Trends in 2016 ... At Least As We See 'Em

2016 has gotten off to a fast start!  We’ve already had a couple of , “day-off” holidays, gotten used to writing 2016 and struggled through daylights savings time.  And, believe it or not, the retail industry has had enough time to predict what items and ideas will be hot and trendy in 2016.  It’s not always a good idea to follow a trend.  They can be expensive and short-lived.  However, the things we mention below kind of made sense.  Give it a read and leave your opinion in the comments below.

House & Home

Shades of Gray (...and not in that way J) Shades of gray paint are all the rage.  From the lightest whisper of color to near black, shades of gray are appearing on things from interior walls to flooring to exterior house trim.  Gray seems to be the new neutral.

Graphic Throw Pillows are an easy and expensive way to add visual interest and a pop of color to any room.  Use throw pillows on sofas, chairs, beds and floors.

Farmhouse décor is becoming the go-to style, even in urban settings, due to the popularity of the HGTV show “Fixer Upper.” Farmhouse décor is intermingling of antique with contemporary and using weathered and worn architectural pieces (old garden gates, church pews, old corbels, fireplace mantels, and shiplap) to add comfortable and cozy character to a home.  Light paint colors (light blue, light gray, white, etc.) help tie it all together.

Tech Trends

Mobile Payments, also referred to as mobile money and mobile wallet, refer to payments made via a mobile device. Instead of paying with cash, check, or credit cards, a customer can use a mobile phone to pay for a wide range of services and digital or hard goods.  Mobile payments digitizes and replaces the credit or debit card chip and PIN or magnetic stripe transaction at point-of-sale terminals.  A popular example of this is the Starbucks app.  Customers load cash (via a credit/debit card) to the account.  When it’s time to pay for their order, a bar code is scanned from inside the app.  …no need to carry cash or even a wallet.  Have smart phone will purchase!

Biometrics are physiological characteristics related to the shape of the body. Examples include, but are not limited to fingerprint, face recognition, DNA, retina and iris recognition, and palm prints.  Biometrics are currently being used not only as a means of identification but also for access.  Since biometric identifiers are unique to individuals, they are more reliable in verifying identity than knowledge-based methods (like passwords).  If you have an iPhone and are using the finger print scanner to unlock your phone, then you are familiar with biometrics. 

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is the intelligence exhibited by machines or software.  Although we’re not quite at the Terminator level, we are already interacting with intelligent computers.  Siri, Cortana, Alexa, Google Voice are all examples of AI.  Rumor is, Apple and Facebook are trying to improve their AI systems so they can place orders, make retail purchases, book flights and more.  I still can’t get Siri to pronounce my name correctly.

 Food & Beverage Trends

“Free from” is a hot buzz term right now.  Although, many consumers don't actually need products that are free from gluten, wheat and dairy, they are demanding them anyway, as they consider them to be healthier. Industries have taken notice and saw they had little choice but to respond.  The surge in mainstream gluten-free products has been incredible.  There are now whole aisles (in some grocery stores) completely devoted to “free from” foods.

The "Flexitarian" has been born.  A flexitarian is a part-time vegetarian who has reduced their meat consumption because of health, sustainability and animal welfare concerns.  The new breed of vegetarians is having a major impact on new product activity. This includes the technological development and promotion of better-tasting products more reminiscent of meat, as well as the use of alternative protein sources and more animal-friendly processes.

Vegetables are making a comeback!  People know they need to eat more greens, but shy away because of taste expectations. Children can be encouraged to eat more through hidden vegetable products (like baked beans) while the rise of fusion smoothies and high vegetable pastas indicates that adults also can be encouraged to increase their intake.

To keep up with more technology, decorating, fitness, and other wildly popular trends, visit our Pinterest page.  We have 18 boards filled with the absolute coolest ideas, recipes, and more! Search jbmhhfmwr.