Trends That Will Define Opportunity This Year

Hard to believe, but according to the learned folks at the National Bureau of Economic Research, the economy’s been in recovery since June 2009.

Entrepreneur.com reports that a big reason for the stagnation so far has been, well, YOU. Tons of people–71 percent, says a recent survey by Discover Small Business Watch–are waiting for economic indicators to rise before they’re willing to hire and spend.

It’s Boomers, again.
The 76 million-strong demographic is making headlines for providing a slew of market opportunities such as construction services that make homes more senior-friendly; supermarkets with lower shelves and wheelchair-compatible shopping carts; and sales and tech support by phone for seniors, by seniors.

Get Packing.
A plethora of industry reports indicates that travel and tourism are back, and, by the end of 2011, will be better than ever. Revenue is expected to reach nearly $1.4 trillion, a record, says Toon van Beeck, senior analyst at research firm IBISWorld. This means the opportunity in the sector will be “the biggest it has ever been.”

Social Shopping.
Nearly half of all Americans are now members of at least one social network and spending more money while they’re at it, double from just two years ago. Research shows that social media users spend, on average, one and a half times more time online than the typical web surfer. In fact, heavy Facebook users spent an average of $67 online during the first quarter of the year–compared with less than $50 for the general netizen, according to recent comScore research.

Home Sweet Home.
As homeowners begin to take care of those leaky roofs and unfinished kitchen remodeling projects put off during the recession, the home improvement sector is off and running. It’s already been a good year–up 5 percent from 2009. The value of homeowner improvements is on track to top $117.6 billion in 2010 and $133.7 billion in 2011, according to IBISWorld.

Who’s Your Daddy?
The “mancession” hit guy-dominated industries pretty hard, but the men’s lifestyle market is stronger than ever, bolstered by everything from bacon-flavored toothpicks and shape wear to streamline beer bellies and “moobs” to handmade machinist shirts and “men-only” RVs with an inflatable blowup doll.

Photo by insidefacebook.

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