Market Research Firms Tacoma WA

As your business grows, change will be inevitable and entrepreneurs should constantly look ahead and shake things up. Marketing trends, finance trends, management trends — the more you have your finger on the pulse of relevant business trend research, the better your chances of success.

But finding a good crystal ball these days is difficult. What are some key trends facing startups? Who has good trend-tracking information for specific industries? And how can you tell the difference between a fleeting fad and a true trend?

Owners of new and growing small businesses today know one thing for sure: conditions change so fast that each day seems to bring a new technology, marketing strategy or buyer mood. Is that hot new trend you heard about the wave of the future - or will it be forgotten in a heartbeat? Chasing fads can be costly. Ditto if you miss a key trend.

Louis Patler, a trend analyst and market research guru for companies such as American Express and Dell, has spent a lifetime tracking emerging trends and studying their impact on business. He says the key to successfully piloting a business in the years ahead will be embracing new ways of thinking, including these:

1. Forget about sticking to what your business does “best.” As you grow, valued business traditions and processes can hold you back.
2. Customers are not always right. Offer savings and specials to your most valuable and loyal customers, and let the rest shop elsewhere.
3. Don’t expect loyalty fro...

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