By Vicki Matranga
Design Programs Coordinator
Trend Bible is a UK-based trend agency dedicated to home and interiors. The firm works with global brands to predict and capitalize on future changes affecting their consumers. Trend Bible produces a series of industry-specific trend and insight publications and crafts bespoke consultancy services for individual clients.
As senior trend analyst, Naomi directs projects in the home décor and built environment sectors. She advises some of the world’s biggest and most recognized retailers, brands, architects and design agencies to help them use insights about the future to inform all their strategic, design and marketing decisions.
Naomi works one-on-one with clients on bespoke trend projects and regularly contributes to Trend Bible’s publishing and seminar programs, addressing a broad range of audiences about trends in home and family life as well as interior decoration.
Naomi, what is the most exciting or rewarding part of your work?
I’m really inspired by creating connections between product and consumer. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is being able to pinpoint future consumer needs or preferences that allow our clients to really nail the product development process. Then ultimately seeing the right products on shelf at the right time!
In the past few years, what has changed most in your business? How has your company met these challenges in the way you do your work?
At Trend Bible we most often work as a partner with individual brands, manufacturers and retailers to help them forecast trends that are both culturally on trend but also right for their business. One of the big challenges that our clients are facing is increasing competition in the value and mid-markets and they need to find a way to create distinction in that marketplace. Trends can certainly be an important part of that, but it’s also crucial to have a really strong brand framework and handwriting. We’ve spent the last year developing and refining tools and workshops that help our clients better understand and communicate that brand handwriting as well as working out what makes a trend ‘right’ for them.
Why did you choose to speak at the International Home + Housewares Show?
This Show provides the perfect place to meet up with some of the world’s biggest home and housewares brands. The U. S. is a one of our core markets and it’s great to get a chance to share our latest insights with visitors as well as see some of the latest innovations and product launches.
Tell us what you will be speaking about and how and this topic is important for Show audiences.
I will be presenting an introduction to the key trends in home and housewares for 2017. We’ll be looking at the major changes in consumer lifestyles, attitudes and behaviors that are influencing design for the home. These trends will provide valuable foresight for anyone involved in producing, selling or marketing products for the home. We’ll be providing inspiration for colour, material, shape and pattern as well as functionality a full year ahead of the season, providing direction for the year ahead.
International Home and Interior Design Trends 2017
Innovation Theater
Lakeside Center, Room E350
March 5, Saturday, 3:30 – 4:20 pm
This is your first time presenting at our Theater. What are you looking forward to most from speaking at the Innovation Theater?
I’m really looking forward to meeting the audience and sharing some of the trend concepts we’ve spent the last year crafting.
What do you see as consumers’ biggest concerns regarding housewares products?
One of the big themes we’ll be exploring is the need for products that truly fit our lifestyle – whether that be smaller designs or items that can be moved around different rooms in the home, reflecting a more fluid and multi-functional use of space.
What are some of today’s trends or issues that new product development professionals and/or retailers face in the housewares market?
Consumers are buying better – looking for longevity and provenance in the products they invest in, and opting for quality over quantity. There is an almost anti-consumerist attitude arising as Millennial consumers and their ‘experience over possessions’ mentality begin to influence the mass market. This can be a really tricky trend to respond to if you are in the business of selling ‘things’ but by identifying the trend early, many brands are already developing responsive strategies that will help them to adapt in future.
Thank you, Naomi, for giving us a preview of your topic and approach to trend analysis. We look forward to hearing about your perspective as seen from the UK toward the U.S. consumer and lifestyles in other countries.
To get better acquainted with Naomi and Trend Bible, contact:
Naomi Shedden
Senior Trend Analyst
Trend Bible Ltd.
1 Maling Court
Union Street
Newcastle NE2 1BP
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 191 265 0665
enquiries@trendbible.com
www.trendbible.com
The four days of the 2016 International Home + Housewares Show will be packed with events and education. To help you plan your valuable time at the Show, we introduce you to the speakers and the 21 exciting presentations that will take place in the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center. Gain cutting edge insights that you can apply to your work. All programs are audio-recorded and will be available at www.housewares.org after the Show.
