels and duvets to shower curtains and pillows. Just look around you to see the opportunities.

Add Art to Everyday Items

The water bottle market is a hot one, with people paying big dollars for decorative bottles. So why not put your own art or photography on water bottles, tumblers, coasters, and coffee mugs. It also serves as a great way to promote your business as a promotional items.

Add Some Class to Your Cell Phone

Again, your art is ideal for a cell phone cover, not to mention a laptop case, even tech backgrounds and digital calendars. The possibilities are endless!

Wear Your Art

So many art designs and fine art photography are being used in fashion, such as the boots below, t-shirts, skirts, headbands, hats, beach coverups, even flip-flops.