While it is useful to consider the trend spotting industry from the perspective of the various types of companies and professionals of which it is comprised, it may be more useful to consider the trend spotting industry in terms of the various other industries to which it caters. This is important because a fashion trends company will be almost entirely useless to the Environmental Protection Agency, whereas a technology forecasting company will be unable to assist a local handbag designer hoping to select strategically smart patterns, colors, and fabrics. The most appropriate trend spotting methods vary from industry to industry; for some, more formalized research methods are appropriate, while for others, it is better to let experts rely on informal scanning and intuition.
I therefore invite you to consider the trend spotting industry in its most prominent ecosystems: the fashion industry, technology, advertising, and design.
