If you read my bio on this web site you know have a background in trends– tracking, predicting and reporting. WomanTrend goosed corporate marketing officers in the early ’90s to get them thinking about women as the real consumers in the household. I’m a trend junkie. I still look for a whisper of a data point that can build into a screaming hot trend. So, recently I came across this fabulous site on YouTube: TrendHunterTV. Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMoO3DLDNw 

The well-executed piece will give you insight and inspiration as we begin “the tens.” There are several interesting hints about how home and decor have been affected by the economy, such as “tangible personalization,” “nomadabode,” ”pro-dependency,” ”next-besting,” and “d.i.y decor.”  Clearly this is the Decade of the HOME. H= Hunker down, O= Out with ostentation, M= Moderation is modern, E= Experience as currency (it makes a comeback, but on the cheap this time around!) I LOVE hearing about the tangible personalization trend and the quest for personalized gifts! Yee-ha!

This should get our creative juices flowing. Maybe you’ll pick up on the shared decor trend such as “his” and “her’s” matching pillows for Valentine’s Day…same size, color, typeface and fabric but one pillow starts the phrase and the second one finishes it.  Kinda like your conversations?? Sharing could the next best thing. Ya think?

In August, I was featured on the State College wedding directory website, NittanyWeddings.com.  Here’s the link to the article I wrote about staying present at your wedding so it doesn’t pass you by in a blur: http://nittanyweddings.com/articles/being-present-is-the-best-gift-of-all.

Over these past few, lovely summer months I was totally “in the moment.” Which meant that I didn’t do much future planning…ie writing this blog!  There must be people who “ghost write” blogs, please contact me– I AM HORRIBLE AT THIS!  But I do want to share a marketing message that I recently sent to my customers and friends.  I got a ton of positive feedback.

How many times have you heard this one? Or, heard the words coming out of your mouth?

She’s off to college so why not send a piece of you with her… the famous “Mom line!”                        She is all sugar most of the time but when she flaunts too much of her “spice” you try to keep it in check! This pillow features the line you’ve heard yourself repeating daily for the past four years, and the one she always rolls her eyes at every time she hears it.  But since you won’t be with her everyday to keep track, send this pillow off to college with her.  Such a cute way to remind her of home.    Show her you really do get it by poking fun at yourself. We’ll make her smile –just a little bit– by designing a pillow to match her  dorm room decor.  And it will be a conversation starter with the new roommate, (”how lame is my mother?”), but secretly she’ll display it with pride and love.                     Call us to order your favorite “Mom line” pillow today! We will custom design the pillow to match her colors and style using your favorite line. And we can wrap and ship it to her campus address with a card from you. You know how much she loves getting special care packages!   Call 202.285.4883 or visit our website: www.thatshouldbeonapillow.com                         “Thatshouldbeonapillow!” ~ When words from the heart are the best gift.

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