Our community is fortunate to have so many brilliant, insightful entrepreneurs and creatives and so many of them have front row, ground level seats that allow them to see emerging trends before the so-called experts, industry leaders, etc. We wanted to create a space to connect members of our community where they could share these insights on trends and opportunities they are seeing.
Noor Faour
As a fashion photographer who graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design, I’ve witnessed several intriguing trends in the industry that have significantly shaped the way we perceive and create visual narratives. One notable trend that has caught my attention is the increasing focus on diversity and the breaking of cultural boundaries in the world of fashion. Read more>>
SARAH HOLZER VAZQUEZ
When speaking with wedding planners, I am constantly hearing that the couple has chosen a family member or friend to perform their ceremony. The thought of getting ordained just to do a friend’s wedding seems like a great and personal idea. However, there is more to do than just recite a “speech.” The proper attire, coordinating the ceremony with the DJ, being heard, being professional, and then there is the paperwork. Marriage is a legal procedure and one of the most important days in a couple’s life. Do not discount the importance of being a professional marriage Officiant. A guest should be considered a guest, one that can freely enjoy the day and one who you do not have to worry if they have had too much to drink or embarrass the couple at the altar. Read more>>
Seleny Xie
Working in the entertainment industry specializing in interactive media and game development, I can see the growing trend in merging diverse media platforms to push the boundary of storytelling. Virtual production is a good example of using game engines to generate content and toolsets that can be used in film production. Currently, my focus involves adapting VR games from major movie IPs. This not only streamlines content creation but also unlocks novel avenues for immersive storytelling. Read more>>
Sharon Nassir
The wealth management industry has evolved significantly since I began my career 30 years ago. The internet, online trading and self-directed investment accounts have given investors more options and control over their finances. The role of the financial advisor has also evolved from stockbrokers who provided individual investment recommendations to now serving as financial advisors provide comprehensive planning. Acting as a Fiduciary is the biggest trend I see today. Read more>>
Heather Cie
As a salon owner, one of the most significant trends we’re seeing now is hair color and styles inspired by celebrities and social media influencers. I consult with a lot of clients who show me images of “trendy looks”, everything from extreme extensions, to radical color changes. Pictures and screen grabs can be really helpful but at the same time can be challenging when I know that this look might not serve my client long term. I have to be careful about taking direction from a client when I know a certain color won’t complement their skin tone or face shape. Read more>>
Rusty Lewter
During 2020 when the hospitality industry was limited; I utilized the opportunity to provide an at home cocktail catering experience. This allowed my customers to host a gathering in the comfort of their own home with first class service. As the industry continues to climb back, we have found that people still lean towards our quality service hosting from their preferred location, mostly their homes. Read more>>
Christine Perez-Gray
Some of the biggest trends I am seeing presently is obsoleting the spiritual segments of the yoga practice, making it solely a workout. My concern is that the beauty yoga brings along with the spiritual transformation received from giving oneself to the practice will not be experienced nor made available. Read more>>
Sijie Leslie” Liu”
The film industry is currently undergoing a transformative phase with the widespread integration of AI. This technology is making significant strides across production, distribution, and audience engagement. The efficiency gains offered by AI, ranging from scriptwriting to post-production processes, have the potential to streamline workflows, ultimately reducing production costs and timelines. The utilization of deepfake AI in a film I worked on last year, portraying both young and old versions of characters, exemplifies the innovative possibilities AI brings to storytelling. Read more>>
Joe Salome
Trend #1 Athlete adoption of canna-supplements: What has just started as an NFL want to protect brains after hard hits. Has turned into a full body holistic approach for athletes bodies. Now we with NSF approvals for professional sporting leagues like MLB, Ironman, PGA, etc you will see this segment of canna-supplements grow for athlete performance and recovery. Read more>>
R.J. Weiss
In the financial education industry, my company, The Ways To Wealth, strives to establish itself as a trusted resource, akin to a Consumer Reports in the finance space, but with an independent voice. Since its inception in 2016, our primary growth driver has been organic search engine traffic. This approach has been central to our strategy, aligning with our goal of providing unbiased, in-depth financial guidance to our audience. Read more>>
Lis Best
Some of the biggest trends I am seeing in the impact / ESG space broadly right now include: -A lot of the people who have been doing this work for 5, 10, 20+ years are seeing their roles increasingly move toward regulatory compliance, and they’re not necessarily all that interested. There is a lot of emerging regulation in our space, and that means that work that was once creative, cross-functional, and strategic is increasingly going to look a lot more like accounting and legal. I have a lot of conversations with brilliant leaders who are wondering whether this new landscape is for them. Read more>>
Yiran Guo
In the broader creative industry, I’ve noticed a diminishing emphasis on authenticity compared to earlier times. It’s become evident through the growing uniformity in design. Designers and artists increasingly find themselves swayed and molded by popular culture, with a preference for seeking popularity over nurturing their genuine creative identities. Many individuals tend to emulate or conform to prevailing styles in the hopes of attaining fame and success. Read more>>
Jazz and Jess
In the podcasting industry there’s a big push towards creating and consuming video podcasts. The Sis, Let Me Tell You Podcast offers video and audio episodes. We personally enjoy making video podcasts and prefer watching other video podcasts. It’s entertaining to meet the characters behind the voices. It also makes it easier to create bite sized snippets to put out and garner potential listeners. It does, however, pose more opportunities to make errors and experience technical difficulties while recording. Read more>>
Valerie Lindahl
The wedding industry is ever-evolving and I’m LOVING the trends I’ve been seeing lately Documentary Style Photography: People want their wedding day photos to feel authentic! Capturing candid moments and telling the story of the day in a documentary style was becoming increasingly popular. Couples were often opting for more natural, unposed shots that capture the emotions and genuine moments of the wedding day. Read more>>
Max Rizzo
In the portable beverage cooler industry, one of the most intriguing trends we’ve observed at CoolCat Coolers is the relentless pursuit by legacy cooler businesses to enhance the original bottom spout beverage cooler commonly found on the sidelines of sporting events. It’s fascinating to see how these companies consistently strive to improve ice retention time, a trend that has become somewhat of a standard in the industry. However, what sets our approach apart at CoolCat Coolers is our dedication to not only extending the time drinks stay cold but also revolutionizing the overall functionality of the product. Read more>>
Elfie Astier
The baking industry is constantly evolving and adapting to the changing needs and preferences of consumers. Some of the biggest trends that are shaping the industry are: Read more>>
Nailah Browne
One of the biggest trends I am noticing in my industry as a pastry chef who does weddings, is that more brides are wanting smaller wedding cakes and more dessert catering. Personally I love this trend, I think there is something so special about the couple having something for themselves, and the guests enjoy a an array of desserts selected by the couple. Most of the weddings I have done of recent have been in this format, the couples love the idea of having all the different desserts along with a luxe cake to cut. Read more>>
Paige Maurer
Health/Wellness in the home: People are very interested in creating “spa-like” experiences at home with steam showers, saunas, aromatherapy, etc. I also am seeing consumers more interested in health conscience products (low VOC paint, no formaldehyde products, green products etc) Warm Tones: Cool grays had their moment but I have always loved the warm tones, especially in Northern Michigan (cool tones feel even more cool in the winter months). Love the use of wood tones, warm whites, golds) Read more>>
Claudia Brade
New trends are a beautiful thing that help businesses and creatives like myself move forward in our work and art. I love to see new trends emerge, but I also think that in order to run a successful business, it’s important to be timeless at core. If you only try to catch new trends, you will exhaust yourself over time. Read more>>
Anita Polite-Wilson
In recent years, we’ve witnessed a curious shift within the corporate world. It’s a shift that has seen some companies shying away from the very term that once dominated their HR agendas: diversity. In some instances, they’ve even gone so far as to change the title of Chief Diversity Officer and, even eliminated such positions entirely. Read more>>
Jiapeng Xiang
This question can be separated into two aspects: the film production industry and the color grading industry. Regarding the film production industry, I’ve noticed a significant recent trend – virtual production is becoming increasingly popular. I’ve observed that more commercials, music videos, and even movies are utilizing virtual production techniques. It offers a financially friendly solution and provides greater flexibility in adjusting the production design in various ways. Consequently, I have decided to embrace this new technology and am currently actively collaborating with a virtual production company. Read more>>
Robert Kapel
In a world where the hotel industry is fiercely competitive, a groundbreaking trend has emerged, masterfully blending AI-driven personalization with proactive guest engagement strategies. This innovative approach is reshaping the guest experience, deepening relationships with guests, often starting before they even arrive at the hotel. Read more>>
Mateen Khan
The most fun thing about the creative industry is the ever-changing trends of what you make or compose. Technology plays a significant role in all aspects of innovative business, both the software and hardware sides. Read more>>
Paul A. Zanardo
Web design, search engine optimization (SEO), and social media are all seeing a ‘user first’ revolution. Fake news, keyword stuffing, unhelpful backlinks, and unethical practices were prevalent online. All this negativity may have helped content rank higher in search results in the past, but no longer! These nefarious acts got out of hand, producing confusion, panic, poor content, and horrible user experiences across search engine platforms worldwide. Read more>>
Dan Ansaldo
The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) industry is in flux more often than not, but right now, it’s borderline chaotic. A lot is changing, and some trends are beneficial and not so helpful. For those who do not live and breathe search engines, you probably do not see much, so let me pull back the curtain. Read more>>