Small business owners have survived an incredible amount of change over the past few years, and that is a trend that won’t slow down in 2024.

So, what can we expect from the next twelve months?

Retail business continues to change, and customer expectations are changing with it. To stay ahead of the curve and thrive in 2024, embracing change will be key to your success. Staying on top of the trends that will shape business in the coming year is more important than ever. I know it can be hard to keep track of upcoming trends with everything you have going on. That’s why I’ve put together five of the top retail trends for 2024 so you can focus your time and attention where customers will care the most.

These are the top five trends I believe will have the greatest impact on the way we work in the coming year.

1. ONLINE SHOPPING

If you are an internet user, it’s hard not to notice that online shopping has exploded. When you consider that 76% of US adults shop online, according to the latest Marist Poll, it’s the biggest trend shaping the retail landscape. E-commerce is here to stay.

As many consumers shift to online shopping, it’s time to consider improving your company’s online game. First thing to do is make sure your business is easy to find online. Update your Google business listing as well as Yelp, Bing & LinkedIn. At the least, it will improve your searchability. Next, make sure your website is compatible with mobile phone viewing. If your site isn’t easy to navigate from your phone, it’s time to modernize.  Get a few of your retail items online. Business tools within Facebook and Instagram allow you to add items to your shop. Then when you post, you can tag merchandise so people can easily shop your posts. I’ve done this with photo frames and gift items with good success.

Adding online custom framing to your offerings is getting easier with solutions that allow framers to compete with larger e-commerce retailers.  Although there are many to consider, I chose FrameVue from Lifesaver Software. I added a button to my website that takes shopper to the FrameVue site where customers can upload an image, choose frame options and see a digital mock-up. This is an easy turn-key solution to getting started into e-commerce with minimal effort and expense.

A takeaway from this is that if your frame shop doesn’t have a mobile friendly website and you’re not selling on social platforms, then you’re already behind the curve.

2. SUSTAINIBILITY

One of the stand-out trends for the coming year is consumer’s demand for sustainable products and packaging. According to Shorr’s Sustainable Packaging Consumer Report, 76% of respondents say they’ve made a conscious effort to purchase more sustainable products in the past year. Combine that with the whopping 86% say they are more likely to purchase from retailers if the products are sustainable and that’s a trend worth adopting.

A few moulding manufacturers are leading the way in their commitment to sustainable products. Larson Juhl recently earned the Forest Stewardship Council and the Program Forest Certification Systems Certification for responsible environmental actions. Dave Rose, Senior Director of North American Sales said “We are committed to supplying materials from well-managed, sustainable forests that meet the world’s highest social, economic and ecological standards. Working together, we can ensure that the beauty of today’s forest lasts for many tomorrows to come.” That’s just good for everyone.

The consumer demand is there, and smart retailers are taking notice. As a purveyors of forest products, we all should consider including sustainable policies to our business plan. Recycling discarded packaging material is just the beginning. Consider these other ideas too.

Small business sustainability starts at the source. Choose products from supplies with strong commitments to ethical, social and environmental manufacturing. Mark those sustainably grown mouldings & matboards samples and promote them to your customers. That’s a good start to making a real difference.

3. IMMERSIVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Customers crave experience beyond all else and that trend is continuing in 2023. Price point and quality play a part, and that means a smart opportunity for custom framers. Consumers are searching for an interesting way to experience the process of choosing, purchasing, and enjoying the goods and services they spend our money on.

Custom framing can plan an important role here. Traditionally, customers would have to come in the store to explore options, but now with the advance of technologies like visualization software, the emphasis has shifted to be more consumer focused. If you are focused on making the customer experience more enjoyable and the design process streamlined and more transparent, the more successful you will be. The good news is that there are several tools that make it easy to take advantage of this new technology.

Shoppers can “try on” different frame design options thru Larson Juhl’s Framing Studio. It’s free to use and easy to upload an image and play with different mat and frame designs.

Lifesaver Software’s cloud-based version has visualization built in. You can take a picture of any frame and it will convert it for you in to the FrameVue ap. Others include France based Virtual Framer that has a robust set of features that are worth a serious look as does SimulArt.

Another tool that’s perfect of aspiring designers is Apple’s Artrooms. Users can immerse themselves in the interior design experience by uploading their picture and see the art on the wall of a realistic room settings.

4. NATURE INSPIRED DESIGN

A design trend I have my eye on is Nordic Nature. The trend’s palette of wood textures combined with crisp white creates a modern, organic feel reminiscent of Scandinavian design. We began to see this trend emerge last year when moulding manufactures brought forth collections of natural woods with dry finishes.

Angela Incelli, the owner and principal designer of Les Bois Interior Design assures me that nature themes are not going anywhere. “We are seeing a lot of people move the outside in,” she says. “They want natural items in their house—baskets or plants or natural wood tables. We see a lot of live-edge tables or big stumps used as an end table. Having those outdoor elements coming into the house really feeds our soul.”

The theme of incorporating nature in interior spaces will continue to be predominant in fabrics and frame finishes too. 2023 will bring warmer colors inspired by nature, like softer greens and blues that add a soothing feel to spaces.”

To make the most of the natural trend, look for opportunities to make nature-inspired statements in your business. Showcase this popular look in store displays to inspire customers. You’re a center for design after all. Feature the natural finished frames front and center on your sample wall where customers can easily see the new offerings. Design inspiration doesn’t have to be limited to inside the store, use trendy product pictures in your marketing efforts. They make great material for social posts and email campaigns.

5. MEANINGFUL OBJECTS

As consumers crave more authenticity in an increasingly chaotic world, this next trend is one that holds the most promise for framers. The last few years have taught people to prioritize joy and cherish things that hold deep meaning. It could be a father’s baseball card collection or antique maps, but people have developed a strong desire to surround themselves with objects that hold deep meaning. “Quiet greens and calming blues can combat a tumultuous political landscape, but ultimately it’s the objects we fill our homes with that hold the most power to ease our anxieties,” says Jean Lin, the founder of design firm Colony in New York.

This is great news for framers. Well-loved art collections and vintage souvenirs already make up a large portion of framing orders. We are well positioned to take advantage of the trend for authenticity. Show off past project photo to get people inspired. Update store displays to capture this trend.

Taking Care of Business

After several record-setting difficult years for small businesses, 2024 could be your opportunity to breathe new life into your company. Think about ways to elevate and grow your business that will bring in new customers and keep them coming back.