Groupon merchandizing specialists and inventory managers see the big picture in terms of deals: namely, what’s performing as expected, and what’s taking off. In the brief quiet before the holiday gifting maelstrom, we took some time to ask these experts to name the top trends in their respective categories.

Food & Drink

Oysters

We’ve had our eye on oysters for some time, but according to our restaurant experts, the bivalve mollusk is going as strong as when its ancestors first appeared in the Triassic Period approximately 200 million years ago.

Eating Challenges

We’re not above food challenges and competitive eating, two well-padded hybrids of reality TV spectacle and good ol’ fashioned gluttony. (Blame Adam Richman.) “From burritos to burgers, we are seeing some very large portions being served up on Groupon,” states Mahreen Younus, Senior Merchandising & Strategy Analyst. Prep FTW with our tips from the burrito king of Des Plaines.

Savory Desserts

_{Photo courtesy of Waffles Cafe Streeterville.}

Adding a savory element to baked goods is nothing new (see: mincemeat pies), but chefs are finding more and more sophisticated ways to add smoke, salt, and umami to sweets. According to Mahreen, “Flavor combos such as sea urchin ice cream and foie gras pastries have moved from taboo to trendy in the dessert category.” Miso crème brûlée, anyone?

Health & Beauty

Massage Add-Ons

For most, a massage is the pinnacle of relaxation. But plenty of people have been upgrading to hot-stone massages, where therapists employ smooth basalt stones, gently heated up to temperatures of 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Others are mixing up their massage routines with ashiatsu massage, a literal foot massage, as one of our beauty experts found out first hand.

Float Tanks

Curious to find out what total darkness and weightlessness feels like? Sensory deprivation therapy (or a float tank) can make all of that happen with the added benefit of a salt-water bath. While some (like one of our beauty experts) initially may be skeptical of the treatment, citing comparisons to a “water coffin.” But by the end of the typically 60- or 90-minute sessions, most hearts and minds have been changed by the extreme relaxation and introspection the treatment promotes. “Flotation therapy works on so many levels,” says one of our merchant partners. “It’s recreational, but it’s also medical, it’s therapeutic, it’s spiritual.”

Eyelash Extensions

The two- to three-hour treatment is no longer the beauty secret of celebrities like Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian. Learn more about which style is right for you and watch a video of an application to see what you can expect.

Juice Cleanses

These drinks of liquified veggies like spinach and kale have been popular for quite some time now. They’re typically packed with vitamins and minerals, and many proponents cite detoxifying and weight-loss effects. To learn more, check out one of our beauty bloggers video diaries during her three-day cleanse, and read more on the health benefits in our interview with a health coach.

Pop Culture & Live Performance

Historic Dance Performances

From the Moscow Ballet’s traditional Russian costumes to the Radio City Rockettes’ original 1930s choreography for “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” Groupon Live Inventory & Merchandising Manager Holly Thalken is pumped for “the unbelievable grace of [dance] numbers from years past.” Read our interview with a Rockette for the less-than-glamorous details of how those magical on-stage moments come together.  

Disney Princesses

Heading into the holiday season, there’s one thing that every parent of a toddler or school-aged child knows: Disney princesses reign supreme, and resistance is futile. Learn to stop worrying and love the princesses—as well as the mouse, the duck, and whatever Goofy is supposed to be—at Disney Live and Disney on Ice.

Harlem Globetrotters

One could debate whether a sports team that’s celebrating its 90th anniversary could be considered a “trend,” but one won’t. Instead, one will honor the Globes’ jaw-dropping blend of athletic precision, showmanship, and ability to crush the Washington Generals under their American-flag pattered heels.