It's 'Reigning' Men - Read On Before You Start Singing Hallelujah

Sorry single women, don't shout "Hallelujah" on this one, just yet! Although it sounds the same, read the title carefully, it's not raining men, but 'reigning men'. You are encouraged to keep reading as you will discover some valuable information. Would you be interested in knowing the new hot spot you are likely to meet an eligible bachelor? I thought so.

Let's begin with a little background information, first. The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) is a business consulting firm which "assists a range of Fortune 500 and start-up companies across many types of industries, such as consumer packaged goods companies, retailers, nutritional ingredient suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, government, academia, associations, financial institutions and service organizations.

By utilizing a diverse mix of proprietary strategic market development tools and methodologies-including qualitative and quantitative research-NMI provides its clients insightful market analysis and strategic planning surrounding new product opportunities, branding, communications, consumer target identification, sales strategy, and strategic business planning."

The 2007 Health & Wellness Trends Report (HWTR) is reported to contain eight years of consumer health and wellness trends. It boasts of being the only research vehicle that tracks general population consumer trends annually with an all-inclusive view of the health and wellness marketplace.

Please, stay with me ladies. Many of you are probably thinking of health clubs and the gym. Remember, you were to learn of a 'new' hot spot not the old and familiar ones such as those. Here it comes, but first this.

One of the Top 10 Trends in HWTR in 2007 is men's personal care! Men's personal care is the fastest-growing segment in the Bath and Body Care category, driven by the 'metro-sexual' phenomenon, creating permission for a broader target of men to participate in the category. A metro sexual, in case you didn't catch any of several newspaper articles about this developing phenomenon (or the "South Park" episode on Comedy Central), "is a straight man who styles his hair using three different products (and actually calls them "products"), loves clothes and the very act of shopping for them, and describes himself as sensitive and romantic." You may have no interest in this type of man. If you know someone who does, this is where she should look to find him.

Look for men to be increasingly accommodated in the traditionally female environments of grocery, drug and specialty retail. She must not assume their presence is to make a purchase for a significant other. If she does, she is very likely to miss an opportunity to provide her expertise in personal care. (Pun intended.)

You may wish to hold on to this information for awhile to test-market it first; no one would be the wiser. If it is reigning men, there will be more than one woman can handle, anyway. Did I hear a "Hallelujah?" Now it's time for you to share this hot spot with your girlfriends. The forecast is sunny. No rain clouds in sight.