2020 has been a tough year for most industries. Aside from sanitiser and mask producers, few industries have grown and many have struggled just to stay afloat. Going into 2021, it is far from clear how the year will pan out economically for both individuals and corporations.
However, there are some industries that are perennial achievers and which, if they continue to innovate, are worth keeping an eye on in 2021.
Eyewear
The eyewear market sits at an interesting crossroads between health, fashion, and technology. Along with the many millions of people who need glasses to see, sunglasses are necessary for both optical health and comfort. Makers of lenses have for decades innovated new types of lenses. Where prescription lenses used to be as thick as a wall, they are now slim. Lenses have been made that can block out UV light and, more recently, blue light.
Then there are the frames. Designers have consistently managed to create eyewear trends, building frames that people are willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on buying.
But it is in the realm of technology that eyewear remains an interesting industry, even after a difficult year. For example, GlassesUSA have created smart audio glasses, which pair with your phone so you can play music and take calls. It is this kind of wearable technology that people are going to be moving towards, rather than buying one device on top of another. The eyewear industry might make gains in 2021 if it continues developments like these.
Property
It might seem strange to include property after a year in which property prices plummeted and millions of people struggled to pay rent. However, since living space is one of our basic needs, the property market always has the potential to swing one way or the other.
It’s not always predictable, either. In some cities around the US, the average cost of rent went up in 2020, even as it fell in big cities like New York.
Now we may be at a turning point. Savvy buyers who have managed to make it through much of the crisis unscathed have used their savings to buy property at low prices. Even if they charge lower rent, they can still start making money. The market is changing and it is worth keeping an eye on where it goes next.
Healthcare tech
2020 has exposed glaring failures in the realm of fitness technology. While your smart watch may have been able to track how many calories you were burning while you were stressing about your health, it was of precious little actual use. An old thermometer can still tell you more about the state of your body.
This may open the door for healthcare technology that may have been more niche in the past. People are more concerned than ever about their physical wellbeing, and will want to do more than count steps. Those startups who are working to bring health care into people’s homes will have their biggest opportunity yet.