This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Consequences of Virtual Meetings

The Herman Trend Alert November 21, 2000 Our Pets ARE our Children 40 Days until January 1, 2001 For those of us who are childless or empty nesters, pets often serve as our surrogate children. Some seniors actually refer to their pets as "the kids." Fueled by the remarkable growth in the economy, many of us have extra disposable dollars to spend on our pets. And we're spending like never before. Doggie daycare (off-worksite) is available in major metropolitan and many smaller urban areas, including Greensboro, North Carolina. Pet owners report that they know that their animals are enjoying themselves, because they often do not want to leave. Costing almost as much as childcare, this service is designed to serve affluent Americans. The pig's ears that we used to buy in bulk will no longer do. Now, animal bakeries create pet treats that cost 80¢ to $2 each and pet owners flock to buy the goodies. Some are even reputed to be made with organically grown ingredients. After all, nothing is too good for Fido or Miss Kitty. Expect to see pet and pet owner vacations for those who simply can't part with Rover or Sheba for even a week. The newspaper USA TODAY recently featured a full page of take-your-pet-along vacations. And no contemporary conversation about pets would be complete without mentioning that the expenditures on animal pharmaceuticals are growing faster than those for humans. Just ask any owner whose pet has been seriously ill and you will understand the magnitude of pet healthcare costs. Already a force in pet healthcare, we expect that homeopathy and alternative medicine will become even more important. From pet doorbells to funeral caskets, astute entrepreneurs are cashing in on the pet-love trend, supplying products to fill pet owners' perceived needs... and even some they do not yet know they have. Witness the development of franchises like Petland, catering to more discriminating pet owners, as well as the proliferation of its cut-rate competitors, and you can see why this trend will continue to grow. Not surprisingly, the fastest growing segment of pet owners is affluent Americans who can afford to spoil their pets with the best of everything. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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