This time last year, we predicted that the conversation about sensitive skin would be louder, that Post-pharmacy Brands would be rebranded as traditional health products, and that there would be a greater erosion of traditional luxury signifiers such as heritage.
As we approach the end of 2017, not only have these and dozens more of our predictions come to pass, but they have also influenced a host of new micro trends and behaviours that will define 2018.
For this year’s Future Forecast we have identified 40 major shifts that will impact our consumption habits in the year ahead. From the wider adoption of biotech food and the integration of augmented retail, to the role of avatar fashion influencers and the rise of hotel activism, the next 12 months will be transformative across every consumer sector.
Top: Ruby chocolate by Barry Callebaut
This report will introduce you to the trends that will have the biggest impact in 2018 throughout 10 core markets:
: Food
The dominant narrative will not be about new flavours or aromas, but about finding security in what we eat.
: Drink
Tradition will take a back seat as an urban mindset that prizes convenience over provenance takes hold among many consumers.
: Wellness
Inclusivity will trump privilege, with widespread wellness communities becoming deeply embedded into the fabric of cities.
: Beauty
As consumers become more educated about product ingredients, the line between synthetic and natural will become blurred.
: Tech
Interfaces will move beyond the screen, while countries implement new policies to gain the edge in AI research.
: Retail
Augmented reality, which is yet to be successfully executed by any brand or retailer, will finally have its breakthrough year.
: Fashion
Consumers will embrace avatar influencers as never before, while identity politics will make designers rethink their customer base.
: Youth
The voices of marginalised groups will grow louder as young creatives begin to develop materials that reflect their lived experience.
: Luxury
High-end brands will use cryptocurrency to engender deeper trust, and offset the e-luxe boom by diversifying their portfolio of offline experiences.
: Travel
Activist hoteliers and intrepid tourists will test new boundaries, while innovators will capitalise on the liminal space between destinations.
: ASOS Go Play campaign
: Snapbac
: Gentle Monster store The New Generation after Tsunami, Chengdu
Could blockchain democratize the luxury sector?
Will augmented retail finally become a reality?
Prepare your brand for the future by downloading our Future Forecast 2018 now.
This report is free for all members, please contact Accountmanagers@thefuturelaboratory.com directly to get a copy.
To download your copy, add to cart and then complete your details on the following form. You will recieve an email of the PDF report.
*This is a downloadable PDF report. Please consider the environment before printing.
Future Forecast 2018
£100
But the insights you’re about to discover are just the tip of the iceberg. If you really want to understand their full implications and make your business fit for the future, get in touch with us. Our team are on call to recommend a service that can help you capitalise on these changes in 2018 and far beyond.
: NII Journal
