Lucky you if you're only getting back to work this week. Although we've been having fun going through and publishing all the excellent 'trends for 2008' pieces commissioned from some of our top local thinkers in new media and branding/marketing. In all trends predictions there's a certain trepidation and tacit warning about rising costs and our economy, but a building excitement about potential for brands in Africa and 2010. There is no doubt the environment is a big player in all future marketing campaigns and marketers need to keep this in mind, as well as the fact that rising costs will change consumer behaviour to a certain extent. Consumers will expect more value if they have to pay more. We looked at retail, brand, Africa, marketing, digital, media convergence and PR trends last week and this week Yellowwood Future Architects, for example, look at general consumer trends for this year and Interbrand Sampson venture into Africa brand trends - brilliant stuff! The irony is that as I was subbing Yellowwood's comment about power failures... my power went off no thanks to Eskom! I'm so lucky to have a laptop with good battery life! So a happy and 'illuminated' new year again to those of our readers and clients only returning to work now, we hope 2008 is everything you wish it to be.
'Power' to the people! Louise Marsland, editor: editor@bizcommunity.com. All marketing news to: marketingnews@bizcommunity.com. Responses to this column welcome on our blog: http://blog.bizcommunity.com.