Thanks to Robyn Waters for these great suggestions (Women’s Business Minnesota 10/04.) Robyn monitored trends for Target for years and I met her through Jeff Prouty and the Prouty Project. I saved this article for five years because it always gives me inspiration!
Trending Tracking Resources by Robyn Waters
- Cool Friends…hang out with diverse cool people who aren’t afraid of left turns; who try new things.
- WGSN (Worth Global Style network) ….an online trend service based in the UK. Check it out! http://www.wgsn.com/
- Books… business, design, spiritual, fiction, coffee table, tomes, best sellers, obscure treasures. (My favorite… I love bookstores and libraries!)
- Google… curious about anything?
- Travel & Adventure…can be your backyard, down the street, or halfway around the world! (My current adventure is the ice rink across the park.)
- Magazines… subscribe to some, buy more. Look for magazine outside your field of expertise.
- WSJ/USA Today… a great combination, but you need BOTH to get perspective.
- Constant Observation of People… waiting in line, on an airplane, shopping, at the movies, eating out, driving down the road… who’s driving, wearing, eating what and how and when… The Yogi Berra concept: you can observe a lot just by watching!
- Julie’s addition: Check out Robyn’s blog and site for more inspiration!
