Moving swiftly onto Part II of the Coronavirus stock concepts analysis, happy to share with you some more of what I’ve been researching / brainstorming in terms of creating viral concepts that will be useful to buyers in these more than usually uncertain times.

I’ll be analysing some of the more futuristic concepts that should soon be trending, so you’ll hopefully get ahead of the competition.

If you haven’t already done so, check out Part I using this link. Let’s get started!

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Throughout my blog, as you can appreciate, I’ve given quite a bit of my time to help you make sense of this complicated stock industry and focus on making money. I’ve also given away earnings info on some of my best-sellers which will directly lead to those images reducing their value (how much is impossible to say but suffice to say that copycat thieves may be lurking).

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Near-future concepts

Start of de-globalisation 

From my research, it’s clear that we’ll certainly see an acceleration of the trend to bring production supply-chains closer to consuming markets, even if this was happening, albeit at a slower pace, due to political / societal pressures (see rise of populism in the developed world – “Trump”, “Brexit” come to mind).

This trend will be borne out of necessity to ensure supply chains are free from disruption, even if costs are prohibitive, and as a way to try to stimulate local jobs (also known as “reshoring”, which is the opposite of “offshoring”). In addition, producing locally means that businesses don’t have to worry about shifting international trade-policies during these more volatile times.

Interesting, there are no hits on Shutterstock for the search term “reshoring”!

Essential Products sourced locally

As a recent example, we’ve recently seen how some shortages in critical medical supplies / equipment, much ironically sourced from China, have lead to unnecessary deaths in some developed countries. Generally speaking, policy-makers have become well-aware that they cannot depend on cheaper goods coming from afar any longer.

Meanwhile, least developed countries with weak healthcare systems will suffer a lack of access to medical supplies, including price extortion. This type of protectionism has already started in developed countries with medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and other essentials, eventually expanding to other sectors/products, notably: food supply, as we’ve already witnessing that several countries have started restricting grain exports amid the pandemic to ensure domestic food supply, pushing some grain prices higher.

Useful keywords / phrases:

• Made in [insert country]
• [insert country] First
• WTO Coronavirus
• Self-sufficiency
• Re-shoring
• Automated supply chain
• [insert country] manufacturing
• Supply chain disruption
• Supply chain fragmentation
• Rise of protectionism
• 3D Printing / printed locally
• Trade War

Food wastage

Ironically, during a time when protectionist measures by national government may provoke food shortages around the world, fresh produce is increasingly going to waste. Farmers are finding it difficult to sell their products and distributors are struggling to redirect food quickly with restaurants, schools and offices closed.

Some types of food spoil quickly, such as dairy products and fresh fruit, and the restrictions around the coronavirus outbreak have made it impossible for thousands of migrant workers to come and harvest crops.

Disruption in agriculture sector

In a blow to “British jobs first” in a post-Brexit Britain, thousands of British workers who responded to a nationwide appeal to help pick fruit and vegetables on farms have rejected job offers. To fill the demand, Romanian workers were flown in to help feed Britain amid a continuing recruitment crisis in the agriculture sector.

Eventually we may see an increase in remote-work in the agricultural sector and you’d be ahead of the game by creating near-futuristic concepts, such as the following already excellently-executed:

Drone deliveries of essential products / services

I will double-down on the concept of drone deliveries now becoming an essential service, particularly when filling in supply-chain related disruptions. I would highly recommend readers to engage in drone-delivery concepts related to essential products / services, such as medicines and food.

Even better if you’re able to use a model which is a person deemed to be “high-risk, i.e more older + more vulnerable”. Bonus points if you can link it with the current crisis. Here are some examples:

Alternatively, as a clip:

Keep going and soon we’ll have drone deliveries of food…in the near future.

Useful keywords / phrases:

• Coronavirus fresh fruit
• Drone agriculture
• Drone delivery + medicine
• drone delivery + food
• Automation
• Food supply
• Food protectionism

Business travel is redundant

To be honest, surprised it’s even on the list. In this age of video-conferences, I’ve never quite understood why some companies would fork out an arm and leg to fly executives (in business class) to meetings. Perhaps to justify their bloated salaries.

At least the current crisis will put this antiquated idea to rest once and for all. How to show it as a stock concept may not be so easy but perhaps something like this:

Useful keyword / phrase:

• Work from home / WFM

Virtual reality travel

I’m a travel photographer and as you can probably guess, I’m not able to do much traveling these days! What future will there be for wanderlusters who may not be permitted to leave their living room or when planes are grounded indefinitely?

With the travel industry on the knees, perhaps this will be the moment that virtual-reality travel finally takes off. Although many of the world’s most popular tourist destinations are being recreated on Google’s Arts & Culture platform, we’ll see some strides being made in creating a genuine Virtual Reality experience.

How would one go about re-creating these VR-inspired travel experiences? First of all, you’ll need a headset and there are some available quite cheaply on Amazon from around 10 euros.

I’m pleasantly surprised there there are only 2,640 matches for the keywords “virtual reality travel” + with people. This suggests there’s considerable scope to grow with rising demand of this niche.

Useful phrases / keywords:

• VR travel
• Virtual reality travel
• Escapism
• Lockdown travel
• Quarantine travel

Real-world travel

When the travel industry does slowly come back to life, it will be different and catered to more reclusive and off-the-beaten path travel destinations away from the crowds. Cityescapes and cruise ships out and idyllic secluded paradise in.

Summer 2021…

Or if push comes to shove, if you do have to be close to other people, the Italian firm , Nuova Neon Group 2, has released preliminary sketches showing what the box-like structures would look like when installed in a post-coronavirus reality. See Daily Mail article for the full story.

Virtual reality gaming

A strong and growing trend is virtual reality gaming which should keep growing. A more mature search with over 12,000 hits.

Useful phrases / keywords

• Virtual reality gaming
• VR gaming

Useful phrases / keywords for you to brainstorm

Therefore, some of the following phrases, where stock concepts may be created in short notice, come to mind:

• Global trade system
• Zoom parties
• Anti-coronavirus lockdown

Rise of disobedience

This crisis comes at a time when public distrust in governments and institutions is already high in developed and emerging markets alike, aggravated by the 2008 financial crisis. There’s also conflicting / mixed messages being sent by political leaders to citizens…as well as a mistrust of public authorities (such as the WHO) and “experts”.

Policy-makers are walking on thin-ice by extending lock-downs, which could lead to a rise in civil disobedience. While more that 50 per cent of those in the top 25 salary percentile could continue their job remotely, only about 10 percent of the lower percentile could do so, leading to further gaps in equality.

China as a scapegoat

As in many crises in the past, there will always be scapegoats.  This crisis is no different and there is a fast-emerging  anti-Chinese sentiment in the West, as there is growing evidence that the virus was deliberately manufactured in a Chinese lab.

This may lead to movements to boycott Chinese products (only 256 matches so far) at the very least and calls for conflict at worst (where the war drums are already rolling). I would suggest to tread carefully with these concepts to avoid too much controversy to your own brand as a stock creator.

Useful keywords / phrases:

• Anti-globalist / Anti-globalization
• Boycott China
• Biological warfare
• Kung flu
• Chinese Virus / China virus

Erosion of Civil Liberties

We, in the West, are already seeing a curtailing of our civil liberties for the sake of the greater good. So far it is quite tame stuff…UK. police force uses drones to monitor public areas, shaming residents who go out for a stroll.

In the East, authorities have gone even further. For instance, in South Korea, investigators scan smartphone data to find within 10 minutes people who might have caught the coronavirus from someone they met.

Meanwhile, in Israel has tapped its Shin Bet intelligence unit, usually focused on terrorism, to track down potential coronavirus patients through telecom data. Authorities in Hong Kong and India are using geofencing that draws virtual fences around quarantine zones.

These may prove more difficult to implement in the West, for the time being. However, Apple and Google, for instance, hold a huge amount of information which authorities may wish to get a hold of to be able to better-track citizens and prevent further outbreaks (or for more sinister purposes), should they consent.

Useful keywords / phrases:

• Government surveillance coronavirus
• Privacy post-coronavirus
• Geotracking
• Smartphone tracking / digital tracking
• Big brother is watching / 1984
• Facing recognition technology

High-Street / Main Street shops will be secondary

I would predict that physical retail space will be re-designed to accommodate as “concept stores” for brands with perhaps even some not even selling goods at all and directing customers to purchase online. I believe that Apple were experimenting with such concepts at their Flagship stores.

Therefore, online shopping will become the go-to place, which was a trend that was already happening but has obviously been placed on the fast-track. Businesses will have to quickly accelerate their e-commerce portion of the business and offer customers with a positive experience.

Dining out may be a whole new experience

Useful keywords / phrases:

• Death of the high street / death of the main street
• Post-coronavirus retail
• E-commerce
• E-Grocery
• Social distance + restaurant

Hope you’ve found the above useful

Stay tuned soon for Part III where I’ll be exploring further themes on a post-coronavirus world where we can all profit from stock concepts.

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About Alex

I’m an eccentric guy, currently based in Portugal (fled Madrid to escape the brunt of this nasty Coronavirus), on a quest to visit all corners of the world and capture stock images & footage, when things go back to normal. I’ve devoted seven years to making it as a travel photographer / videographer and freelance writer (however, had recently go back into full-time office work to make ends meet!). I hope to inspire others by showing an unique insight into a fascinating business model.

I’m proud to have written a book about my adventures which includes tips on making it as a stock travel photographer – Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock Photography