Author: Perry Reynolds, Vice President, Marketing & Trade Development, IHA
Consumer lifestyle trends are always changing. What’s in this month may be out in six months. To help the International Housewares Association (IHA) gauge what consumers are thinking about how they live, where they shop, what they buy and what types of housewares products they use, we convened a group of consumers from across the country for a focus group in mid-October. The consumers are members of the Housewares Influentials Panel, a group of trend-setting and trend-spreading consumers managed by Riedel Marketing Group.
At the end of the focus group we asked them what was in and what was out….here is what they said is “In” in 2009 and beyond. Next time we’ll list what they said is “out.”
In*
- Toaster ovens with toaster on top
- Universal refills that work for any make/model (i.e. single serve coffee makers)
- Coffee makers with grinder
- Slow cookers with timers, auto-off feature and removable liners
- Appliances with delay timers
- Food saver products or pumps that remove air from food storage bags
- Micro fiber products/cloths
- Steam mops
- Bread making from scratch
- Juice machines
- Food processors making comeback
- Space saving products, home organization
- Disposable cleaning products
- Mini countertop beverage centers, wine coolers
- Make your own cookbook using your own recipes
- Frozen vegetable packaging that allows steaming in the microwave/food storage bags designed specifically for steaming vegetables
- Hypoallergenic products (especially bedding)
- Gluten-free, vegan, organic products
- Calorie counting
- Smart phones
- Universal charging products
- Traditional old-fashioned cleaning products (Borax, bleach, vinegar, ammonia)
- Skepticism about “green” products
- Products that save energy
- TiVo/ DVR
- Blu-Ray
- HD
- Plasma and Flat Screens
- Online gaming systems
- Wii
- Wireless networks
- VOIP
- Slate tiles for the bathroom, especially the shower
- New definitions of neutral wall colors (no longer just white and beige) colors are richer and deeper colors like taupe
- Low odor paints / absorbs odors (i.e. paint that contains Arm & Hammer® baking soda)
- Primer & paint combinations
- Simple clean lines in furniture
- Square dining room tables
- Outdoor kitchens / living space
- Granite and quartz countertops
- Inexpensive wall art
- Colorful dishes and appliances, kitchen tools & gadgets, new dish shapes
- Collapsible strainers in bright silicone
- Anything nonstick
- Cast-iron cookware
- Microwavable food products
- BPA- free plastic containers and water bottles
- Ziploc®-type storage bags
- Lightweight vacuums
- Steam function in washers/dryers
- Downey Wrinkle Releaser
- Garment steamers
- French Door bottom-mount refrigerators
- Anti-bacterial/antimicrobial hand sanitizer
- Slim-line hangers
- Single serve, no-measure cleaning products for dishwashers and washers
*The thoughts, opinions, and statements expressed here represent those of an independent third-party and not those of the International Housewares Association (“IHA”). All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. IHA makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
