Notes

Trend Spotter
What's the next big thing? Well, it is time to pull out your rolodex, can get on the horn and begin talking about "agar."

What do your contacts find out about agar and do they know what it is used for? Which are perfect distributors for you personally? How do you obtain the word out that you're a source for agar?

Trends that last are developed slowly by way of a network of businesses and talking heads.

What is agar?

We'll start with the Aquilaria trees. They are a kind of evergreen tree that grows to an excellent height and are indigenous to Southeast Asia.

It isn't the tree that you will be directly interested in, but what happens to the tree when it is infected with mold. Nature's chemical factory would go to work and produces a resin, which is very aromatic.

The trees don't have to await a fungal infection ahead along, tree growers purposely cut the trees and make conditions perfectly for the fungal infection to flourish and the resin to be produced.

Another name for the normal term agar is the more proper "agarwood." The resin has many names besides agarwood; they include jinko, gaharu, aloeswood and oud.

read more that is extracted and refined from the agarwood is witnessing a growing demand, especially in the Middle East. Prices are reflected by demand and demand is high because the oil is used for making perfumes and the fragrances found in cosmetics and is known as the most effective by many.

Thailand is expanding its production of Aquilaria trees, since they see the rising demand for what the locals make reference to as oud (agar).

If you've traveled extensively, you likely have run across agar, but were unacquainted with it at that time.

The pharmaceutical industry in Japan uses agarwood and in Europe it is common in cosmetics. Actually, agarwood is a very common raw material component in joss sticks.

A litre of premium agar can fetch up to $20,000 or more.

You ask; why most of sudden is there likely to be considered a trend involving agarwood?

Here's Additional hints of the trend story. Commercial production of agar was strictly prohibited by the Thai government since way back when, but just a few years ago, the trees that produce the desirable agar resin were removed the protected plant list in the Kingdom of Thailand. This was done following the government realized the amount of money that could be pumped into the Thai economy if they allowed the production of oud commercially.

It's been seven years since the ban was lifted, but it's taken those years to grow the trees and much more are being planted regularly, but plantations which grow the trees require large capital investment.

To put this in perspective; it takes anywhere from ten to forty years for a tree to mature so as to produce the premium oud, but artificially cultivated oil could be extracted from the tree in less than 3 years from the tree's planting.

It's in exactly the same realm of thinking as pearls. There are pearls which are produced over time and then there are cultured pearls that have been first developed by an industrious Japanese man.

The premium resin would come from trees that took those ten to forty years to mature, while the lower priced but still desirable oud came from essentially infecting younger trees with the fungus.

True, you may not consider this to be a trend that you're likely to jump on by growing your own trees, however your thinking should follow the next steps;

1. Who uses agar oil?

2. Could it be purchased in bulk and resold in smaller portions?

3. Will there be a duty on this item? If so, just how much and how is it determined?

4. Is there money in just being a middleman (distributor)?

5. Can I create a mystique about the item by writing a tale of its heritage and usage?

6. Which ceremonies call for the usage of the oil?

7. Should I try a line of my very own oils and fragrances which feature this oil and its own properties?

8. Who can I partner with to place this together?

9. Perhaps I could just make or import decanters or scent bottles because of this oil rather than deal in the oil itself.

10. Who near me gets the oil, so that I can smell it and learn more about it?

11. Is there an identical product that I should be investigating?

12. Do I watch this trend develop or do I get involved somehow?

13. If I ran an ad within an industry publication (cosmetic/fragrance) what type of response would I get? Needless to say, it depends on which your ad promises, asks for, or offers.

I like to keep my eyes open for trends which are developing, but hidden in plain sight. Honestly, before you read this article, did you ever hear of oud, agar, or agarwood?
Stay tuned, I'm always looking for trends and methods to spot them

Lazz Laszlo is really a former Investment Executive and Radio & Television Financial Reporter with many entrepreneurial endeavors to his credit. He spends his time, energy, and money on business development. He's a skilled manufacturer and website creator. Please, visit Lazz's website; [http://www.eBizEinstein.com]

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Homepage: https://www.demilked.com/author/hallhaslund61/