A continuation of our post from last week, as a result of some recently published work on Top Trends Impacting Business (both large and small) In 2013,  I wanted to share with you several of my views on top trends over the coming days.

1.    Sustainable? Prove it!

If you claim to be sustainable, but you aren’t, or at least you can’t prove it, then consumers are onto you. No longer is it acceptable to simply identify your goods are sustainable, customers in both the retail and industrial sectors are seeking proof. The transparency that we have become accustomed to in food products is now making its way into other areas, and fast. Companies like Patagonia are taking the lead in providing their customers the opportunity to see the story behind the goods they are purchasing and the impacts production has on the environment. If you aren’t clear on the origin of the goods you are selling, you had better start researching.

2.    Near Field Communication.

It’s safe to say that plastic has taken the once cherished crown from cash as being king. This trend however is again shifting as companies like Apple invest in technology that will facilitate Near Field Communication (N.F.C.) for payment transactions. The ability to buy goods will be done through the use of smartphone’s versus debit or credit machines. If you want to get ahead of the crowd, keep an eye on what your credit card merchant is offering in the way of N.F.C. technology. Launch of this new phase in payment processing is just around the corner.

© Shawn Casemore 2013. All rights reserved.