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Will Rogers, America’s favorite cowboy humorist, once said, “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” The same holds true for busy executives who do not have time to research the latest trends, but nonetheless must stay on top of what’s hot and what’s not. So this spring, WVE has lightened the workload to keep you informed and up to date with Executive Trendsetters…
As technology improves the number of message platforms will continue to increase ads on cell phones, ATM screens, digital billboards, Internet, and digital TV.
One-to-one advertising and marketing that is tailored to the taste of individual consumers is especially hot. High-end consumers in particular will be targeted for their exact tastes and spending patterns.
The latest trend in advertising centers on a changeable screen being employed by taxi cabs, buses and subway cars in major cities. The ads on these screens change to target specific neighborhoods and areas. For example, as the vehicle passes a signaling device, its display panel will change to tout nearby stores, cinemas or restaurants. Messages can be tweaked to address the immediate interests of specific areas of the city – even to the extent of changing the language to reach consumers in ethnic neighborhoods.
The technology driving this trend is called Radio Frequency Identification Device or RFID. Look for this hot new advertising tool to pop up everywhere from early morning commutes to the grocer’s cereal shelf.
With gas prices at record highs hybridfuel cars are the trend of the future. These cars deliver better mileage by switching between a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The electric motor recharges itself when the gasoline engine is running. If U.S. vehicles used this technology to bump average gas mileage to a modest 40 miles per gallon by 2012, the country could trim its oil consumption by three million barrels per day — more than it imports from all the Persian Gulf countries.
Toyota Prius, a roomy, feature-packed and user-friendly gas/electric hybrid capable of delivering an astonishing 60 miles per gallon in city driving, is the 2004 Motor Trend Car of the Year. It provides a tantalizing preview of a future where extreme fuel efficiency, ultra-low emissions and stirring performance will happily coexist in one package.
Until now, the concepts of SUV and fuel efficiency have been mutually exclusive. The 2006 Lexus RX 400h, introduced on April 15, 2005, and powered by a V6 Hybrid Synergy Drive system changed that. This hybrid’s all-wheel drive hybrid power train combines two powerful electric motors with the highly efficient 3.3-liter V6 engine found in the RX 330 to significantly improve low to mid-speed acceleration and overall fuel efficiency. The system is a “full hybrid,” meaning that it is capable of operating in separate gas or electric modes as well as a mode that combines power from both.
The Lexus hybrid will develop a peak system output of approximately 270 horsepower and, although exact EPA mileage estimates are not available yet, it is expected to deliver combined fuel economy equivalent to or better than the average compact sedan. Zero-to-60 acceleration also will keep the Lexus hybrid in the sub-eight-second timeframe. For emissions, the Lexus hybrid will be rated a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, one of the most stringent emissions ratings in the industry.
Many parents don’t have the option of staying home with their children, so many daycares are offering the next best thing: Webcams. The technology allows parents to log on to a secure Website, often with a password or special ID number, and view their child at any time during the day. More advanced models even allow parents to have conversations with their little ones, allowing families to stay connected even when they’re apart.
The all new iMac G5 is a futuristic desktop computer in which the display is the computer. The entire system including the logic board, slot-loading optical drive, hard disk, speakers and power supply fit inside the 17 or 20-inch flat screen monitor. Just as with other desktop models, the two-inch wide computer can store everything from music and photos to movies and E-mails, but with added space-saving convenience. The iMac G5 comes with a 1.6 or 1.8 GHz G5 processor that runs 64-bit applications under the Mac OS X operating system. Prices start at $1,299.
Non-diet diets make up the menu these days. Books such as French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano and Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type by Peter D'Adamo, as well as Web publications like the Three Hour Diet by Jorge Cruise all preach a variety of healthy eating tips and tricks instead of self denial.
The philosophy behind all these diets may just be the key. Instead of odd food combinations or extreme limitations, they approach weight loss through a series of mindset and lifestyle adjustments. While change isn’t always easy, these little adjustments aren’t tough and can add up to a healthier, slimmer you.
New ways to connect and print are making it easy to both send images to the printer and to go wireless when sending E-mail photos.
Wi-Fi downloading and sharing via Kodak’s June 2005 release of EasyShare-One will allow users to upload or e-mail high-quality photos over a wireless network. But it also requires Kodak’s $99.00 Wi-Fi card outside the home, and users must set up a T-Mobile Wi-Fi account.
The new standard in cameras and printers is being promoted jointly by Kodak, Konica, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Ricoh, and Sanyo. Imagelink-compliant cameras, available later this year, will come with a standard connector that docks easily with any Imagelink printer. Just place the camera in the dock, press a button and print.
Radiosurgery is being hailed as the latest alternative to traditional dental surgery. This less invasive practice is replacing scalpels, being used for numerous cosmetic and surgical procedures and gaining widespread acceptance by patients and practitioners, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.
Radiosurgery is a safe, time saving and stress free dental technique, using radio waves instead of a scalpel to render a pressureless, bloodless, micro-smooth incision and to minimize surgical time and post-operative treatment for the patient. The dentist programs the instrument to produce one of four different radio waveforms that can be used for specific procedures ranging from gum surgery to bleaching to biopsies.
The express workout is the newest trend physical fitness. These workouts are designed to be completed in 30 minutes. The suddenly ubiquitous Curves franchise is an example of a popular express workout. Currently, there are approximately 8,000 locations worldwide. This type of workout is designed for individuals with busy schedules; allowing on-the-go executives to utilize their lunch hour for fitness.
It’s catchy, familiar and can store up to 10,000 tunes. It’s the iPod, of course. This Mac gadget is taking the world by storm. The fourth generation iPod is more powerful than ever with 18 hours of battery life – that’s a flight from New York to Paris with plenty of hours to spare! This little gadget is more than just an MP3 player, it also has a calendar, games, a notepad and alarm clock. Additional iPod variations include the Apple 6 GB Mini which comes in blue, the Apple 4GB mini in silver, or the Apple 30 GB Photo.
This tiny Mac has become so popular that 80 percent of Microsoft employees who work near or on the main campus in Redmond, Washington, are using it. Such “disloyalty” irks management, so many employees have begun swapping the immediately recognizable white headphones for less conspicuous headsets.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Industries, companies emphasizing employee health and wellness perform better, and this year’s trend of mobile spas seems to be what the doctor has prescribed. Complete with therapists and massage tables and chairs, mobile message therapy services in the work place offer relaxation that rejuvenates employees and their company.
Companies that offer weekly 15-minute massages for employees have noted decreased complaints of headache, back strain and fatigue. Employers who offer massage services to employees also report lowered turnover rates.
Massage and spa services have been shown to reduce anxiety and fatigue in high-stress jobs as well. The American Institute for Stress estimates that one million workers are absent from their jobs each day because of stress. Stress costs U.S. industry more than $300 billion. Take the time for a quick massage – it could be healthy for your bottom line.
The fresh sex appeal of a pant suit is the way to go. Form-fitting single breasted jackets and slim “pencil leg” pants are in again. Under the suit, silky or lacey camisoles replace more formal dress shirts for a more feminine look. Calvin Klein, Helmut Lang, and Giorgio Armani all have versions of this clean, modern elegance. The Gap also has a pant suit this season for those who want the look, but can’t afford the designer price tag.
This spring, men should look for more vivid colors when it comes to both suits and dress shirts. Bright White, Caviar Black, Rio Red, Bluebell, and Smoked Pearl are big. The bold pinstripe suit is also making a comeback along with vests. Expect the fabrics for these suits will to be brighter with more of a sheen or shiny look.
Greek revival is back. From sandals with straps that wind up the ankle to flowing tunic style shirts, this ancient classic look is back with flare. Sheer, flowing fabrics, elegantly draped with multiple folds and pleats aren’t just for casual after hours outfits. The Greek look is also a trend in both formal and office wear with flirty skirts and softer shirts under crisp suits.
Every office has its own words to describe certain items, events or people. While a trincutive is a good trend word to describe all those executive electronic trinkets from PDA’s to cell phones, and a Wesecutive is the hip way to describe a successful West Virginia executive, there is no word to describe the executive woman who runs an office, takes care of a family and still finds time to volunteer in her community.
For this, WVE has created a special new trend word, Izanami. In Japanese mythology Izanami is the goddess who not only created and ruled over Japan, but also mothered the Japanese archipelago. What a perfect word to describe all those hard working women everywhere who do it all! (For more information on Izanami visit www.goddesses.info/English/izanami.html.
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