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.

Michelle Manire

The hotel industry, closely associated with professional meeting planners, faces critical challenges due to supply chain issues and staffing shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic had a sudden and adverse impact on the hotel and event industry, causing many to switch careers or leave altogether. As a result, the industry is still reeling from the effects of this significant shift. To address the matter at hand, we have taken proactive steps. Read more>>

Ana Reisdorf

The biggest trend in our industry and maybe all industries, is the rise of AI. AI is increasingly being used for content personalization and SEO optimization in all sectors but provides unique challenges in health and wellness. AI allows for better targeting, personalization, and content relevance, which can drive engagement and sales for health professionals and marketers. In the future, it will also help providers provide more accurate and higher quality care in a shorter amount of time. Read more>>

Carlos Williams

In the world of marketing, personalization is like the holy grail right now. The reason is simple: humans crave individual attention. We’re not just data points or stats, but actual people with unique likes, dislikes, and experiences. At DBC, we live and breathe this philosophy. We gather data, tons of it, but the trick lies in using it responsibly to offer what I call ‘welcoming marketing.’ It’s marketing that makes you feel seen, but not watched. There’s a huge difference, and it’s a concern we take seriously. Read more>>

Ken Sparks

One of the biggest trends that I am seeing is an increase in Urban Farms and community garden spaces. People are fighting for food equity by learning how to grow their own food in various spaces. One misconception is that you need a lot of space to grow food, which is not true. There are ways to maximize your growing space and I have helped others start their gardening and farming journey. There has also been an increase in grants and opportunities for Urban Farmers over the past few years. Hopefully this will strengthen the opportunity for more farms and community garden spaces to flourish. Read more>>

Anna Carpenter

In today’s digital age, a significant trend in our industry is the shift in how the public consumes news and information. There is a notable change in people’s trust and preference for news and reports delivered through their handheld devices over traditional mainstream outlets such as radio, TV, or newspapers. Read more>>

Sarah Sweeney

The Innovation in Video Marketing and Social Media: The Future AI Holds for Video While many may think that AI has been the biggest breakthrough for video marketing- the reality is that the biggest breakthrough for video already happened in the last 15 years. Technology placed the ability to create cinematic quality content in the hands of the mainstream consumer through iPhones & mobile devices. This has helped to lower the barrier of entry into video. Nowadays, anyone with a smartphone can create a video and publish it to social media, reaching millions of people. Read more>>

Cameron McIntyre

Punch Gunk Pain Relief and Recovery is an emerging brand in the big and broad consumer healthcare space that focuses on developing products that embrace the benefits of science and nature. One of the biggest trends I believe will continue to grow, is clean and natural products that maximize the benefits of non-pharmaceutical options for common minor ailments. We are all familiar with extracts such as Arnica and Aloe and for many of us they have been a remedy of choice for years. There are so many more extracts and compounds that, when properly formulated, can provide relief for numerous symptoms. Read more>>

Jonathan Winbush

I’m a motion graphics artist working professionally in Hollywood since 2006. I’ve worked on major projects for IPs with Marvel, DC, Warner Bros, Netflix, and Hasbro to name a few. Recently I’ve been seeing a shift with motion graphics and Vfx artist alike using real-time technology to achieve their end results faster and more efficiently as in my case Unreal Engine 5. This past year I’ve been traveling the world as a co-headliner for the Design & Animation tour showcasing new workflows to artists in our field. Read more>>

Sara Requena

Tiny bikinis are more popular now than ever. With the rise of women-empowerment and the trend of self-love, now more than ever women are comfortable and confident showing off their bodies. Being Latina, I grew up around confident, empowered women that never thought twice before showing off their bodies to the world. My mother always encouraged me to be proud of my body and wear whatever I felt the most beautiful in. When I immigrated to the United States, I noticed modesty was applauded and “the norm” for swimwear. Wearing full coverage bikinis did not make me feel my most beautiful. I wanted swimwear that worked with my body and for my body – not against it. That was my eureka moment and the reason I created Tinye Swim. Read more>>

Nika Tabidze

Virtual production has emerged as one of the most significant trends in the filmmaking industry, offering both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. It’s a major shift in how films are made, allowing filmmakers like myself to create immersive worlds and scenes in real-time within a controlled virtual environment. It’s what we have started to call a “return to form.” The opportunities are pretty endless. It enables greater creative freedom, cost-efficiency, and the ability to take major weight off of the shoulders of post-production. Admittedly, there are challenges such as initial setup costs, the amount of technical knowledge required, and what I think may be the elephant in the room, an overreliance on technology. It helps that I work with a forward-thinking production and tech-house called RiTE Media, who are pushing the envelope by taking on these challenges. Read more>>

Jose Rodriguez

The biggest trend I’m seeing in my industry is that of sustainable packaging, customers are asking for more options that can replace their current single-use plastic solution with something more sustainable. I believe paper-based packaging is one of those options that can help make an impact in eliminating these issues in the foreseeable future. Read more>>

Siyu Wang

The Midjourney AI drawing software, created in 2022 under the leadership of David Holz, has taken the drawing world by storm since its introduction. It’s so powerful that just by entering commands via Discord, you can sift through the works that most closely resemble your vision in a short period of time. Almost at the same time, the young crowd around me panicked, and every week I hear questions like this in my art teacher’s office: Read more>>

Tom Kramer

The biggest change in television began with the rise of basic cable and internet. When I started in the industry 45 years ago, there were just a few networks. Today, there are thousands of networks or cable channels. This has been good for people to break into TV. But it also meant that the audience for any one show or network has gone done, reducing revenue, which reduces the show budgets. This means longer hours, less pay, shorter schedules and longer days. Shows used to employ a showrunner, several producers, directors, a team of writers, technicians, art department, costumer, production associates (runners) and many other positions. Read more>>