The Venture Edge

I keep looking for the pundits to come out in force to predict what 2012 is going to look like for business owners. Most seem to be hiding because I’m not seeing a lot of insightful predictions. Maybe they just don't have any idea.   Now, I do not put myself in the “pundit” class by any stretch and I don’t have any special insights into what might happen this year, but as a business owner I sure have been thinking about what to expect in the next 12 months.   

It's my favorite time of year. No -- not Christmas, though that rates right up there. It's the time of year when trendwatching.com names its 12 Crucial Consumer Trends for the upcoming year, in this case 2012. If you've got a business and you want to meet your customers where THEY are, then this list is worth a look. Here are the top-five trends -- click here for the complete list of 12, along with detailed explanations. 

According to a Wells Fargo/Gallup poll published today, more than one in three -- 36% -- of U.S. small business owners reported that they are moderately or very worried that they will go out of business in 2012. Not only that, but 32% reported that they are moderately or very worried that they will be unable to pay their employees in 2012. When asked what they think is the most important problem facing small business owners like them, the top-three responses were: Complying with government regulations (22%), consumer confidence (15%), and lack of consumer demand (12%).