Get acquainted with Helen Jamieson, senior trend strategist at Trend Bible, and read a preview of her upcoming presentation at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show. Her presentation, scheduled for Saturday, March 18, will take place in the Innovation Theater, which will feature 21 presentations over four days covering topics ranging from new product design to the smart home.
Trend Bible is a trend agency focused on the home and interiors categories. The UK-based company assists 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 consultancy services for individual clients.
As senior trend strategist, Helen manages projects in the home décor and built environment sectors. She advises some of the world’s largest and most recognized retailers, brands, architects and design agencies on how to apply insights to inform all their strategic, design and marketing decisions.
Helen works one-on-one with clients on bespoke trend projects and contributes to Trend Bible’s publishing and seminar efforts to address a broad range of audiences about trends in home and family life as well as interior decoration.
Helen, what is the most exciting or rewarding part of your work? What fuels your inspiration?
I’m driven by a huge sense of curiosity—about people, their homes and their lives. I’m always inspired by people who do things differently. As a trend forecaster, I’m always switched on to newness, looking out for weak signals that might indicate a new trend, attitude or mindset on the horizon. One of the most rewarding parts of the job is being able to draw together these often-disparate influences to create a compelling vision of the future, which we can then use to design products and services.
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?
As consultants, we increasingly work with brands to take them to the next stage of development using trend information. Manufacturers are treating trend as a more fundamental part of the whole innovation and product development process, from inspiration right through to product selection and conversations with key accounts. We have become an extension of our clients’ internal creative team, providing monthly and sometimes weekly advice on the specific opportunities for their brand.
Why did you choose to speak at the International Home + Housewares Show?
As specialists in trends for the home, it’s extremely important for us to attend trade events like this Show which provides the perfect opportunity to meet with some of the world’s biggest home and housewares brands. It’s great to get a chance to share our latest insights with Show audiences as well as to 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 present home and interior trends for 2018 and will reveal two design trends as published in our Spring Summer 2018 Trend Book, demonstrating how these can be translated into color, material, shape and pattern for housewares. I’ll also touch on the research and evidence behind the trends we forecast, illustrating how we create trends that are going to reflect the general mood and feel of the season. The presentation will provide valuable foresight for anyone involved in producing, selling or marketing products for the home.
You’ve presented in the Innovation Theater before. What are you looking forward to most from speaking at the Innovation Theater?
The Innovation Theater hosts a great selection of interesting speakers so I’m looking forward to hearing some inspiring opinions and presentations again this year. I’m always keen to hear from designers about the consumer problems and solutions that they have identified.
Home and Interior Trends: Spring-Summer 2018
March 18, Saturday, 1:30 – 2:20 pm
Innovation Theater, Lakeside Center, Room E350
What do you see as consumers’ biggest concerns regarding housewares products?
If we look on a global basis, homes are becoming considerably smaller and urbanization is causing more people to live in a smaller square footage. This lack of space is impacting the basic lifestyle needs that many people take for granted. Many Europeans struggle to find space for a trash can in the kitchen and Japanese householders have taken to stacking their appliances to squeeze them into their tiny kitchens. While this is less of an issue across the U.S., it is going to be crucial for any brand operating on a global level. Consumers will begin to analyze the value-per-square-footage of all appliances, furniture and products, seeking items that are dual-use and eliminate the unnecessary from their homes.
What are some of today’s trends or issues that new product development professionals and/or retailers face in the housewares market?
We’re beginning to see a trend for streamlining the less-desirable aspects of daily life.
Instant access services, like Uber and Netflix, are creating disruption across many different industries; creating increased expectations of convenience and immediacy. Consumers begin to expect convenience without compromise—services and products need to keep up with our fast-paced lives. In the next few years, smart technology will offer even more options to householders seeking a more streamlined life.
In particular, we expect this to impact household cleaning and care, with consumers looking for hacks and cheats or even outsourcing their chores; exploring alternatives that get the job done with less time, effort or cost.
When it comes to cooking at home we expect to see two very different polarized mindsets. Through the week, consumers demand the ultimate in convenience, ordering-in or purchasing products that shortcut the cooking process. By contrast, we’ll continue to see consumers indulging in cooking and baking as a leisure pursuit when they do have time; at the weekend, for example.
Thank you, Helen, for offering a preview of how you study consumers in varied regions who face similar challenges for daily life in the home. Your presentation is sure to be of great interest for any exhibitor creating products for global consumers and for retailers in any country.
For further information contact, Helen Jamieson at:
Trend Bible Ltd.
1 Mailing Court
Union Street
Newcastle, UK
helen@trendbible.com
www.trendbible.com
Innovation propels the housewares industry. Learn from experts about how to invigorate your new products and services by enhancing your innovation efforts. Critical issues such as global design trends, licensing, the emerging Smart Home category, branding, the needs of distinct consumer age and gender groups, the future of food and parenting – all impact the home goods market. Be sure to attend the free executive-level educational sessions at the Innovation Theater. These programs will give you a fresh perspective as you walk the Show and will inspire, inform and improve your business.
The four days of the 2017 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.
