Marketer Looks at 11 Trends

Via David Woldfe's Ageless Marketing comes a pointer to Eleven Trends from Tinderbox, a newsletter from the Hartman Group.

1) The Rise of Luxury Consumption Consumers from all walks of life are free - and willing - to explore levels of luxury heretofore reserved only for the most wealthy or elite peoples.
2) The Rise of the Experience Economy Consumers are less interested in fulfilling basic needs with products and much more interested in seeking fun and adventure through experiences.
3) Democratization of the Family Families are increasingly being run like democracies rather than fiefdoms, where each individuals wants and desires are accommodated despite their age or position.
4) Consumption Based Identities Increasingly, our identities are less the product of our family heritage and more a reflection of the assorted social networks we belong to - many of which are directly concerned with consumption.
5) Open Source & Creative Consuming Consumers have come to value consumption not as a means to an end (fulfilling needs), but as a source of productive activity worthy in its own right.
6) The New Empowerment Knowledge and authority are increasingly contested; they are viewed not as absolutes but as merely differing perspectives or interpretations.
7) The New Hedonism We have moved beyond the traditional (Puritan-based) belief that desirable outcomes must come from denial or abstinence.
8) Increasingly Fluid Tastes and Preferences Consumers no longer demonstrate a desire for consistency when it comes to choosing foods, beverages, clothes, etc.
9) Remixed Culture We are increasingly less likely to take things as face value but, instead, treat our culture - especially our consumer culture - as a source of irony, and playful commentary.
10) Firms of Endearment Cooperation is quickly managing to replace competition as the most critical marketplace value.
11) Consumption Driven Economy More than ever, consumers set the rules of engagement for the marketplace