PORTFOLIO 2: InSight Trend Index 2023/24 by HomePage News

What is the role of trend in today’s home and housewares industries? Ask 10 industry professionals, and you might get 10 unique opinions. Most will agree, however, trend has become the foundation of successful home and housewares development across all retail channels.

That said, the breadth and depth of concurrent trends influencing home and housewares business has expanded exponentially under the influence of an increasingly empowered and informed consumer. In response, every channel and retailer must explore prevailing trends and accurately assess their optimum marketing and merchandising potential, based on well-informed, continuous and objective evaluation of those trends.

With that imperative in mind, HomePage News introduces the InSight™ Trend Index—an exclusive digital guide that explores emerging and enduring home and housewares trends through the products and innovations which embody them. This comprehensive and expansive report series was developed in partnership with Springboard Futures and its founder, industry trend authority Tom Mirabile, who also serves as consumer and lifestyle trend analyst for the International Housewares Association and HomePage News.

The Springboard team explored influential trade shows in the U.S. and abroad seeking emerging and enduring home and housewares trends driven by global influences such as design, consumer lifestyle and functional/material innovation. The objective of these explorations is to provide both suppliers and retailers with actionable insight into those trends poised to inspire consumer spending and industry growth for the foreseeable future.

Trend will continue to be vital to home and housewares success.

On that point everyone can agree.

The HomePage News InSight Trend Index will be rolled out on HomePageNews.com in a series of themed portfolios each week into the 3rd quarter of 2023.

EXHIBITIONS INDEX:

Ambiente – Frankfurt, Germany

Atlanta Market – USA

Creativeworld – Frankfurt, Germany

High Point Market – USA

Formex — Stockholm, Sweden

Maison&Objet – Paris, France

NY NOW – USA

Salone del Mobile – Milan, Italy

Shoppe Object – New York, USA

Spring Fair – Birmingham, England

The Inspired Home Show – Chicago, USA

The New York Tabletop Show – USA

a new standard

A storm of material innovations reached across international markets, ready to satisfy a thirst shared by retailers and consumers for everything “New and Next.” As we see it, two trends lead the pack:

MATERIALS MATTER

Interesting material introductions, combinations and contrasts deliver products of brand-defining style and function. For example: glass paired with felt, wood paired with leather and ceramic dressed in rattan

NEONATURAL MATERIALS

Natural materials are being merged with new technologies, to reduce negative environmental impact and improve design and performance. Examples: 100% vegetal “non-plastics,” or non-stick finishes enhanced with natural olive oil

KN INDUSTRIES

(borosilicate glass and stainless steel)

EKTA LIVING (FSC Certified oak )

KN INDUSTRIES

(intaglio walnut and embossed porcelain serving boards)

THE ASA RECYCLED COLLECTION ( zero material waste )

BRABANTIA (step-up pedal bins)

InSight Trend Index

GLASS CONTAINERS WITH ACACIA LIDS

HARLOW (enameled steel kitchen tools)

PACIFICA (ceramic oak and leather)

IVALO (glass, ash, leather)

BE HOME (sea grass, recycled glass)

MAISON ROYAL GARDEN (bioplastics and organic bamboo)

LIGA Re C reate COLLECTION (recycled BPA plastics and natural cork)

COOKUT (recyclable aluminum, non-stick, dishwasher safe)

HERDMAR (allegro stainless with brushed gold and rose enamel accents)

SALTER

(walnut stained beechwood and soft touch silicone heads)

GIBSON HOMEWARES “THE BLOOMHOUSE COLLECTION”

(oven safe ceramics and nonstick 18/8 stainless steel, 100% recyclable, induction safe)

FARBERWARE

(80% recycled content, FSC certified)

LÉKUÉ

(reusable, flexible, self-sealing food and container covers)

ILLA OLIVILLA COOKWARE

(olive oil based non-stick finish)

NATURAL ELEMENTS

(sustainable sinkware, storage and organization FSC certified)

InSight Trend Index

LÉKUÉ - TO GO ORGANIC COLLECTION

(100% recyclable, wood fiber and polypropylene)

KELA “VITANA”

(100% aluminum, sustainable, beechwood handle, dismantles for 100% recyclability)

CUISIPRO (durable, eco-responsible food storage)

NUTS INNOVATIONS

(steel, reusable, flexible straws)

GLEENER (durable, biodegradable, and reusable up to 15,000 times)

GLEENER

(100% natural and biodegradable)

new standard - continued

InSight Trend Index

CASAFINA

(made of durable vitrifide porceline, recycled cork trivets double as lids, oven, microwave, dishwasher safe)

BLIM PLUS (100% recyclable polypropylene meal tote with mobile phone stand)

DEXAS ‘EVOLV’

(prep and cutting boards made from flax seed fiber waste)

SEBASTIAN CONRAN STUDIO

(Universal Expert cooking and prep collection)

NUTS INNOVATIONS

(recycled cork lids double as trivet; freezer, oven, mw, dw safe, clips provide secure food storage)

RE imagine

REcycle, REpurpose, REclaim, REnew, these labels

and others address a rapidly evolving new standard for environmentally sustainable products. These selections, in using a variety of “RE” materials, represent next steps in the home and housewares industry’s journey toward an ideal of circularity.

SMOGWARE STUDIO*

(airborne dust from various locations creates unique colored food-safe glazes)

(accessories using rescued fir tree wood)

KAFFEEFORM*

(made of coffee grounds and carmelized sugar)

NUO WOOD TEXTILES*

(ultra-thin natural wood veneers fused to textiles and laser cut for fabric-like flexibility)

CASAFINA

(recycled natural cork placements)

BERNDES - B. GREEN INDUCTION COOKWARE

(100% recyclable and made from 100% recycled aluminum cans)

VERTI COPENHAGEN

(100% vegetal “non-plastic” plastics used to produce planters, storage and other decorative items)

IMAGE SOURCE & PRODUCT DESIGN: JULIAN LECHNER

InSight Trend Index

PEUGEOT (rescued hardwoods)

PORLAND “RE-GEN” (100% recyclable made from porcelain shards)

Q DE BOUTEILLE (drinkware and accessories made from recycled post-consumer bottles)

ORIGINAL HOME (home and serveware accessories, 100% recycled and rescued woods)

KOZIOL

(100% natural, bio-circular thermoplastics and wood fibers, FSC certified)

FOREST AND WHALE “The Reuse”*

(edible wheat husk bowls, 100% organic and compostable, lids not edible)

MOYA*

(sustainable birch bark containers)

IMAGE COURTESY FOREST AND WHALE

Trend Perspectives

In recent years the very definitions and drivers of trend have expanded beyond style and design to incorporate social, economic, technology, lifestyle, environmental and even political trends. Staying informed and focused in this “never normal” is challenging—but essential.

During this journey to bring InSight to life, we had many discussions on trend with home industry executives—all who have a history of success and innovation in their fields. While each interpret and react differently to any given trend, they share a singular trait. They all lead companies with a strong brand identity and goals forged from an ever-evolving understanding of consumers.

Regardless of their perspective, all seem to converge on a crucial reality: Just as economies, markets and retail channels will change and evolve, trends, in response, will continue to influence commerce. Navigating that influence successfully will depend on the ability to respond rapidly to changing consumer realities and aspirations.

Hear from their perspective in their own words.

Derek Miller President & CEO, International Housewares Association

Looking back over the past two years, how is the role of trade shows evolving in providing trend insight and inspiration to both manufacturers and retailers? Retailers and suppliers alike know that there is no better way to evaluate the direction of an existing trend—or the strength of an emerging one—than to view it in the context of an active show floor. Trade shows like The Inspired Home Show® create a forum where the true nature and direction of trends comes to life in real time for both buyer and seller. That’s something no online presentation or meeting can match.

There is far more history than mystery to meaningful trend analysis. True sea change events like post-pandemic realignment are rare. Still, trends resulting from these often present unique opportunities for reinvention and growth. This is when the ability to interpret and respond to trends will determine which businesses will thrive, and which will merely survive.

Tom Mirabile Principal, Springboard Futures Consumer and Lifestyle Trend Analyst, International Housewares Association and HomePage News

Are consumer lifestyle trends important even in unsettled economic conditions? Trends are important because they can help you better anticipate future behaviors and make better decisions, providing greater opportunities for growth. For that very reason it’s during times of economic uncertainty that trends are crucially important.

Derochowski VP, Home Industry Advisor, Circana

Joe

Leigh Ann Schwarzkopf Founder & Principal, Project Partners Network

Aaron Stewart Creative Director,

As experts in licensing partnerships, how does Project Partners Network make use of consumer and lifestyle trends? Monitoring trends is essential to determining which licenses will help our partners move farther, faster toward achieving their business goals. Sucess is always expanded by a strong alignment of marketplace preferences and product launches or expansions.

How has the use of trends changed in recent years? Trends are no longer dictated by an elite, inspiring few and followed by all, there are hundreds of viable trends evolving at any given time. Trends can emerge as inspirations from social media, pop culture, even a truly unique retail experience. Success comes from interpreting those trends and translating them into products and assortments that inspire and engage consumers

Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman Executive Director of the Pantone® Color Institute

Why is trend awareness important to business growth? Trends provide a new approach and a fresh perspective that creates a need to purchase—and that is the ultimate goal.

Are there any characteristics that longer-lasting design and lifestyle trends have in common? Many enduring trends today these days have evolved into lifestyle moments. This is awesome, and very important for Nancy Fire Designs and other firms who work with both manufacturers and retailers who need to be on the same page when it comes to product. This makes the trends more realistic and focused on enhancing everyday living, which in fact is what the consumer is looking for.

David Shull EVP, Marketing & Communications, JURA

How does JURA integrate design and lifestyle trends into its products and program development? Trends have a past, present and future. Here at JURA, we analyze the past to separate the temporary from long-term changes in consumer behavior. We deliver and position products with an eye to current trends. But what truly sets us apart is projecting future trends and even creating them with new technologies and innovations that expand the concept of what a product or category can do.

Rep Groups and multi-supplier showrooms often present an incredible breadth of trend statements. How do you keep those offerings balanced? And why not focus on just a few? As a partnership representing 40 brands and product lines, Schauben & Co. keeps a close watch on lifestyle and design trends. Our retail partners of every size are defined by which trends they follow, and they depend on us to stay in sync with what’s new and next. Trend awareness and editing is at the core of the services we provide.

Peter Schauben President & Managing Partner Schauben & Co.

Gibson Homewares

Nancy Fire Creative Director, Nancy Fire Designs

Is trend always important… even in times of economic uncertainty?

The importance of trend should not be underestimated. While it is true that trend generates excitement through colors, patterns and forms that are outside the current norm, there is nothing frivolous about it. Trend is forward looking, encouraging optimism. It sparks our interest, draws us closer, and in the end, it propels commerce.

Which generation of consumers is most interested in purchasing more environmentally responsible / suistainable product choices?

Is consumer/ lifestyle trend an important consideration in your company’s new product development? Absolutely, consumer and lifestyle trends form an integral part of Dash’s new product development strategy as they help us understand the evolving needs, preferences, and aesthetics of our customer base. We constantly observe and analyze lifestyle trends through market research, customer feedback, and social media analytics, which allows us to create innovative and stylish appliances that resonate with our customers and fit seamlessly into their everyday lives.

Current trends indicate that Generation Z (1995-2010) shows the most concern for the planet’s well-being and influences other generations to make sustainability decisions regarding the use and purchase of products that are environmentally friendly! We are noticing that even across generational divides, consumers are willing to spend more on sustainable products in general which is extremely encouraging!

Is trend always important—even in times of economic uncertainty?

A keen awareness of what’s trending in the marketplace and in consumer lifestyles is essential to Mud Pie’s product design and development process. Our designers are always on the pulse of what’s new, tracking both traditional and social media outlets as well as consumer insights to determine direction for new product lines and key items.

Marcia Miller Founder & CEO, Mud Pie

Michelle Lamb Editorial Director, The Trend Curve

Evan Dash Founder & CEO, Storebound, Dash

Nancy Fire Creative Director, Nancy Fire Designs

Will craftsmanship in home Furnishings continue their current broad influence on Home and Housewares trends? Demand for hand craftsmanship in home furnishings is a continuing trend that show no sign of fatigue, and actually continues to broaden its influence on Home and Housewares trends. Craftsmanship is the new luxury and will add a distinguished warmth, longevity and inherent value as we crave that connection to place and provenance as a counterpoint to technology.

What role do trends play in product development and design at Lifetime Brands? Staying trend-aware is a critical part of innovation, it can help us direct development toward what matters most to our consumers. That means looking at trends on every level: lifestyle, design, material innovation and even pricing. Trends must be viewed through a lens of our brand mandates for consistency and value.

Linda Levine President, Godinger Silver Board of Directors, NY Tabletop Association

In the next 2-3 years, which trend will deliver the greatest opportunity for meaningful sustainability advances in the home and housewares industries? Education and information. Without a doubt consumer awareness and commitment to eco-conscious home products will continue to expand. In fact, in response to that trend and the demand it’s created, the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) provides home furnishings retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and designers with education and tools to incorporate sustainable best practices into their business models. That commitment has made the SFC the leading sustainability education resource in the home furnishings industry.

What role does trend play in the the relationship between your sales team and the accounts they serve? Trends, whether consumer, lifestyle, material or color play an important part in Godinger’s continued success. Trends are part of our ongoing conversations with our retail partners—every account is unique, so trends help us differentiate assortments as well.

Patti Carpenter Principal & Founder, Carpenter + Company

Dan Siegel President, Lifetime Brands

Scarlette Tapp Executive Director, Sustainable Furnishings Council

*Special thanks and credit to the exhibiton “Circular Materials for Future Dining” at Ambiente, Frankfurt, Spring 2023.

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