Opening Lines
We're all looking for ways to make our lives easier. As our lifestyles evolve, our needs will change. Brand marketers and product developers will devise new beauty concepts to fulfill the needs of the consumer of the future. Packaging experts will also play an important role in meeting new demands. .
The World Future Society, which studies changes in every aspect of society, held its annual meeting for futurists in Washington, DC, in August. Futurists observe changes and might predict upcoming trends. In our Inside Design story, Jeanine Recckio, a beauty futurologist and founder of Mirror Mirror Imagination Group, writes about how our lifestyle changes might affect the beauty industry.
Major changes don't happen overnight; they evolve and grow slowly. We might want to take more care in noticing the small changes happening in every industry. We should think not only about how our business might be affected, but also about how we can all play a role in helping these new developments happen more quickly. Reading trend reports is one way to stay up to date on the latest developments, and a futurist like Recckio might help to spark your creativity and inspire new ideas.
One of the biggest challenges can be getting others onboard to help bring your ideas to market. This month's In Closing article features a good example of this. It discusses the teamwork that went into designing a first-of-its-kind perfume watch.
Laurice Rahmé, president of fragrance brand Bond No. 9, says, "I'm not seeing enough innovation in the industry right now. Too many people are afraid to take risks. Whenever I do something new with a package, I always have to work hard to convince whatever supplier I happen to be working with [on a new bottle] that my idea can be achieved. Afterwards, they always thank me for the push, because they've learned how to do something new."
While changes in technology, formulations, and packaging have all greatly advanced our industry, there are still some glitches to work out. Every branch of the beauty industry must work together and be in sync, right up to the point of sale. By working together, we can all be innovators. With more high-tech developments sure to happen soon, it is exciting to think about the changes that will occur. As it says on Mirror Mirror Imagination Group's Web site, "The future is closer than you think ... are you ready?"
Marie Redding
Senior Editor