We help companies, brands and destinations understand – and profit from – major trends that are motivating customers to buy products, services, and experiences. And We help develop compelling trends-based offerings that make our clients more relevant, innovative and profitable. We support strategy, marketing, sales and product departments via public speaking (open and closed events, keynote presentations, panel discussions), team strategic sessions, development trips, consultations and more.
What foresight means?
foresight – anticipation or the art of reorganizing the present to prepare for the future
futures-oriented – forward-looking or which allows offering extended multiple yet concrete perspectives
future-proof – it is the process of anticipating the future and developing methods of minimizing the effects of shocks and stresses of future events.
futurist – specialist or professional in foresight
Can you really predict the future?
There is no one way to predict a trend. Trend forecasting isn’t an exact science, but it’s not complete magic either. Trend forecasting involves intuition, a sixth sense of some kind. But at the same time, it’s deep research, analysis of the past, comparison of many sources, and getting clues with more or less probability. We don’t predict the future, literally. We identify and show a direction for your brand future destination.
How do you predict the future?
We analyse available data (from scientific reports to people’s reviews), combine it with an understanding of social psychology and consumer behaviour and explore how similar situations have played out in the past. Everything to build potential future scenarios of how consumers are likely to respond to changing environments, technologies and economic situations.
Aren't trends short life?
There are different kinds of trends.
A macrotrend is a pervasive and persistent shift in the direction of some phenomenon on a global level. Examples of current macro trends include urbanization, automation as well as changing demographics.
A microtrend is a tendency in the direction of some phenomenon that is fairly pervasive within a given sphere of influence and lasts for a few years.
A fad, trend, or craze is any form of collective behaviour that develops within a culture, a generation or social group in which a group of people enthusiastically follow an impulse for a finite period. Fads are objects or behaviours that achieve short-lived popularity but fade away.
We mainly focus on macrotrends – trends that are long term.
What are benefits of market foresight?
Benefits of market foresight:
- a greater understanding of the future needs of the market
- taking advantage of future market shifts
- creation of competitive advantage
- escape from missing opportunities
- avoiding to play catch-up game with world changes
- help in anticipation of changes in the marketplace, respond to them
- power to influence the shape of the market
How can the forecaster help in decision-making?
Forecasting by the definition is a decision-making tool used by many businesses to help in budgeting, planning, and estimating future growth. In the simplest terms, forecasting is an attempt to predict future outcomes based on past events and management insight.
Forecasting can help decision-makers to assess complementary and alternative interventions. Interventions can affect many aspects of the business. We focus on strategy, marketing, sales and product development.
Did you ever make a wrong prediction?
Sometimes forecasters get over-excited and expect trends to hit the mainstream more quickly than they can. We have learned that the leap from market signal to mainstream can take a long time. The trends we predict have typically already begun somewhere: our task is to tell our clients how quickly, how widely – the trend will develop and how to make a use of it in area of strategy, sales, marketing and product development.
What the forecast success depends on?
The success of the forecasts depends on:
– Precise determination of the purpose and subject of the forecast ( deep research, full information on the subject of the forecast and its environment)
– Coverage – understanding the variables that participate in the forecast. The more information collected, the greater the ability to manipulate observations.
– Nature – Amounts of data available and their quality. The problem concerns mainly too little data used for forecast analysis. A limited number of them may generate results unrepresentative for the observed phenomenon.
– Impact of forecast on modelled processes. The assumptions are built to support the decision-making processes of interest.
– Operational knowledge, e.g. company strategy. This knowledge can translate into the involvement of others, the flexibility of the company in relation to changes taking place, e.g. changes in working methods.
A good forecasting model must take into account the dynamic variability of processes, not just their current state. Once built, the model will require constant monitoring and updating. If this process is abandoned, it is difficult to expect reliable forecasts in the longer term.
– Forecast period and horizon – Time range of forecasts. With the scope of predictions, the risk of forecast failure increases. There’s a lower risk for forecasts for the next 5 years than for 30 years. Seems logical, right?
Can any of the uncertainty be resolved in the planning process?
The only certainty in life is change. This is particularly true in business, where unpredictably has been at an all-time high in the past decade.
There’s just no way to completely prepare for the future. All you can do is stay up to date on current trends and, above all, never assume.
Stay realistic. It’s easy to get caught up in your own bubble, but that’s an important trap to avoid. Hear other people, let someone look at your business from outside. Get a new perspective on things that seems to be amazing ideas for you.
Be prepared for multiple scenarios and outcomes. A successful company prepares for multiple scenarios regardless of what’s expected. Foresight enables you to respond effectively in every situation despite circumstances. The best way to prepare is to include all departments and employees in the planning process. You’ll get fresh, unique perspectives that are more likely to result in critical and innovative thinking.
Consistently review. A forward-thinking company understands the value of data. Are you reviewing your business plan to ensure it is current? If your strategy is still addressing the needs of customers as they were five years ago, it’s out of date and puts your business in danger.
Build relationships. What you really need is support from your team and partners. The best investment you can make for future stability is relationship building.
Do all your predictions come true?
No-one can guarantee the future. But we only highlight trends that are likely to occur. And to enable clients to manage risk, we base each of my predictions on most likely outcomes, and give a percentage chance of if/when/how strongly each trend might happen.
Will I get the same advice as everyone else?
No. Every business is different. Each client has different needs. So every project is at least partially tailored towards a client’s individual needs. Strategic sessions, development trips are almost entirely bespoke.
Will I work directly with Patrycja Franczak?
Yes. Patrycja Franczak only takes on projects she has the time and knowledge to fulfil herself. When you hire her, you get her. But the team provides her with all the data, analysis and/or administrative assistance she needs to provide the best service. The team behind her scan news, reports and other media to help identify trends quicker and provide tangible data.
I'm not sure I can afford your service
If you say so. Maybe. We offer a broad range of futures services and are able to offer strategic benefits to suit most budgets. We always advise on options the client has to make the most from the trends and fit in the budget.
How to contact you?
T: +48 790 518 318
E: contact@infuture.fashion