Marketing Forecast from Ad-ology

With so many entertainment forms available for consumers to choose from, movie theater operators have good reason to worry about the future. At least one research shop says industry ticket sales and revenues were down in 2010. Many theater operators and production companies hope that the 3D segment will be an exciting enough alternative to get consumers to pay extra to see movies in this format. But research indicates that the ticket premium being charged for 3D may put off consumers.

Customers did a lot more online shopping during the 2010 holiday season, surpassing prior expectations as consumers overcame economic concerns such as high unemployment and housing prices. According to comScore, retail e-commerce spending for the entire November – December 2010 holiday season reached $32.6 billion, marking a 12% increase versus 2009, and an all-time record for the season. And for the first time since comScore began tracking e-commerce activity in 2001, Cyber Monday (Monday, Nov. 29) ranked as the heaviest online spending day of 2010 at $1.028 billion. The big winners were computer hardware, which racked up 23% growth, thanks to the popularity of the iPad and other handheld devices; and books and magazines, which registered 22% growth.

The Radial Group’s new 2011 Health and Wellness Trend Report identifies some of the top healthcare trends predicted for the new year. According to Leslie Nolen, president of The Radial Group, “Self-care, DIY healthcare trends, back-to-basics fitness and Lifestyle Change 2.0 trends” will put consumers back in control of their own health and wellness in 2011. Some of the key healthcare trends anticipated for 2011 include the evolution of health recommendations into mandates; the emergence of a back to basics mentality that will emphasize simplicity and self-reliance over complexity; as well as a more comprehensive “Lifestyle Change 2.0″ approach that will offer solutions that solve consumer problems by integrating all the tools of health and wellness: fitness, nutrition, mind-body practices, and conventional, complementary and alternative medicine.

With the economy on the mend and a generation of new electric vehicles headed to market, 2011 has the potential to be a key year in reshaping the automotive industry, according to industry analysts. Roughly 11.5 million Americans bought a new car in 2010, up from 10.4 million in 2009. Despite having to fight for every sale in 2010, many automakers made money — even General Motors. According to a new Trend Watch survey by the Turnaround Management Association, 37% of responses identified the automotive industry as the industry most likely to improve in 2011. Improved effieciency, technology, and functionality are expected to top the list of automotive trends for the new year.

Phil Lempert, also known as the Supermarket Guru, has predicted some of the top food Trends for 2011. Value and convenience will continue to top shoppers’ lists, so in 2011, consumers will utilize mobile food applications at every point in the grocery store. In response to shoppers’ hunger for food information with substance, the look of the produce department will change dramatically as supermarkets add stickers directly onto pieces of produce to highlight the meaningful vitamins, minerals and fiber contained within. Regional foods – based on the tastes and culture of the areas where they’re sold – are also expected to emerge, signifying a shift from local to regional emphasis.

While still recovering from the recession, positive signs in the restaurant industry point to traffic growth in 2011, according to new research from The NPD Group. A new survey from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) also predicts the biggest trends in the restaurant industry for 2011. According to Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the NRA’s research and knowledge group, the top trends identified by culinary professionals for 2011, “are reflecting larger societal trends, underscoring that American diners are becoming more and more interested in what’s on their plate. Sustainability and nutrition are becoming key themes in our nation’s nearly one million restaurants.”