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.

Stephanie Kokolis

In the world of decor and design, one of the biggest trends I’ve noticed is the growing desire for meaningful, curated spaces that tell a story—a trend that perfectly aligns with Classically Adorned. People are moving away from the fast-paced, disposable nature of mass-produced items, and instead they are aiming towards making a more thoughtful, environmentally conscious choice, seeking out unique, original art, vintage, and antique pieces that carry a sense of history and personal significance. Read more>>

Brittany Alsup

One of the biggest trends I have been seeing in the beauty industry is an emphasis on natural beauty! A natural brow enhanced by a Brow Lamination, with a lash lift “no mascara” look, plus a bold lip is taking over Fall 2024! I love that I provide services that are individually tailored to each client’s wants/needs but also can compliment the upcoming trends! My services are low maintenance, last 6-8 weeks and are suitable for everyone. Read more>>

Alex Akleh

The ever-evolving trend is TikTok and Instagram Reels. My own artists have had a lot of viral moments using these tools—whether it’s ACRAZE with the “Do It To It” moment, Rated R showcasing his new music through golf cart videos, or Wakyin testing out tracks with show clips. The variety of ideas is endless. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but the key is to be innovative. That’s who succeeds. What ruins it is when people see a viral video and try to recreate it. Then more people start doing the same thing, and eventually, it just becomes corny. You get noticed for being authentic, not by following trends. Read more>>

Torie Nienhaus

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift from commission-based salons to booth rentals. I have tried really hard to evolve with these trends by continuously investing in staff education, trying to stay present on social media, which takes a lot of work! And most importantly prioritizing the happiness of our stylists. I want to change the perception of commission salons by having a collaborative environment where stylists are both heard and empowered. Over the past 12 years, part of my success I think comes from trying make a team culture where independence is encouraged, as long as the high standards we’ve established are upheld. Read more>>

Dorthy Huddleston

One of the biggest trends I’m seeing in the textile industry is the increasing demand for sustainability and eco-conscious production. Customers today are more informed than ever and expect transparency when it comes to how their fabrics are sourced and produced. There’s a noticeable shift towards slow fashion, where consumers want to invest in high-quality, durable textiles that are ethically made, rather than fast fashion items that contribute to environmental degradation. Read more>>

Jacqueline Huang

One of the most exciting trends we’re seeing in motion graphics, graphic design, and visual design right now is the rise of immersive and interactive experiences, particularly through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). What used to be experimental and niche has now become almost an expectation for many digital experiences, whether we’re talking about advertising, product launches, or social media. Read more>>

Karla Lewis

I have been a working artist since high school with the majority of my commissions being pet portraits. I have also freelanced as a bartender and have been a wedding vendor for almost as long as I have painted. Several years ago I started seeing TikTok videos of artist painting live at weddings and other events. It was a no-brainer! I put it out on social media that I was getting started and I was able to book 3 weddings off my first post. I am now 4 years in and am loving how artists are becoming a major part of this industry. The Bride and Groom not only get to have a beautiful painting to display of their wedding day but it adds an element of entertainment for the guest to enjoy. Read more>>

Cody Thomas

Well, as with any stage in human history, it’s safe to say within the linear media world that “times are changing.” It’s being felt across just about every facet of the industry…especially in television news. Gone are the days of working-class people who turn on the TV mid-day to find out the weather, or have the morning news playing in the background so they don’t miss the morning rush traffic report. That information is readily available in the palms of our hands with smartphones. It’s almost as if things like that are TOO convenient, but we as consumers eat it up. Also, the average viewer sees the major networks as too polarizing these days. It’s almost as if they’re being forced onto a team when all they wanted was to take in some information and go on about their lives. Read more>>

Tania Arguelles

Right now, in the world of eyelash extensions and the beauty industry in general, the natural look is trending. Many people are opting for extensions that aren’t too dark or dramatic, but more subtle, just to lift their gaze. The same thing is happening with skincare. Read more>>

Elizabeth Supley

My favorite recent fitness trend is working out for healthy aging – strong bones, mobility, independence, managed stress. Even my youngest clients frequently have their future selves in mind, which is such a welcome addition to working out just for aesthetics. I have had several clients pick up their first dumbbell with me over the age of 80, which is such an inspiration to everyone at my studio! With functional training tools like TRX and the BOSU, we are able to train to improve balance, strength, and coordination all at once. Week by week, we work to go up the weight rack on squats, rows, chest press, and core strength, no matter the starting fitness level. Unless someone has a medical contraindication, there’s no reason not to start where you are and get moving, and these ladies are living proof that it’s never “too late” to feel fit, capable, and powerful. I wish I had thought like they did in my 20’s and wasted fewer training seasons working on a beach body and hopping on other short-term trends that were ultimately so discouraging; the real end goal is life-long health and vitality. Read more>>

Raphael Jones

Virality! People are placing going viral over producing great content. If you look at where we are at in this day and age, we get a lot of information from social media. Social media has it’s own set of rules dictating what is shown to followers an non-followers alike. It is always a rush to have breaking news, but that is not what keeps you relevant long term. You end up chasing the next moment that may never come because many people out there like to put people, places, and things in “boxes.” Case in point, many people have their favorite Youtuber, actor/actress, radio personality etc.; but if they were to do something out of “character” to get a viral moment they risk alienating their consumer base. Read more>>

Caroline Mattioli

Behavioral issues in our pet dogs are sky-rocketing. This is mainly because the latest trends are steering people to treat their dogs as if they were 100% human. Anthropomorphism is sometimes helpful, and many times it is not. Our dogs deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, but treating them and their issues as if they were human is anything but respectful and kind. Here is a client story for example: Their Corgi hated being hugged. He just didn’t like the feeling of being smashed into someone’s chest. Despite warning signs, they truly believed “but all dogs like to be hugged” and “it shows him we love him”. Hugging is not in the canine world. It’s a human behavior. Plus, not all humans like to be hugged either. To this dog, hugging does not equate to love. Read more>>

Anne Mason

One of the biggest trends to take the design world by storm has been the DIY movement, inspired by HGTV, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. To be honest, I actually went into interior design because of this influence! Though when I entered graduate school, I quickly realized that there was way more to the profession than what I had been seeing on social media. A majority of designers only show projects when they’re finalized and it’s rare to see into the real life of specifying, engineering, and constructing of spaces. This behind the scenes work is what truly differentiates the amateurs from the licensed professionals. Read more>>

Brian Reynolds

One of the biggest trends in the personal care industry is the growing demand for clean beauty and sustainable products, especially among younger consumers. Preteens and teenagers are becoming more aware of the ingredients in the products they use, prioritizing brands that offer natural, eco-friendly options. However, there are still relatively few brands specifically focused on the unique skincare needs of this age group, which presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Read more>>

Christine Sheller

I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about the transformation in my industry, user experience research and design. AI integration is reshaping how we approach our work and what we’ll be doing in the future. As a design leader, I’ve been assessing various AI products with my team and implementing those that help to streamline our UX processes. In the last few months, I’ve been attending a lot of conferences and events where other industry leaders are also discussing the profound impact of AI on user experience. Their insights, as well as my own experiences, raise questions about the future of our profession. And I feel both excited about the potential and wary of what it could mean for design practitioners. Read more>>

Ron Wasserman

A.I. it’s probably one of the major things that will change part of the music business in the near future. Mostly in the creation of songs, not scoring, doing the background music to picture, for a movie, TV etc. Additionally, there are so many people with bedroom studios now. This is created a tremendous amount of competition on people entering the business. I think it would be more difficult for a young person to get into my business now then it was 20 years ago. Read more>>