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Formerly vice-president of trend, design and product development at Target, Robyn Waters has a consulting firm and is author of The Trendmaster's Guide.
What's in store for consumers this year? You'll see more commodities turned into luxuries. For example, Tea Forte makes tea bags of silk, not wood pulp. Tea leaves are hand-picked from the highest branches and dried in the sun. The bag is shaped like a pyramid, so when you steep the tea, the leaves have space to unfurl. Great design makes this everyday item intriguing.
But more expensive. Just because your income is at a certain level or you don't live in a grand house doesn't mean you can't have great taste. That's what's behind the success of Coach, Starbucks and Target. Caldrea makes aromatherapeutic dish soap that retails for $8 a bottle, compared with $1.99 for Ivory, Dawn or Joy. Not everyone will pay more for tea or dishwashing soap. Consumers are schizophrenic -- they'll wear Prada and drive a Mercedes but go to Costco for necessities.
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How else are companies reaching shoppers? You see the paradox of mass customization everywhere. IPods customize the music experience. People worldwide are downloading billions of dollars in ring tones for their cell phones. Some 95% of all Mini Coopers are customized. You can order MM's in your own colors with your own message. Jones Soda is never going to compete with Coke and Pepsi, but for $49 per 12-pack (including shipping) at www.myjones.com you can choose a soda flavor and have your own label put on it -- a picture from your graduation or family reunion, or even a photo of your dog.
What else do consumers want? They want companies to make money and do good. Ten years ago, firms practicing social capitalism were considered eccentric, herbalist hippies. Now they're savvy marketers. When you buy Amazon Rainforest vodka, you get a deed for 5,000 square feet of Brazilian rainforest that is in perpetual trust. It's a competitive advantage. People are sick and tired of bad businesses -- the Enrons and all the junk.
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The New Reality for EntertainmentThe Kiplinger Letter The entertainment industry is shifting as movie and TV companies face fierce competition, fight for attention and cope with artificial intelligence.
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Stocks Sink With Alphabet, Bitcoin: Stock Market TodayA dismal round of jobs data did little to lift sentiment on Thursday.
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Betting on Super Bowl 2026? New IRS Tax Changes Could Cost YouTaxable Income When Super Bowl LX hype fades, some fans may be surprised to learn that sports betting tax rules have shifted.
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9 Types of Insurance You Probably Don't NeedFinancial Planning If you're paying for these types of insurance, you may be wasting your money. Here's what you need to know.
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21 Last-Minute Gifts for Grandparents Day 2025 to Give Right NowHoliday Tips Last-minute gifting is never easy. But here are some ideas to celebrate Grandparents Day.
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Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here's what you needed to know about the Texas sales tax holiday.
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Alabama Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday.
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Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
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The Sweet 23: States Where Twix and Kit Kat Avoid the ‘Candy Tax’State Taxes There’s something spooky this Halloween, and it’s not just the ghouls. Find out if your state’s sales tax takes a bite out of sweet savings.
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Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday 2025Sales Taxes The new tax-free holiday in Florida brought month-long savings on computers, clothing and other school supplies.
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Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
