Now & Then - Retail Deconstructed

We're announcing a new 'macro trend' feature today...  Our Chief Innovation Predictor, Susan Yashinsky, is now authoring her own blog, 21st Century Insights, over at the Consumer Goods Club - a global business and networking forum.  We'll always share a brief excerpt here on the Sphere Trending blog as well as a link to the full post for your reading pleasure!

We are very excited Susan is sharing her innovation and intelligence news with you...  Read on for her first post on Retail Deconstructed:

What a difference a decade can make!  The year 2000 was characterized by a global economy that had begun a significant recovery from the 1997-1998 recessions, fueled by consumer demand and complete with strong housing sales and employment.

Ten years later and we are facing some of the strongest economic challenges since the Great Depression.  Yet, in the same decade, we have had significant technological advancements for consumers: The first hybrid car (2000), the iPod(2001), YouTube (2005), Wii (2006), the iPhone (2007), the iPad (2010), and the list goes on.

While technology continues to lead us positively into the 21st century, empowering consumers in ways we couldn’t have even dreamed of 20 years ago, economics are pulling us back as lost skills of saving and living within our means must be relearned as a society.  These two forces are interweaving to reconstruct retail in a way that matches an industrialized world with declining consumer interest in more material possessions.  Key societal trends driving the future 21st century retail store include...  

(Continue reading on Consumer Goods Club)