One of the most important things we think the media can do is connect small business owners and creatives across industries and markets to give them an opportunity to learn form each other. The insights on trends in particular can be transformative if our communities were better connected and so we’ve tried to create a space where folks can share the trends they are seeing and read about trends other sharp entrepreneurs are seeing.

Aimee Williams

The biggest trend that I see within photography right now is the implementation of film photography in digital-based photography and videography businesses. I personally love the practice of film photography and I am really excited about its rise in popularity. I took a few film photography classes in college and fell in love with not only the beauty of antique film cameras but the process of shooting, developing, and printing. It’s relatively easy to edit a digital photo or video to look like it was shot on film, but it’s the age-old process that makes the meaning. Read more>>

Shari Fairclough

Artificial Intelligence has made its way into the group chat. It seems that we have finally reached a point where machines are capable of performing tasks ten times faster than us. AI is undoubtedly exciting and intriguing, but it can also be unpredictable and intimidating. Earlier this year, the AI art generator gained popularity, with many people creating an AI version of themselves. As an artist, I was apprehensive about the possibility of it replacing designers. The idea of AI producing art much quicker than I could was daunting. Read more>>

Amy L Bernstein

The book publishing industry is undergoing enormous changes, and the media is full of news about them, including the troubled proposed merger of two of the largest publishers in the world. For aspiring and even established authors, industry changes are affecting them in many ways. Chief among these are, in my view: 1. The explosive rise in self-publishing, owing to the cheap and free access to tools that enable anyone to literally publish a book without involving any gatekeepers. Amazon has helped to fuel distribution of self-published books via KDP, but there are many ways now to get one’s book out into the world with no outside help. Read more>>

Sally Grieshaber

The wedding industry is ever changing since the COVID-19 pandemic. We were already seeing an uptick in couples ditching the traditional big wedding & developing an intimate day that more accurately depicts their relationship. The term “elope” has been given a completely new definition in the past few years. More than ever, couples are traveling to destinations they love & spending the day out in nature with their closest family & friends (or even just the two of them). Couples are becoming more intentional about their wedding days, and I am completely here for it. Read more>>

Angeli Valentin

The biggest trends in Skin Care , that I work in all the time , which is Esthetics. I am a make up artist and I am a skin care specialist. So one of the bigger trends that I do see you coming up in industry is Everyone taking out their lip fillers , body filler and doing away with the crazy plastic surgery and opting for a more holistic approach to get those same affects. Nowadays people are into the permanent tattooing as far as cosmetic goes like permanent lip color, cheek color, micro, blading, ombre brows, Lash tint and lift and this list can go on . I personally think about these trends as a another way to expand and another way to beautify a person , which I love. Read more>>

Virginia Moore

Travel advisors are more important than ever in helping luxury travelers plan their trips. We can help with everything from finding the right accommodations and activities to booking flights and transportation. We also provide valuable advice on where to go, what to do, and how to stay safe. Some trends I want to call out specifically: – Personalized, tailor-made itineraries: Luxury travelers are looking for experiences that are tailored to their specific interests and needs. This means working with a travel advisor to create a custom itinerary that takes into account their budget, desired activities, and travel style. It’s really those bespoke experiences that differentiate what we do (ie: going into a families home in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and having traditional tea, along with a guide and translator). Read more>>

Kevin Thury

Social Media comes to mind. Why? Anyone savvy with marketing, can sell a dream to an eager set of eyes. Eyes that yearn for success, being your own boss and becoming rich! Hop on IG and you begin to scroll and flip through millions of accounts with a tap of the button. For newcomers, they rush out to buy whatever equipment they can afford, throw out a few Facebook or Google ads and expect to be an overnight success. Entrepreneurship anything. takes discipline and a resilient mindset. Just like there’s an ebb and flow to life, so too is there an ebb and flow to business. Read more>>

Philip Henn

In this current real estate market in Arizona we are currently seeing a much more balanced market. As home inventory increases in Maricopa County we are seeing opportunities for buyers to purchase a home that they could not two years ago. As Mortgage Interest Rates continue to rise (currently at 7.25%) along with national inflation a lot of buyers and sellers are sitting on the sidelines. I anticipate interest rates will not go down until the 2nd half of 2024. This leaves cash buyers with the best opportunities in years to buy and negotiate the best deal possible here in Arizona. Read more>>

Rusty Zylstra

Over the last several years I have seen many of the ‘Made In USA’ brands who started out alongside us choose to slowly move most or all of their manufacturing overseas, and to start using lower quality materials. Labor is cheaper overseas and brands are trying to help make up for the rising cost of raw materials, and the rising cost of labor in the US. We have chosen to stick to the path of ‘Made In USA’ because it matters to us. There are so many amazing textiles and materials manufactured here and we enjoy working with them and their quality. Read more>>

Amanda Vargus

20 years ago, 5% of people paid to get their lawn mowed. Today 40% do. What does this have to do with the personal styling industry? Well, nothing and everything at the same time. Today, we understand that time is our most valuable commodity. With that, we’ve seen examples of huge growth in service industries. Many of us employee a house cleaner to save us time from mundane tasks. But we’ve also seen the shift to outsourcing or bringing in professionals to help better our lives when we don’t have the expertise – such as a personal trainer or a business coach. Read more>>

Tyler Duplechin

I believe in the past, to be a “cinematographer” It meant that you had to make feature films or at the very least be a DP on a big set for a big client with a big budget. Nowadays, that couldn’t be further from the truth. With the access of amazing cameras (even iPhones), and the emergence of social media, the barrier to entry is a lot lower. With that being said, we are seeing an increase in content creators, influencers, YouTubers, etc all finding their path in photography or cinema in their own ways. Read more>>

Nikodem Blek

Everyone knows about Vinyl Wraps, they’re a cheap way to make your car the color you want it to be but the problem is that it’s “cheap” therefore it hardly lasts more than a year in California. I would never install that material because by the time I finished telling the customer what to expect they were completely turned off to the idea and I sold them on wrapping it with my paint protection film that comes with a 10 year warranty. Selling on quality has always been easier for me because of how I operate my business. Recently the market has been flooded with much higher quality color change paint protection film that also comes with a 10 year warranty. Read more>>

Quenton Thomas

One of the biggest trends I see in video production is a shift from traditional long-form video to more short-form straight-to-the-point video content. Traditionally, if you were a business and wanted to advertise your services, you would use legacy media like direct mail or the yellow pages. You would take the TV or radio advertising route if you had an excellent budget. However, times have changed. The most effective way to advertise your essential services is through social media—particle video content. Now businesses can reach thousands of people by posting one video, which has never been possible. We have gone from producing commercials for TV networks to TV and Social media campaigns. One polished video with the right message can be cut to fit several different platforms for different demographics of people. Read more>>

Danielle Pino

If you are planning a renovation in 2024 I’m seeing greater integration of smart appliances, voice control systems, and connected devices in kitchen renovations. Controlling your kitchen appliances with a simple voice command or managing your grocery list through a smart refrigerator is the future. The trend of clean lines, minimalist designs, and clutter-free spaces has gained significant popularity in recent years. This trend is expected to continue in 2024, with a strong focus on sleek and uncluttered kitchen designs. These designs will incorporate integrated storage solutions and concealed appliances. Read more>>

Victoria Geraci

Fashion trends are ever changing, adapting and occasionally repeating themselves. The piercing industry is surely no exception to that! One trend I’ve noticed increase drastically in popularity is the act of specifically customizing a setup to an individuals style, anatomy and ultimate jewelry end goals. This service is often referred to as curating. It’s become such a high demand service that we’ve added several varieties of it to our booking options! Personally, I’m thrilled with the opportunity to style my clients based off who they are, what they wear, hear about what they want to look like to feel their best and what’s brought them to this point. Read more>>