March 2010
Trends for the “New Normal”
My Vistage group members have each other as sounding boards and support in facing the transformation that is taking place because of economic pressures and changing consumer expectations. Additionally, they have access to extraordinary resources and information provided by Vistage International. A recently released Vistage white paper, “12 Trends that Will Define Business in the ‘New Normal,’” by Paul Diamond, discusses the following trends:
- Short-Termism — “People are thinking more about the here and now, and less about things that may or may not last a long time.” (William Higham, author of The Next Big Thing — Spotting & Forecasting Consumer Trends for Profit)
- Brand Aid — Companies building brand loyalty by providing advice, information, or free services.
- Conscious Consumerism — People making purchases based on highly selective, specific criteria that matter to them.
- Simplification — Consumers seeking edited or limited choices.
- Mobile Purchasing — Using cell phones to make purchases and close deals conveniently.
- Emotional Branding — Using a company’s brand to establish a deep emotional connection with customers.
- Reputation Management — Keeping reputation, including online, in good standing.
- Behavioral Segmentation - Creating customer profiles based on their behavior vs. traditional demographics (what they do vs. who they are).
- Green, The Second Act — Businesses will need to address sustainability, particularly because products will have ratings.
- Collective Intelligence — Tapping into the wisdom and advice of many people in a quick and cost-effective manner (as with social media).
- Evolution of Traditional Sales Models — From “push selling” (product- or service-oriented) to “pull marketing” (customer-oriented) using an online presence.
- Constant Business Pressure — Need to focus on creating products and offering services that are better, faster, and cheaper than the competition.
Vistage delivers the vital perspective business owners need to see the big picture, test ideas, overcome obstacles, and seize opportunities. The CEO Program offers:
- Fresh Thinking — New ideas and perspectives that are the fuel for any company’s continued growth and innovation.
- Better Decision-Making — The Vistage group provides the most effective sounding board for members’ toughest decisions.
- Accountability for Success — With no agenda except to help one another succeed, group members and Chairs test assumptions, uncover opportunities, and hold each other accountable for taking action.
- Improved Performance — It’s about continuous, accelerated, practical learning and about turning good intentions into great results.
We selectively seek, by invitation only, CEOs with a strong desire to enhance their leadership and business skills while moving their organization forward. If you would like to attend one of our Vistage meetings as a guest or learn more about Vistage, contact Gail Schaper-Gordon at 323-259-9449 or gail@winwinworkplace.com.