In our view there is already a ton of coverage of the trends that ivory tower professors and billionaire fund managers are seeing. What’s the edge in hearing the billionaire consensus view over and over again?
The edge comes from hearing new perspectives and new information like from the wedding planner who has worked with hundreds of couples during the pandemic and has noticed that couples are allocating significantly more of their wedding budgets on “small details” like personalized neon signs and eco-friendly customized digital invitations rather than paper invites. Or the accountant seeing how there’s a huge uptick in ecommerce clients generating revenue from in person popups.
Below, you’ll find some of the most thoughtful entrepreneurs and creatives in across various industries and markets sharing the trends they are seeing.
Ryan Sheehy
By far, the biggest hot-button topic in the film industry is artificial intelligence. Based on my pool of industry friends, opinions are split 50/50. Some people love it, and some people hate it. Personally, I think the initial reaction to A.I. is based on fear, which is induced by the very thing we are creating in the film industry. Films like “Terminator,” “The Matrix,” or “Ex Machina” come from the imaginations of writers who created sinister A.I. scenarios. By proxy, we believe the same thing will happen to us. Read more>>
Nico Lembo
One of the biggest trends I’ve noticed is the transition to the independent studio. Most of my studio work comes from smaller studios with many producers and engineers who work in larger studios. I am a big fan of this trend and it is a goal of mine to write and produce more music and artists. Another trend I’ve noticed is online booking and collaboration through websites like Gig Salad and Air Gigs. Having access to a decent home studio opens many possibilities for collaboration and a different income stream. Read more>>
Michelle Kafka
In the current era of social media, everyone can be an influencer. Anything you post could inspire your followers to seek out a similar product, service or experience. On a larger scale, contracted social media influencers have become a valuable marketing tool for companies in a wide range of industries. In our work as an integrated marketing firm, influencer outreach and relationship building has become part of the strategy for a number of clients. The content influencers create and share offers a unique advantage over other forms of earned media coverage, as it’s typically placed in front of consumers with similar values and therefore may be more likely to act on a specific task with influence from others. Read more>>
Joanna Beck Wilkinson
Infertility is financially and emotionally costly. The growing trend in the family building field is concern with cost-management and reduction, as well as financial assistance measures like insurance coverage and employee benefits. Read more>>
Marla Finley
One of the biggest trends I am seeing in my clients is the desire for a more luxury travel experience. Seasoned cruisers, for example, are looking for more intimate vessels that offer personalized service and unique itineraries. Many of these luxury cruise lines also offer all inclusive accommodations that include unlimited fine dining, premium beverages and unique excursions in exciting destinations. Clients often think that these types of vacations are out of reach because of their price point, but many times are pleasantly surprised that when you account for all the inclusions it is much more affordable that you think. Read more>>
Terry Whitworth
There are several trends I am seeing in the childcare industry. As we go into 2025, childcare needs are definitely no longer one size fits all. Families are needing more options to fit their work schedule and their lifestyles. Drop-in care is starting to be needed more. Parents today are looking for childcare arrangements as flexible as their lives. Definitely technology! Childcare is catching up with other industries when it comes to technology. Providers are using technology for everything from curriculum planning to parent communication. The last trend I will discuss is tuition increase. Read more>>
Galey Grimes Grimes
As we look ahead to 2025, texture takes center stage in high-end interior design, redefining luxury through the tactile and the layered. This year, the trend moves beyond the expected, embracing a symphony of materials—think brushed velvets juxtaposed with raw, organic linens or sculptural ceramics paired with a sumptuous boucle. These thoughtful contrasts create depth and dimension, inviting an immersive sensory experience within the home. The focus is on craftsmanship and authenticity, with handcrafted surfaces, intricate weaves, and stone finishes elevating each space into a curated work of art. Texture becomes the new narrative, transforming rooms into havens of warmth, sophistication, and understated elegance. Read more>>
Kelly Wiemann
One of my favorite travel trends I am seeing more of is multigenerational family trips. When I grew up, family trips consisted of parents and their children. But over the years, family trips have evolved and now include grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I love seeing the growth of this trend. I think after COVID, more people (myself included) realized how fragile time is and are more willing to go out of their way to make time to spend with family outside of their nuclear units. Read more>>
Christine Lim
As a small business owner specializing in butter mochi and Southeast Asian-inspired snack mixes, I’ve been noticing a growing trend in the food industry: the rise of globally-inspired comfort foods. People are seeking unique, nostalgic flavors that connect them to cultures or experiences they might not have encountered before. This trend is especially exciting for businesses like mine that celebrate heritage flavors while putting a modern twist on them. Read more>>
Andrew Martinez
I have been running a website creation and digital marketing business since October 2017, and I have seen many trends and shifts over the years. As of 2024, everyone would agree that AI has been a huge trend in business and life. In the realm of digital marketing, it is no longer enough to get on Google’s good side to rank in the search engine results pages (SERPs) and maintain effective search engine optimization (SEO). Now that more people are turning to ChatGPT and other generative AI tools for guidance and information, generative engine optimization (GEO) has been an emerging trend. GEO refers to getting on the good side of ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms to gain visibility. Read more>>
Erin Hoy
One of the biggest trends in Instagram marketing right now is the shift toward authenticity and relatability. People are tired of overly polished, picture-perfect content. They crave real, unfiltered moments that help them connect with the human side of a brand. This trend is especially important for small business owners and even corporate teams, who often feel pressured to maintain a level of perfection that honestly doesn’t resonate with their audience. Read more>>
Anna-louise Cecil
Through the overconsumption of trends through algorithmic social media targeting, a concern I have always had with the wedding industry in particular is the pressure on photographers to “keep up” with fast turn-around times and overly shot content catered to a social media presence. The pressure to capture every detail and orchestrate every moment has overshadowed and removed the comfortability for clients to exist in their wedding day without astronomical stresses of a strict timeline and hyperawareness of what photographically is being captured and when. Read more>>