IS EVERYTHING IS ABOUT STATUS?
By Bobby Riley | June 2nd, 2010
Trendwatching has recently pubished a good briefing on Status called “Statusphere”. Stating that “Whatever industry you’re in, in the end, everything is about status. And since what constitutes status in consumer societies is fragmenting rapidly, here’s a (modest) framework to help you start exploring new status symbols and stories with your customers.” Below is a brief intro and some highlights of the five areas you can delve in to get your status fix, but I encourage you to head to the full briefing in the links below.
Trendwatching states need for recognition and status is at the heart of every consumer trend.
STATUSPHERE | As consumers are starting to recognize and respect fellow consumers who stray off the beaten consuming-more-than-thou-path, ‘new’ status can be about acquired skills, about eco-credentials, about generosity, about connectivity… All of this makes for a far more diversified ‘STATUSPHERE’ than most brands and organizations have traditionally catered to. Time to really figure out how and where your customers are now finding their status fix. More>>
Traditional luxury lust is here to stay. Traditional consumption is about buying (and enjoying and showing off) more and/or better stuff than fellow consumers. More>>
Owning is no longer the only way for consumers to get their status fix: the act of giving reflects well (if not better) on individuals, too. More>>
Consumers’ interest in green credentials will lead to even more eco-friendly goods and services sporting bold, iconic markers and design, that help their eco-conscious owners show off their eco-credentials to their peers. More>>
Anything you as a brand can do to assist the pursuit of deep or trivial knowledge will be appreciated. As long as the content is of superior quality, of course. Some good examples of this are: 1) Nike’s True City is an iPhone app that aims to give consumers ‘insider’ information on six European cities, while also allowing users to share their own tips and delivering exclusive Nike offers and information. 2) The Adidas Urban Art Guide is a free iPhone travel guide listing Berlin and Hamburg’s best graffiti. Users can click on each marked location to retrieve images and information about the piece and the artist. 3) Beck’s Gig Finder app helps users to find local music gigs. The app’s map and GPS interface allow users to see where they are in relation to the gigs. More>>
This will then lead to an even-bigger need for consumers to ‘feed’, maintain, and improve their online presence with a steady stream of content: thoughts, photos, videos, songs, opinions, stories and so on. More>>
Anything missing?