United States Trends and the Alpaca Industry

By Katy Spears, Psy.D.

What do Americans want? Experts say they want to return to a simpler, more authentic time. People want to wear natural fibers. They like things hand-crafted. Gone are the days of the synthetics. It’s all about getting back to basics. In 2005 it is more “in” to serve your guests handmade cheese from organic milk from a local dairy than it is to offer them velveeta. This is great news for alpaca fiber growers and retailers of alpaca products. Taut the benefits of your natural products from the beauties with the big eyes and long lashes, and Americans will be lining up to buy.

What other trends affect the U.S. alpaca industry? Baby boomers are starting to think about retirement. But it is not the retirement of yesteryear. People realize that retiring to do nothing is well, boring. With life-spans increasing, retirement at 65 often finds the retiree with plenty of time and energy on his/her hands looking for something worthwhile to do. Animal loving boomers love that there is no need to slaughter alpacas and that they can care for them even if they are no longer 25-year-old cowboys. In just a few hours a day they can care for alpacas which can also bring in some extra income in the “golden years”.

What else is “in” for 2005? The focus is on home, hearth, and comfort. US Weekly’s Katrina Szish told Good Morning America “In 2005, the new going out is going to be staying in. The hottest ticket in town isn’t to a loud club. It isn’t even to a member’s only club anymore. The hottest invitation is into someone’s home.”

Americans are spending more money than ever on their homes. Some even want alpacas as “lawn ornaments” for their lovely spreads, and the tax advantages aren’t bad either. People are saying “no thanks” to long commutes and are working from home. Surely farming is the world’s oldest home-based profession. (Okay, at least one of the oldest.)

I am often asked, “What types of people buy alpacas?” I answer that alpaca breeders come from all walks of life. The thing they all have in common is their love for the animals. And they must have a free spirit within them because everyone who has owned an alpaca had met someone (or scores of people) who thinks they are nuts. But alpaca breeders are following dreams, thinking outside the box, going where others would never dare to go. Basically they are following the American dream, and that has been a trend since the Mayflower set sail in 1620…