Economics Will Dictate Business in 2009: Make Sure You Can Differentiate Between Trends and Fads

Fads come and go, but trends involve a gradual but steady shift in the norm of our cultures and in hard economic times, there will be many shifts, bumps in the rooms, dips in revenue streams and adjustments your business will need to make. No matter what, trends and fads exist concurrently and you must become an expert at spotting the difference in order to survive and thrive.

The leisure suit was a fad, but more casual appearance in dress was a trend. The same is true in the business of aesthetics and a wise aesthetician will stay current on the trends and the fads in the business and be able to tell both peers and clients about the differences.A fad as an example could be a removable tattoo, or using a particular type of lotion made from exotic herbs. A trend however would be something like the move towards medical spas, or the increasing popularity of microdermabrasion and alphahydroxy peels.

One of the differences between a trend and a fad, in addition to how long one will last and be around is found in how quickly it catches on and with what age groups. When something arrives overnight and suddenly everyone is doing it, it may well just be a fad. It will go away soon enough with no need to really worry about it. Trends come in more slowly and take hold in a firmer way. For instance, there is a general trend towards acceptance of cosmetic surgery by the general public, especially since so many celebrities and so many baby boomers are engaging in it. Tattoos are an odd thing in that they became both trend and fad. Perhaps the fact that they are permanent contributed to their trendiness rather than fadiness. They couldn’t simply go away the way so many other fads did. Those who got them were stuck with them. Branding however appears to have been a fad that did not stick, to the relief of many.

Telling the difference is tricky sometimes. It is always a good idea to read the magazines and journals of your industry, and catch articles that will keep you informed in these matters. Also attending professional conventions will help you see what is happening in other parts of the country. By doing so and conversing with other aestheticians in different areas you’ll keep your knowledge level high and be able to make a sound decision when deciding what is trend and what is fad and recommending ways to handle them to your clients. Stay informed and you’ll be a better aesthetician.