First Coined In 2016 Earned Consumption trend icon

Earned Consumption

The desire for authentic experiences makes consumers more willing to earn their right to consume, offering businesses a chance to build more loyalty and engagement by letting consumers "pay" them.

The 2016 Non-Obvious Trend Report, where Earned Consumption was first coined

First published in the 2016 Non-Obvious Trend Report →

Trend Longevity Rating

B Graded B in 2026 ·
a strong prediction that largely held up

How this trend held up

The quest for status and recognition continues to entice consumers and can be rewarding for the right brands, but it remains a difficult task to stay worthy of this type of customer devotion.

Every past trend prediction is re-reviewed and graded with a Trend Longevity Rating, measuring how much each originally curated trend still matters years later.

Keep Exploring

Part of the non-obvious
trend collection.

Rohit Bhargava delivering a keynote

Want To Use These Trends?

Book A Trend Keynote Or Workshop!

Bring this trend and more to your group with a customized keynote presentation or workshop session with Rohit Bhargava. Non-Obvious Thinkers win the future. Let’s explore how we can help you do this for yourself.

Learn More & Check Availability

Want More Non-Obvious Ideas?

Join 25K+ ReadersTo Get Weekly Insights

The Non-Obvious Insights Newsletter brings you the five or six most fascinating and overlooked stories of the week, with a quick take on why each one matters.

    One email every Thursday. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.