According to Allison Linn’s column on MSNBC.com, “Every year brings a host of buzzwords and catchphrases that capture the goings-on of the business world.” This year, it appears that this statement is more on-point than usual. With the recession affecting nearly all Americans to some degree and the spike in consumer interest in the green movement, we are all speaking a new language filled with words and phrases like staycation, smart grid, recessionista and cash for clunkers, to name a few.
By adding in the fact that the world of social media has grown exponentially in recent years, it is safe to say that there are dozens of new words cropping up all the time that people are using in day-to-day conversations. For instance, Twitter has us referring to tweets and @replys on conference calls, Facebook has us talking about friending people and Linkedin has us wondering how we can grow our professional networks.
Retailers are also teaching us new words with ad campaigns that are designed to appeal to target audiences during a time when consumers are seriously cutting their spending and reevaluating every household purchase. Target, an IMRE client, is a good example of a company that is executing a recession-friendly ad campaign. The “Frugalista” campaign features fashion icon, Nina Garcia, and everyday shoppers who are looking for a good find. The campaign teaches us to “out dress but not out spend.”
Courtesy of Target.com
While Target’s campaign is primarily focused on fashion, the concept certainly applies to the home industry. Just as Nina Garcia advises Target guests to “out dress but not out spend,” interior designers, home stagers and many other professionals are encouraging their clients to do more with less as well.
In our opinion, the change in consumers’ shopping habits is just as interesting as the new language we are all adopting. After all, in order to do more with less, people who may have once shopped at expensive boutiques are finding themselves inside of vintage or second hand shops. Whereas a quick remodel may have once been an option, today’s homeowners are getting a little creative and working with what they already have.
As we head into 2010, we can only imagine the buzzwords that we will adopt next year.
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Tags: @replys, Allison Linn, buzzwords, Facebook, interior design trends, LinkedIn, MSNBC.com, Nina Garcia, Target Frugalista campaign, Twitter
