Futures Coaching

Growth through 'Little Indulgences'

In 'Growth Stories' we are focusing on positive trends for the coming year; places where money can still be made. Our latest analysis of change is to do with small luxuries. 

The boom of lipstick sales in recessions is not new and was noticed in the early 1990s downturn. What other sectors see similar upticks? What are the ways to benefit from this dynamic? And what traps have to be avoided? Find out in this concise '5 minute' analysis here.

Eating must be a social activity

How could the way we eat improve in the future?
Presented by Intel, Sponsors of Tomorrow.

If eating is to improve in the future, society must relearn the social role of eating - especially in the home.

Over the past decade or two eating has become 'destructured' to use the sociological term. In simple terms, we have learnt to eat where and when we like - not at set mealtimes as before. This has obviously been very liberating in terms of facilitating the lifestyle economy (people eat when they are out and on the move). However, the flip side has been to destroy the social occasion of eating as a family - or group of friends - around the same dining table. Trends towards snacking, fast food, convenience foods, single portions, TV meals etc have all reinforced this trend towards destructuration.

Improvements to eating will come when families and other associative groups relearn the necessity to exchange regularly and deeply around the food table. And, of course, if the mealtime is venerated and celebrated, the impetus to serve decent quality food grows significantly.