Tana Makmanee is a sweet-hearted trend writing machine that has a strong affinity for viral Internet products. The graduate of the University of Toronto is also a social media guru whose building industry and land development project won awards for best social media campaign. Outside of work projects, Makmanee loves a good, funny YouTube clip, arts and crafts and traveling the world.
What is your favorite trend and why?
My favorite trend is viral Internet products. A great example is 'Viral Video Holiday Apparel.' Viral videos are such a huge thing these days with people like PSY and those cute cats everyone loves watching. Because of those videos, people start making products and clothing. It's a great representation of mixing traditional and modern day culture. This video is pretty much your grandma's knitted sweater with viral pop culture hits like PSY and the adorable kitties. It blends old and new together to create a mish-mash of modern day pop culture.
How do you define cool?
I would define cool as the understated. Anything that tries too hard or is too loud is definitely not cool.
What's your favorite part about working at Trend Hunter?
So far, at Trend Hunter, my favorite part is the people. The atmosphere is so fun and engaging, and they really bring you into the family.
How do you reset to be creative?
How I reset to be creative is that when I find that I'm stuck or can't write anything, I just try to clear my mind and almost meditate. Then, ideas usually start flowing.
What's your favorite accomplishment?
My favorite accomplishment so far has been getting hired at Trend Hunter after finding out how many people applied and how competitive it was. It was pretty exciting to learn I got the job, it was great.
In what ways do you see the business world changing?
I really hope the environment that they have here at Trend Hunter will be extended to other companies in the future. It's an environment that promotes innovation and even failure because you will never accomplish anything if you don't try new things.
Is there anything you'd like to add about Trend Hunter?
Trend Hunter is really awesome. I'd apply, because it's amazing here.
Tana Makmanee, Trend Hunter (INTERVIEW)
Makmanee Takes a Look at Viral Internet Products
Trend Themes
1. Viral Internet Products - The trend of viral Internet products presents disruptive innovation opportunities for businesses to create and market products inspired by popular online content.
2. Viral Video Holiday Apparel - The trend of viral video holiday apparel offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the fashion industry to blend traditional and modern culture by designing clothing featuring popular viral video content.
3. Innovation and Failure Promotion - The trend of promoting innovation and even failure in the business world provides disruptive innovation opportunities for companies to create environments that encourage experimentation and risk-taking.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can leverage the trend of viral video holiday apparel to create unique clothing designs that capture the essence of popular online videos, attracting a new consumer segment.
2. Social Media Marketing - The trend of viral Internet products opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for the social media marketing industry to develop creative campaigns that align with the popularity of viral online content.
3. Human Resources and Organizational Development - The trend of innovation and failure promotion offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the human resources and organizational development industry to implement strategies that foster a culture of experimentation and learning within companies.