Nicole Ballantyne-Choo
Contributing Editor
Toronto · Member since Jun 2013
1,011Published Articles
2.2MArticle Views
I'm a short (5'2 if I'm being generous), half-Chinese half-Irish contributing editor at Trend Hunter with a degree in Media Information and Technoculture from the University of Western Ontario.
I love the color pink and my favorite animal is the elephant.
In my spare time I love to work out (I'm training for Tough Mudder 2014!), hang out with my friends and watch great TV shows like The Bachelor.
Traveling and writing are two of my biggest passions; my dream is to travel the world and write about my adventures :)
I love the color pink and my favorite animal is the elephant.
In my spare time I love to work out (I'm training for Tough Mudder 2014!), hang out with my friends and watch great TV shows like The Bachelor.
Traveling and writing are two of my biggest passions; my dream is to travel the world and write about my adventures :)
Featured Ideas
Celebratory Cushion Covers
This Pillow Case Inspires You to Start Each Day HappyPositive Morning Rituals — Creating daily rituals that inspire positivity and motivation in the mornings.
Epic Competition Cosmetics
Get Ready for ‘Catching Fire’ with the CoverGirl Capitol CoDistrict-Inspired Cosmetics Collections — Creating cosmetics collections inspired by different districts of a popular movie franchise presents opportunities for creating unique and innovative products that appeal to fans of the franchise.
Sleeping Kitten-Printed Comforters
The Ollie the Cat Duvet is for Those Who Want a Feline FriendPet-Inspired Beddings — Opportunity to create more innovative bedding designs inspired by animals for people who cannot have pets in their homes.
Smartphone-Inspired Watches
The Google Smartwatch is Rumored to Face-Off Samsung and AppleWearable Technology — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing more advanced and integrated features in smartwatches to offer consumers a seamless and convenient wearable technology experience.
DIY Ugly Christmas Sweaters
Give Yourself an Instant Ugly Sweater with the Set of Holiday PatchesUgly Christmas Sweater Parties — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create an online platform or app that connects people hosting or attending ugly Christmas sweater parties.
Deceptive Medical Lunch Bags
The Emergency Insulated Lunch Box Will Give People a ScareNovelty Lunch Bags — Opportunity to create innovative lunch bags that grab people's attention and add an element of surprise to mealtime.
Violently Disguised Umbrellas
Be Prepared for Nervous Glances When Carrying the Pistol UmbrellaDisguised Products — The trend of creating seemingly dangerous or non-traditional products could be an opportunity for companies to create unique and humorous offerings.
Glamorous Celebratory Dolls
The Limited-Edition New Year Barbie is a Must-Have for CollectorsLimited-Edition Collectible Dolls — Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating limited-edition collectible dolls for various occasions and events to cater to the demand of collectors.
Soup Broth Chip Flavors
The Cheetos Cream Stew Flavor Infuses Broth Ingredients into Chip FormUnique Chip Flavors — The introduction of Cheetos cream stew flavor opens up opportunities for other companies to create unique and adventurous chip flavors.
Glittery Superstar Lacquers
Add Sparkle to Your Holiday Collection with Mariah Carey Nail PolishHoliday Lacquer Collections — Creating holiday-themed nail polish collections with a wide variety of colors and finishes can cater to consumers looking to add sparkle to their holiday looks.
Creepy Artistic Eyeholes
The Door Peephole Painting is an Eerie Way to See Who is at the DoorInteractive home decor — The door peephole painting highlights an opportunity for creative, interactive home decor items.
Humorous Comfort Food Rings
The Macaroni and Cheese Ring Looks Good Enough to EatFood-Inspired Jewelry — The rise in popularity of food-inspired jewelry creates opportunities for jewelry businesses to create fun and unique pieces for food enthusiasts.Q&A with Nicole
What is unique that's not in your bio?
Something unique that's not in my bio is that I can speak Spanish - I studied Spanish for 3 years in University and then went on a class trip to Cuba. This trip was so amazing because it challenged me and my peers to speak Spanish the whole time since we spent all our time with locals. We worked with them and would hang out with them in our spare time.
What's your favorite accomplishment?
My favorite accomplishment is participating in Tough Mudder in May with my friends. It was so cold but getting through the obstacles as a team made it so much fun. I also learned that if you challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone and face things outside your comfort zone you'd be surprised and just how much you're capable of.
How do you define cool?
I don't have one definition for cool; I think it's all relative. When you see people walking the streets of Toronto or you're browsing the Internet you see things that might make you say "what is that...?" but someone else might say "wow that's awesome!"
What is your secret to uncovering trends?
My secret to uncovering trends would be to keep an open mind. You never know what you'll stumble on and with an open mind you'll find so many interesting things you might have looked past before.
What do you enjoy most about Trend Hunter?
At Trend Hunter, I absolutely love how supportive and creative everyone is. During my first week everyone was so encouraging and made me instantly feel like part of the Trend Hunter family.
What are your tips for writing a juicy post?
My tip for writing a juicy post would be to find everything you can that makes it unique and innovative, and really focus on making those aspects even more amazing with just your words, which is your secret weapon!
How do you reset to be creative?
I take a break from technology and drink a lot of coffee.
What inspires or excites you?
Carrie Bradshaw inspires me :)
Meeting new people excites me!
Predict something awesome for 2020?
Something awesome for 2020? Hmm...I think it would be pretty awesome if Mcdonald's delivered!! hahaha
Author Categories
Adorable Critter Socks
Food-Inspired Planters
Picture-Taking Totes
Break-Up Shot Glasses
DIY Stud-Adorned Shoes
Car-Inspired Clutches
Stealth Storage Sunscreen
Golden Champion Stilettos
Violent Paper Towel Holders
Beer-Labeled Spice Shakers
DIY Hidden Note Bouquets
Unconventional Candy Corsages
DIY Rhinestone Cuffs
BFF Snack Necklaces
Chic Shoe-Carrying Totes
Vintage Music Player Purses
USB-Powered Sewing Machines
Ferocious Safari Swimwear
Heat-Activated Mugs
Board Game Dinner Plates
Romantic Mail-Inspired Clutches
Playful Feline Paperclips
Wine-Inspired Soothers
Celeb Tongue Printed Shirts
Plush Toy Seat Belts
Social Media Coffee Stencils
Aquatic Fishtail Pumps
Foldable Cooler Camping Loungers
Playful Pokemon Soaps
DIY Rhinestone Purses
Feline Printed Hosiery
Golden Seashell Clutches
Cartoon Popcorn-Printed Swimwear
Galatic Universe Curtains
Chic DIY Studded Keychains
