Namaste.

For today’s Trending Thursday post, we’re looking back at 2013 where we first identified The Year of Bliss trend in the garden industry.  

In 2013, we noted that consumers were fed up with complexities of modern life and turned to spirituality in an attempt to find deeper meaning.  

This idea ignited demand for garden products that were “created by those who care, for those who care.”

The Year of Bliss inspired gardeners to get in touch with nature and hasn’t stopped since. Here’s how the concept has shaped the garden industry for the last three years.

Continue reading to learn more about The Year of Bliss trend.  

The Year of Bliss

In 2013, people started to search for new ways to find meaning and turned to activities like baking meditating, practicing yoga or gardening to find their centers and connect with others on a deeper level. They wanted to start living in the moment and turned to nature as inspiration.

The garden industry responded to this need by creating products that were handmade, traditional and friendly to the planet.

This trend marked the beginning of consumers holding brands accountable for their actions. Companies who didn’t help the planet and weren’t genuine in their mission did not succeed.

Flash Forward

Flash forward to today, and The Year of Bliss has exploded in both the gardening and health and wellness industry.

According to the 2017 Garden Trends report, healthy is the new wealthy and consumers today are turning to wellness hot spots and activities like garden therapy, forest bathing and soundscaping to find joy and meaning.  

Research shows time spent in nature reduces stress and increases well-being, which means Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is on the rise. This practice is today where yoga was 30 years ago.

People are also gaining a deeper lover and appreciation for trees as cutting edge research proves that the tree canopy – and the noise it blocks – impact our mental health and quality of life.

Bliss at Work 

It’s easy to find bliss in all aspects of life, especially at work!

Indoor plants are proven to create healthier and happier workers, lower healthcare costs, increase productivity, lower absenteeism and reduce turnover.  

Include low- maintenance houseplants in office décor to see instant results.

Creating a blissful space at work also increases productivity.

The average person spends 2,000 hours a year at their desk, and ramping up the décor is an immediate way to spark creativity. Stuck in an office with no windows? No problem!  Hanging photos of nature has been proven to provide positive benefits to workers.  

The Year of Bliss started in 2013 and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Consumers will continue to become more connected with nature as time goes on.

Consumers have been finding their bliss since 2013. Read our 2017 Garden Trends Report to see what’s buzzing now!