I feel quite proud that Marketing Directions, Inc., publishers of The Trend Curve, celebrated its 19th anniversary in April. It has been a fascinating 19 years to say the least.
The Company was founded in 1987 when my husband and I were living in Chicago. Why I chose to start a new business when I was expecting my first child remains a mystery to me even to this day. I can still remember working against deadlines during my new baby’s nap time, hoping that she would stay quiet in her crib if she woke up before I could break from my project. This was an excellent lesson in letting go that I wonder some times if I learned completely enough.
Marketing Directions began as a consultancy. I loved working one-on-one with clients toward their specific goals, customizing my color and trend forecasts to their needs. I still do. That’s why, no matter how many trend products and color forecasts we develop and release, I make sure we hold some time to work with a short list of clients every year. Below is just a sampling of the diversity of projects we have been involved with in the past 12 months. We have:
• Recommended material and color trends for gift baskets
• Designed pet beds and furniture for dogs and cats
• Developed décor trends for window coverings
• Specified colors for scrap book papers and embellishments
• Suggested materials, themes and forms for ceiling fans
• Analyzed paper packaging patterns for trend worthiness
• Selected web-safe colors for on-line marketing materials
The Trend Curve newsletter actually came along after the consultancy was up and running, debuting just over a year after the Company was formed. Although I have always loved to write (and The Trend Curve provides me with an outlet for often-complex thoughts about trends and their future), I always welcome working on projects with clients. It keeps me connected with the way this business began 19 years ago.