Identifying Trends in Beauty, Fashion, and Commerce - Article Example

Trends in Beauty, Fashion, and Commerce Introduction Beauty, fashion, and commerce are characterized by changing trends with time. In the beauty industry, numerous changes occur due to the wide range of products being created each day. Two trends that characterize the beauty industry include launching of new brands of products and technological advances. The trends in the fashion industry include runway shows and shopping trends. Trends in the commerce include customer service and digitization. This paper focuses on how different trend in the beauty, fashion, and commerce industries affect the socioeconomic, market trend, product adaptation, packaging, consumer communication, and macro consumer aspects. Additionally, the paper will analyze how the trends affect consumer behaviors and discuss the future prediction of the trends. Trends in the Beauty industry The beauty industry is not static but keeps changing, in the recent past numerous changes in the brand of products and in technology involved in manufacture of beauty products have changed the socioeconomic, market trend, product adaptation, packaging, consumer communication, and macro consumer aspects. In the recent past, several small beauty companies grew rapidly due to invention of several new products. The need for more effective beauty products has led to involvement of profession from different field in the research Professions such as estheticians, dermatologists, makeup artists, and fashion designers are increasingly becoming interest in beauty industry (Vinkin 70-75). This has led to invention of better beauty products, which have gained global acceptance. Economically, completion has increased in the beauty industry with large profits being witnessed. The beauty industry has thus become an important component in several countries. The increased completion has resulted in improve packaging by different manufacturers. Socially, beauty products have become widely recognized. People in different social classes can access beauty products since manufactures are now capable of making products that suit the financial status of persons in different social classes. The Market trend has change. There is change in marketing strategies and increased advertisement (Bailie). Technology is another trend that characterizes the beauty industries. The devices being used in the beauty industry are more complex. Additionally, there increased use of communication technologies in advertisements. Moreover, development in computer technology has changed the market. Aspects such as online sales of beauty products have become a common phenomenon. Advancement in technology in the beauty industry has led to change in packaging of products with minimal ingredients being used in the manufacture. Socially, technology has led to manufacture of products such as anti-aging ingredients, which has change perspectives about beauty. In macro consumer sector, technology has led to rapid changes in how the beauty industries are operated (Vinkin 7-12; Derrick). Trends in the Fashion Industry The trends that characterize the fashion industry include reinvention of runway shows and shopping trends. The persons influencing the runway shows have changed. The social media has greatly transformed the backstage and front row. Additionally, direction of runway shows has changed and has become more cinematic. Additionally, the runway shows have become more globalized. Economically, more people have been employed in the fashion industry to help in improving the way runway shows are conducted. Socially, fashion has become an important aspect, which acts as a mark of different eras. Economically, fashion industry influences several other industries such as the media. Additionally, development of technologies such as 3D focuses on improving the fashion industry (“Global Foresight, Inc. 2006 Report on Industry Trends”). The other significant trend in the fashion industry is the shopping trends. Online shopping has become a significant feature in the fashion industry. New developments in fashion shopping trends include pre-ordering from the catwalk. Economically, shopping strategies such as online shopping have globalized the fashion industries. People can order goods such as clothing and shoes from anywhere in the world (Kim and Fiore 8-12). This has contributed to globalization of the economy. Change in purchase trends have changed the marketing trends since the marketing strategies are supposed to focus on the shopping trend of different consumers depending on their geographical location and age. The packaging strategies have changed with more emphasis on branding. The consumer behavior differs with age with most young people engaging in online shopping. In future, the fashion industry is expected to grow rapidly, especially in technology. The designing of runways will become an important aspect governing the fashion industry (Kim and Fiore 2-6). Trends in Commerce Trends that characterize the commerce industry include social commerce systematization and customer service. In the recent past, there has been a lot of focus on the use of social media as well as other electronic forms of communication to market and sell products. Most attempts have been on trial and error bases. Social commerce systematization is facing a lot of criticism. However, several companies are still working towards its success. Economically, social media plays a major role in commerce industries especially in the contemporary world (Mennecke and Strader 12-17). Social media has become a significant marketing strategy. Companies are spending more money to reach potential customer using social media. Additionally, companies have to design ways of packaging their products to make them more appealing to online shoppers. They thus have to embrace new technologies to gain competitive advantage in online marketing. Socially, companies are creating online programs to market their products and create awareness on different brand. Online marketing has thus become a component of commerce industry. Social sharing between product manufacturers and consumers is thus a crucial aspect that is expected to shape the future of online commerce. Another trend that characterized commerce industry is customer service. Customer service is a dynamic component of commerce industry. With changes in selling and marketing strategies, there has been modification, which has led to improved customer service. With digitization, purchase and delivery of products have been enhanced. Additionally, digitization has enhanced globalization of companies since it has become possible to conduct business globally. This has contributed to improved economy. Additionally, companies have to improve on their communication by setting up customer care service stations. Changed customer service has altered consumer communication with less face-to-face interaction between consumers and manufacturers (Marsden). Companies have to adapt their marketing strategies to suit the digital platforms. This involves change in branding and packaging to improve on how they present their products. Changed customer service has enhanced online marketing. In future, there is a possibility that use of phones for online shopping will replace use of credit cards. People will make transactions using mobile devices such as smartphones. This will lead to invention of new applications to enhance online commerce transactions using mobile phones (Mennecke and Strader 70-73). Conclusion The fashion, beauty, and commerce industries are characterized by certain trends that affect the socioeconomic aspects. Additionally, the trends are significant in socio-economic, macro consumer, market trend, product adaptation, packaging, and consumer communication and consumer behavior. The trends are not static but change with time to suit the changing behaviors and need of consumers. Such trend includes technology, customer service, and shopping trends. Works Cited Bailie, Lauren. GlossyBox: Discover The Latest Trends In beauty. 11 June 2012. Web. 25 Oct 2012. http://www.fashionotes.com/content/2012/06/glossy-box-discover-the-latest-trends-in-beauty/ Derrick, Julyne. Trends in the Beauty Industry Over the Past 10 Years. 2012. Web. 25 Oct 2012. http://beauty.about.com/od/makeuptrickstips/a/beautrend.htm Global Foresight, Inc. 2006 Report on Industry Trends. 2007. Web. http://www.doe.mass.edu/cte/frameworks/trends_ov/fashion.pdf 25 0ct 2012. Kim, Hyejeong and Ann Fiore. Fashion Trends: Analysis and Forecasting. New York: Berg, 2011. Print. Marsden, Paul. "Next Big Trends in Commerce: Distributed Marketplaces & Ownership Revolution?" Social Commerce Today 5 Sep 2012. Web. 25 Oct 2012. http://socialcommercetoday.com/next-big-trends-in-commerce-distributed-marketplaces-ownership-revolution/ Mennecke, Brian and Troy Strader. Mobile Commerce: Technology, Theory and Applications. New York: Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2003. Print. Vinkin, Barbara. Fashion Zeitgeist: Trends and Cycles in the Fashion System. New York: Berg, 2005. Print. Read More