Ms. Popcorn, the founder of Brain Reserve, a marketing company that tracks trends for major corporations, has identified a list often trends or major directions for the future. These ten trends are as follows:
Burrowing -- a more excessive version of cocooning of the '90s with people more aggressively hiding within their homes from the problems and realities of the outside world. Implication: the recent challenge of motivating people to leave the house and venture out to your programs continues and in some instances even escalates; we need to become very specific about benefits your department provides and use them clearly as a motivational tool.
Fantasy Adventure -- the focus on fun-filled, sometimes risk-oriented action and experiences. Implication: continued and even renewed emphasis upon special events that create "experience" opportunities for participants as well as real-life experiences such as risk-recreation and travel.
Small Indulgences -- the downsizing of the economy in the '90s leads to the creation of "smaller" opportunities for indulging ourselves (check out the supermarket for the "mini-cookies" and pint-sized portions of rich ice creams). Implication: the era of indulging or over-indulging oneself is over, yet people will be seeking ways to be good to themselves or treat themselves on a reduced scale.
Egonomics -- focus on the individual with emphasis upon making people feel unique and/or special. Implication: now more than ever people are looking to programs and services as well as to organizations that make them feel as if they really are a somebody.
The Vigilante Consumer -- growing desire of people to have more information about products and services purchased. Implication: we in parks and recreation certainly could have clued Ms.Popcorn in on this one. Increasingly, participants have become more interested in the "specifics" of staff qualifications, equipment specifications, etc.
Staying Alive -- the search for quality of life as longevity is projected as part of the future. Implication: the wellness era has arrived and people in ever-increasing numbers will make health, exercise, and wellness a priority.
99 Lives -- the fast pace of today's lifestyles coupled with multiple roles and responsibilities create overworked, overstressed, and overwhelmed people. Implication: to facilitate participation we need to continue to strive to make participation in recreation and leisure experiences easier and more "hassle-free." The even bigger implication is that now they need our services more than ever - it is necessary for people to unwind.
Cashing Out -- the shift in attitudes here in the '90s whereby people are seeking to trade standard of living for a higher quality of life. Implication: it may finally happen--it is predicted that leisure time will replace money as the status symbol of the' 90slet's be ready.
Down-Aging -- the maturing of the population, particularly among the "ever-youthful" baby boomers creates a new definition of age appropriate behavior and activities. Implication: time to rethink what we perceive as being appropriate activities for the mature set--the senior center may not be just for bingo anymore.
S.O.S. (Save Our Society) -- finally, a focus on responsible action as it relates to the future of ourselves, our families, our community and our world. Implication: concern for the environment, preservation of open spaces, the drug problem, etc.--all of these issues come to the forefront.
