Implications - To accommodate to a new normal when it comes to shrinking housing space, brands of all kinds are rolling out "condo-friendly" products well beyond the furniture category. Helping consumers create more free space in their homes while providing consumers with the functionality they need, brands updating their products to suit small-space living provide an uncompromising solution to an increasingly common issue.
Implications - As probiotics become an increasingly relevant buzz word in the world of wellness, more brands are leveraging them to provide natural microbial protection against the growth of mold in the home. These benefit those who suffer from mold and mildew allergies while aligning with broader consumer values towards naturality.
Implications - Technology has been integrated into various aspects of consumers' homes to streamline their daily routines, and this integration has extended to closets. Smart features that freshen and steam clothing help consumers to better care for delicate garments. This increased functionality within the home reflects the consumer desire to use technology to maximize their time within their daily routine.
Implications - While water conservation devices have long permeated the consumer-space, today's smart kitchen faucets focus less on reducing waste and more on precision and convenience. This signals a heightened expectation that today's foodie home cook has for precision and a desire for products that simplify micro-moments within the cooking experience.
Implications - Home technology typically focuses on added benefits, such as connectivity to enhance the speed of the everyday routine, or AI to anticipate day-to-day needs ahead of time. A more straightforward approach is seen in devices and appliances that eliminate a specific step from the consumer's daily ritual. This speaks to the macro goal of technology: making life easier. This simplicity is especially attractive to Gen X consumers whose purchasing decisions are mainly motivated by ease of living.
Implications - Growth in large cities has resulted in consumers having to make alterations within their homes to compensate for the lack of space in these metropolitan areas. Brands are revamping the design of products that are being used to carry out daily chores, allowing consumers to efficiently maximize the micro-spaces they live in.
Implications - While concentrated cleaning products have served as an environmentally-conscious alternative to traditional cleaners, in reality excessive consumption habits have meant that for many, the same amount of product would be used. To thwart this, recent concentrated cleaners are accompanied by more controlled dispensing technologies. This development serves consumers looking for the environmental and financial benefits that long-term use of concentrated cleaners afford consumers.
Implications - As concerns related to climate change continue to mount, more and more companies are setting themselves apart from competitors by pivoting to an eco-friendly approach. One of the more recent iterations of this shift has been in the bedding and mattress space, showing that consumers who have the means are willing to prioritize their values even when it comes to more mundane, everyday items like bedding.