In keeping with the spirit of innovation, it's a pleasure to report that people are starting to recognize the need to support the environment. I was reading an article on this last week in my MediaPost newsletter. The article [Top Product Trends for '07] says, "FOR YEARS, AMERICANS PROFESSED A keen interest in products that had something--anything--to do with Saving the Rainforest. Today they've got more than just preservation on their minds: They want to wash their faces and fortify their foods with ingredients from the Amazon jungle."
I was pulled into the article by the title, "Going Amazonian" thinking it was about Amazon.com! It was a pleasant surprise to read about the Amazon jungle. (on the one hand, what does that say about branding at Amazon.com? ) This beautiful image was borrowed from Learning About Rainforests.
Here are just some of the trends predicted for 2007, according to the author, Adrienne W. Fawcett, ...
- Ethical products - including local and seasonal items with community oriented ties.
- Refillable packagaing - to save on natural resources.
- Natural Beauty - more in the way of 'natural' skincare products
- Internet marketing - ."..with companies reaching out to consumers through corporate and brand-based blogs." Hear, hear!!
- Blooming Boomers - combating that "senior" stereotype - especially aimed at 'older' men.
- Breakfast - "The forecast is for new innovation and development."
I like what I see in this list, and the overall list Adrienne has in the article. There's encouragement here - for marketing to women online, since women are the drivers of most products bought and sold, all over the world.
Adrienne says, "Traditional consumer marketing budgets will continue to migrate to Web-based initiatives." Which is just an echo of what we're seeing elsewhere, at sites like eMarketer, iMedia, and trendwatching. The focus, as I say over and over, is on the consumer. If the trend spotters are right - and I believe they are because the buying public is into natural - real - honest marketing and sales - the kind you get via word of mouth, in blogs - we'll be seeing some new, innovative marketing campaigns in 2007. Ones that inspire us to spend.
Do you see the same thing? How important is the back to nature trend to you?
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