Trends you might wanna have a look at before next year–
1. Red Carpet
If you didn’t already know, get ready to welcome China. 2012 is the year of the Dragon. Businesses all over the world are tailoring their services to Chinese customers. Just 
the other day I was flicking through a Caporn Young Real Estate brochure & the back page was an ad looking for people who could speak Mandarin.
2. DIY health
Do you remember that movie “The Island” with Scarlett Johansson? How their health is monitored by machines every day? Well that’s what this trend is all about. Maybe not quite the same as in the movie, but its getting there. Health related apps are being churned out by apple and with Jawbone’s UP wristband you can track your sleeping patterns, eating patterns and activity patterns.
3. Dealer-Chic
Who doesn’t like getting a good deal? In 2012 its more than just saving money, its thrill, the pursuit, the control, and the perceived smartness.
4. Eco-Cycology
My brother David just came back from Germany and he said those clever Germanians had made wallets out of milk cartons. Now that’s what I call creativity! Expect a tonne of innovative recycling in 2012.
5. Cashless
Will coins and notes completely disappear in 2012? No. But a cashless future is (finally) upon us. Will our mobiles replace wallets? Perhaps – major players such as MasterCard and Google continue work to build a whole new eco-system of payments, rewards and offers around new mobile technologies.
6. Bottom of the urban pyramid
The majority of consumers live in cities, yet in much of the world city life is chaotic, cramped and often none too pleasant. However at the same time, the creativity and vibrancy of these aspiring consumers, means that the global opportunities for brands which cater to the hundreds of millions of lower-income CITYSUMERS are unprecedented.
7. Idlesourcing
Anything that makes it downright simple- if not completely effortless- for consumers to contribute to something will be more popular than ever in 2012. Unlocked by the spread of ever smarter sensors in mobile phones, people will not only be able but increasingly willing, to broadcast information about where and what they are doing, to help improve products and services.
8. Flawsome
Its awesome to have flaws. People like to see you’re actually human too. Why to consumers, brands that behave more humanly, including exposing their flaws, will be awesome.
9. Screen culture
Thanks to the continued explosion of touchscreen smartphones, tablets, and the ‘cloud’, 2012 will see a SCREEN CULTURE that is not only more pervasive, but more personal, more immersive and more interactive than ever.
10. Recommerce
It’s never been easier for savvy consumers to resell or trade in past purchases, and unlock the value in their current possessions. In 2012, ‘trading in’ is the new buying. Getting rid of clutter has never been easier. We are ultra connected now so with sites like Facebook, Gumtree & Ebay its never been easier to find buyers for your stuff.
11. Maturialism
This is my favourite new trend-
“Thoroughly exposed to (if not participating in) an uncensored, opinionated and raw world (especially online!), 
experienced consumers no longer tolerate being treated like yesteryear’s easily shocked, inexperienced, middle-of-the-road audiences. Able to handle much more honest conversations, more daring innovations, more quirky flavors, more risqué experiences, these consumers increasingly appreciate brands that push the boundaries.”
12. Point & know
Consumers are used to being able to find out just about anything that’s online or text-based, but 2012 will see instant visual information gratification brought into the real and visual world with objects and even people.
Source: www.trendwatching.com. One of the world’s leading trend firms, trendwatching.com sends out its free, monthly Trend Briefings to more than 160,000 subscribers worldwide in 9 languages.
