What can you do about Micro Trends before they are mainstream?
Many micro trends are “overnight” trends and businesses often say “there’s nothing I can do about overnight trends". Ignoring these trends could mean missing out on valuable opportunities. There are tweaks you can make to act on them.
Micro trends bleed into larger shifts in consumer preferences over time. Although micro trends are over-night trends, they gain traction and turn into bigger movements.
Early adopters of micro trends gain a competitive advantage, tapping into emerging opportunities as they go viral. In a previous blog, the trend of “whimsical home decor” was used as an example of a micro trend. Whimsical home decor is a new micro trend, where rooms are decorated with magical, whimsical and woodland decor. It involves a lot of plants and bright colours.
On its own, the whimsical home decor trend may not represent a large shift. However, over time, it fits into a larger interest by consumers in maximalist decor. Maximalism is a big interior design trend for 2023. Maximalism is a shift that is extremely important to pay attention to, even if whimsical decor on its own is small.
By tracking and monitoring micro trends like whimsical home decor, businesses can identify opportunities to cater to niche interests before they transition into mainstream consumer demands. Embracing these micro trends can lead to increased brand relevance, customer engagement, and ultimately, a competitive edge in the dynamic market landscape.
What can you do about Micro Trends before they are mainstream?
Many micro trends are “overnight” trends and businesses often say “there’s nothing I can do about overnight trends - I can’t order that item on time.” Here are some ideas of quick wins you CAN do to act on rising trends:
- Adjust your website to feature products that are similar to the trending product and adjust product naming to match the trend. Leverage the keywords of the trend. If you have wall art that features leaves and forests - rename it to “whimsical wall art” on your website.
- Create social media posts and content around the trend featuring your products within it. If the trend is “whimsical decor”, feature your funky lamps in a whimsical themed aesthetic.
- In-store - feature the products that are similar to the ones being discussed. You may not make dalgona coffee, but you have a sweet coffee mixture in your assortment. Bring it to the attention of your customers.
- Train employees on shop floors to talk about how your products fit into the trend or are similar to the trending product. “We don’t have Dalgoma coffee, but our newly launched artisanal cold brew offers a similar rich and velvety taste that coffee enthusiasts are currently loving!”
With all these targeted actions, the challenge is to be proactive and be on top of trends as they occur.
About Granularity
Granularity empowers retailers to stay ahead of viral trends with an AI-powered platform that predicts social media and search trends.
Learn more trend forecasting: https://granularity.ca/product