The Consumer Futures Forum 2014
LS:N Global’s Consumer Futures Forum will explore the emerging trends and movements set to define consumer thinking, product development and brand strategy over the next five years.
Highlights will include Tribe reports on Shanghai Singles and Hijabistas, Safari adventures in Seoul, Warsaw and London, profiles of the state of the retail, luxury, food and beauty markets, and the unmissable Flat Age Society, a sweeping profile of the Boomer pioneers changing the stereotypes… Show more about people over 60.
The Consumer Futures Forum will also mark the publication of our Consumer Futures Report, a global snapshot of the habits and mindsets of consumers across the lifestyle industries, from food to retail.
AGENDA
: 12:00pm – Lunch & Registration
: 1:00pm – Introduction and Overview
The Future Laboratory co-founders Chris Sanderson and Martin Raymond outline the key issues, insights and industry concerns to be explored throughout the day.
‘ Brands need to understand the rules of the game in the post-recession world. The recession may be over, but we are not going back to normal. .’ Martin Raymond, co-founder, The Future Laboratory
: 1:10pm – Global Market Overview
With technology-driven disruption and emerging market growth upending brand strategies, mastering the consumer mindset is more important than ever, as we shall see in our Global Market Overview. Highlights will include current and future market opportunities in the discount and luxury sectors, as well as advice for the future as the world’s consumers grow older, more urban and more likely to be single.
: 1:40pm – In Conversation I
: 2:00pm – The New Consumer
People are no longer defined by their age, but by their mindset. In this section we will look at the life stages driving consumers’ needs, styles and desires. Millennials are entering the wealth accumulation phase and becoming luxury consumers. Baby Boomers – a highly influential group – are in the midst of blitzing their bucket list. Meanwhile, the FABs, a new breed of 50-plus affluent businesswomen, are changing the thrifty reputation of often-overlooked Generation Jones.
Millennials, who are just becoming luxury consumers, are entering the wealth accumulation phase. Boomers or Flat Agers – a highly influential group – are in the midst of blitzing their bucket list. Meanwhile, the FABs, a new breed of 50-plus affluent businesswomen, are changing the thrifty reputation of often-overlooked Generation Jones.
: 2:30pm – People's Tea Time
: 3:00pm – Consumer Trends Rising
LS:N Global’s team of writers, researchers and visual editors examine what is new, next and innovative in consumer trends from the worlds of fashion, retail, hospitality, art, luxury and wellness. Highlights include:
: Tiny-tot Feminism – Despite the stereotypes, little girls are not just interested in the colour pink and princesses
: The Polarity Paradox – Moderation is no longer the modus operandi of choice
: Insta-real – The love-hate relationship with Instagram's cult of lifestyle curation
: The Sharded Self – Understand the consumers who flit freely between fashions, fads and friendships in real life just as they do online
: Mind Your Head – The cult of mindfulness and what it means to your company
: 3:30pm – In Conversation II
: 3:50pm – The Flat Age Society
Forget everything you thought about being old, or age, even. In the society of the future, age won’t just be a number – it will be flat.
Flat-Agers are the Baby Boomers redefining the way we look at age. The Flat-Agers of the future won’t be defined by their age, but moved by their interests, passions and ambitions, just like everyone else.
The party isn’t over. For the Flat-Agers, it’s just getting started.
: 4:20pm – In Conversation III
: 4:40pm – New Consumer Tribes
Consumer Tribes for 2014 and 2015, including:
: Shanghai Singles – The single Chinese women rejecting societal pressure and focusing on building successful careers
: The Hijabistas – A new breed of Muslim fashion innovators is blazing a trail for modesty, creative flair and business sense
: 5:00pm – In Conversation IV
: 5:20pm – Toolkits and Conclusions
: 5:30pm – Drinks
Our Guest Speakers Include :
Luke Mitchell, Head of Insight, Voxburner
Luke Mitchell is head of insight at Voxburner, where he works on youth research projects. He has more than 10 years’ experience working with the 16–24 audience. He began his career at the National Union of Students and went on to set up his own consultancy, Reach Students, where he worked with clients including Orange, the NHS, Peperami and Cancer Research UK. Luke’s recent research projects include Youth 100: The UK’s Top Brands According To 18–24s, and an investigation into the extent of entrepreneurship on UK university campuses.
Josh Spero, Editor, Spear's magazine
J osh Spero is the editor of Spear's magazine and Tatler's art Critic; he was nominated for his work on Spear's as Editor of the Year at the BSME Awards in 2011 and 2012. He is also the author of Second-Hand Stories, currently being crowdfunded on www.unbound.co.uk . @joshspero
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