{"id":731,"date":"2016-09-08T16:01:33","date_gmt":"2016-12-06T04:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wayup.com\/guide\/?p=731"},"modified":"2018-06-29T14:12:47","modified_gmt":"2018-06-29T14:12:47","slug":"what-is-a-trend-forecaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wayupstudent.wpengine.com\/what-is-a-trend-forecaster\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Trend Forecaster?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve recently read an article about upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wayup.com\/guide\/what-is-a-fashion-buyer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fashion trends<\/a> or revolutionary technology products, then you\u2019ve probably already come across the concept of trend forecasting. A popular component of the media and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wayup.com\/guide\/career-opportunities-marketing-majors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marketing industries<\/a>, trend forecasting (also known as trend analysis) is designed to identify upcoming trends across a variety of different lifestyle areas such as fashion, technology and culture.<\/p>\n<p>To find out more about trend forecasting and what it\u2019s like to work in the field, we sat down with Sara Radin, a youth culture editor at WGSN, a trend forecasting company.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What does a trend forecaster do?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Although trend forecasting might seem a little bit like magic, it\u2019s actually an analytical process that involves spotting patterns. In order to do this effectively, forecasters use consumer insights to predict what trends are most likely to have an impact on certain demographics. For Sara, who focuses on both fashion and culture trends, this means combining creativity and analysis to spot upcoming trends. Once she has an understanding of what those trends might be, Sara works with clients to develop strategies that will allow them to leverage those insights. \u201cOur clients use us as a resource when they\u2019re designing a fashion collection,\u201d she explains, noting that the information her company provides helps clients optimize their products and develop their marketing strategies.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What are some of the most exciting aspects of a trend forecasting career?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Being on the cutting edge of new trends and technologies is one of the most exciting aspects of starting a career in this field. In fact, it comes with the potential of being an influencer, particularly if you\u2019re an editor like Sara who is creating content that shapes how others see trends. Beyond the ability to shape public opinion and help companies define their consumer strategies, one of the other exciting aspects of this role is the exposure to new places and experiences. \u201cTravel is a really big part of my job,\u201d Sara says. \u201cThis year alone, I\u2019ve gone to Montreal and Detroit and now I\u2019m going to San Francisco, London and Miami. I would say that the best part of my job is that I get to have experiences that not only enrich the company\u00a0but also enrich me.\u201d By traveling to different areas of the country and the world, Sara has developed a great perspective on what\u2019s trending in different places and she\u2019s able to use that perspective when making recommendations to her clients.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>What are some of the challenges trend forecasters face?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>In our increasingly globalized world, trends come and go with lightning speed and staying ahead of them means that you\u2019ll need to be knowledgeable about different trends and comfortable working in a constantly changing environment. Beyond the challenge of keeping up with the trends themselves, there are also other challenges such as those related to traveling extensively, working closely with a team and maintaining an unbiased and analytical perspective on what\u2019s trending. For Sara, one of the biggest challenges is covering projects that are outside her key areas of interest. \u201cA willingness to take one for the team and cover some things that may not be your passion is probably a big part of any job and I\u2019m still grateful for those opportunities,\u201d she says, emphasizing that those experiences add to her perspective while also making her a valuable asset to the company.<\/p>\n<p>Trend forecasting is a great career option for those who are interested in staying ahead of the curve and passionate about helping others do the same. If you\u2019re thinking about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wayup.com\/guide\/how-to-become-a-trend-forecaster\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">becoming a trend forecaster<\/a> and want to learn more about the role, consider taking on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wayup.com\/member\/jobs-listing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an internship<\/a> and getting some hands-on experience of what it\u2019s like to work in this exciting field.<\/p>\n<p>Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wayup.com\/guide\/6-things-to-do-in-your-first-week-at-a-new-job\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">6 Things to Do in Your First Week at a New Job<\/a>\u00a0and find answers to common interview questions such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wayup.com\/guide\/answer-whats-dream-job\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What&#8217;s Your Dream Job?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve recently read an article about upcoming fashion trends or revolutionary technology products, then you\u2019ve probably already come across the concept of trend forecasting. A popular component of the media and marketing industries, trend forecasting (also known as trend analysis) is designed to identify upcoming trends across a variety of different lifestyle areas such &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/wayupstudent.wpengine.com\/what-is-a-trend-forecaster\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;What is a Trend Forecaster?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,114,89],"tags":[115,139,197,198,199,223,224],"class_list":["post-731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment-sports","category-marketing-major-101","category-fashion-industry-roles","tag-fashion","tag-marketing","tag-underclassman","tag-postgrad","tag-senior","tag-fine-arts","tag-arts-entertainment"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is a Trend Forecaster? 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