Today, LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability), an organization that represents the companies providing goods and services to today’s rapidly growing green, healthy-lifestyle and more values-driven consumer, announces Moving From Upstream to Mainstream, its annual LOHAS business conference to be held June 18-20, 2013 in Boulder, Colorado.

Once considered on the fringe of the economy, the LOHAS consumer influence has grown dramatically, now representing more than $300 billion in buying power. LOHAS consumers are embracing the concepts of natural, sustainable, and socially conscious shopping and looking more closely than ever before at what they buy and where they shop.

“The LOHAS consumer is having a tremendous impact across the board in the marketplace—influencing businesses to use less packaging and more sustainable materials, use renewable energy, and take bad ingredients out of the foods we eat and beauty products we use,” said LOHAS Director Ted Ning. "This conference is where businesses from across the country gather to hear the latest on the LOHAS consumer market and share their ideas and strategies for connecting with the green economy," added Ning.

A combination of speakers, panels and workshops will provide businesses with strategies and opportunities for successfully participating in the rapidly growing and changing green marketplace in America. The conference agenda also offers attendees an in-depth look at the latest in product and management innovation to help businesses stay ahead of the curve with the products and services they offer and in how they operate. "The LOHAS annual conference is where you can get an early look at the ‘next big thing’," says Ning. “Not only do LOHAS consumers comprise a block of imposing purchasing power, but they are also the early adopters of values-based products and services and the ones who bring mainstream marketplace attention to changing consumer demand. It is the LOHAS consumers who initially demanded products such as hybrid vehicles, cfl lights and organic foods and brought them into mainstream big box stores, and they continue to demand new innovations.”

Speakers will include: Adam Lowry, Co-Founder of Method Products; Tom Domen, Innovation Manager of Ecover; Ken Cook, President of the Environmental Working Group, and Dustin Garis of P&G FutureWorks Global Innovation.

At the three-day conference, leading market analysts will present the latest trends and data on the LOHAS consumer market and purchasing behaviors. According to Green America’s Small Business and Sustainability Report, 2013, which will be presented at the conference, "The growth in green segment market share across the economy is unprecedented and systematic, moving from the fringe alternatives to industry norms."

The National Marketing Institute will also report new data gathered on the mindset of the new green consumer, and SPINS will provide the latest information on consumer spending behavior gathered from retailers.

Attendees can take ‘Insight Tours’ of successful Boulder LOHAS businesses in action and take part in practical workshops led by prominent business leaders that will range from ‘Impact Investing’ and 'What Marketers Need to Know about LOHAS Consumers’, to sessions on social media strategies and leadership innovation. Participants will also hear the latest on the health and social issues that are gaining importance within the LOHAS marketplace.

“Today’s consumers are looking deeper than ever before—across the entire product supply chain, whether it’s the food on their table, the clothes in their closet or where they choose to spend their vacations. And they are looking to buy from authentic companies that take corporate responsibility seriously and that have a sincere sense of community and connection, ” said Ning.

More information on LOHAS and the June Conference, including the latest speakers and workshops, can be found at www.LOHAS.com.

LOHAS

LOHAS

Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) describes an estimated $209 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. The consumers attracted to this market represent a sizable group in this country. Approximately 19% percent of the adults in the U.S., or 41 million people, are currently considered LOHAS Consumers. This is based on surveys of the U.S. adult population estimated at 215 million.

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