Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.trends,americast.usa-today.trends From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: trends Tue, Sep 29 1992 Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 04:35:07 EDT Message-ID: 09-29 0000 DECISIONLINE: Trends & Marketing USA TODAY Update Sept. 29, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network ISLAND, STREET MEET IN HALL: The "ragamuffin" raps of reggae's dancehall are taking hold of the USA's new jack generation. Jimmy "Jam" Harris and Terry Lewis produced Shabba Ranks' dancehall single "Slow and Sexy," featuring Johnny Gill, out Thursday. Scores of albums have already hit stores, including Mad Cobra's "Hard to Wet, Easy to Dry" and Super Cat's "Don Dada." ROOTS SOUND FLOURISHES: Dancehall isn't the only hot music flame burning these days. Traditional or roots reggae has also been refueled. New albums with more reggae, R&B and ska are out, including Third World's "Committed" and Black Uhuru's "Time is the Master." The Late Bob Marley's music is loved by both dancehall and traditional artists. Store owners say everything by Marley is selling fast. MORE PARENTS TRAVEL WITH KIDS: Many parents are taking children along on business. Nearly 9% of all business travelers had kids in tow in 1991, up from 3% in 1987, estimates the U.S. Travel Data Center. The reason: Working parents want more time with their children, although it isn't easy. For many parents, traveling with children is a necessity. (For more, see special Travel package below.) MARKETERS MAKE A DEAL: Value-marketing - underscoring a product's virtues, such as high quality, while playing up its price - has gone from a groundswell to a tidal wave. Mobil's Hefty division slashed prices up to 20% and boosted the number of plastic garbage bags per box by 20%; and Buick is pitching its top-of-the-line, full-sized Park Avenue as "America's best car value" at $25,800. CHENILLE GAINING GROUND: People might remember the heavy, shaggy chenille bedspreads and robes in Grandma's house. Tacky then. This time around, chenille's being made into leopard print pillows, and coverlets and bedspreads in jeweled tones on black backgrounds. Vintage chenille is a collectible. "Chenille will become the next quilt," says Dorothy Kalins, editor of Metropolitan Home. DEALS ON FALL CLOTHES OFFERED: Although 1992 is nearing its end, there are some great fall buys going on. They're featured in October's Mademoiselle - "92 Great Looks and 92 Ways to Wear Them." Also included are ways to wear menswear but look like a woman. When clothes come on strong, women need to complement them with soft hair, makeup and accessories. GOLDEN STATE DESERVES NICKNAME: Despite it's current economic slump, California is home to more affluent Americans than any of the nation's other states, according to the Number News. Of California's 10.4 million households, 1.5 million have annual household incomes of $75,000 or more. New York follows with 904,100 "wealthy" resident families. And New Jersey, Texas, Illinois and Florida each count more than 400,000. PEOPLE STILL NIBBLING AWAY: A survey of 1,000 people by The Research Advantage Inc., finds many are cutting dining costs by changing behaviors. For example, 87% reportedly save by skipping dessert, 86% order fewer side dishes, 85% opt for take-out more often than sit-down meals, and 82% select cheaper entrees. YOGURT COOLS ICE CREAM SALES: Ice cream makers aren't very happy these days. The National Restaurant Association reports sales of ice cream are being stifled by frozen yogurt. More than 82 million gallons of yogurt were sold in 1989. That jumped to 147 million gallons last year. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON TRAVEL: TRAVEL PART OF FAMILY TIME: The percentage of business travelers who are bringing along their children has increased. For single parents, there may be no one left at home to babysit. For others - married and single - bringing the kids is a way to squeeze precious family time in between work. The U.S. Travel Data Center says it's now more common for business travelers to combine trips with weekend vacations. AIRLINES MAKE IT CONVENIENT: The travel industry has taken notice of this trend. Airlines have introduced frequent-flier programs for children and more hotels offer babysitting programs. Embassy Suites' Cool Cats Kids Club is a fully supervised child-care program, available seven days a week at its hotels in New York City, Palm Beach, Parsippany, N.J., Orlando North, Orlando South and Nashville at no cost. HOTELS CATER TO PARENTS: All Sheraton hotels offer babysitting by request with varying prices. The Choice Hotels chain, which includes comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion Suites Hotels, offers babysitting services at varying prices. All Four Seasons Hotels offer a children's program called The Works. All Hilton hotels have babysitting services at varying prices and children stay free. (End of package.) Trends & Marketing Editor: Michele Coleman. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM