The Inspired Home Show: Global Householder Trends with Anna Ward
Navigating through a transformative period marked by the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and evolving consumer behaviours, the home and housewares industry is gearing up for growth in 2024 and beyond.
Despite challenges like inflation and consumer spending pressures, industry leaders are strategically resetting their business models. This involves enhancing retail relationships, connecting with consumers, introducing new products, and optimising operational efficiency.
As the housewares industry readies for a new chapter, global householder trends, insights and strategies will be discussed and explored at The Inspired Home Show 2024. This global gathering of home industry professionals will meet from March 17-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex.
Our Consultancy Innovation Lead Anna Ward will be the first to kick off the show’s strategic keynote program on Sunday, March 17th at 10 am, providing directional trend insights for the housewares industry.
As we countdown to The Inspired Home Show, we’ve interviewed Anna to provide insights into what attendees can anticipate from her keynote and to discuss some of the primary challenges confronting professionals in the housewares market.
Tell us what you will be speaking about in your ‘2025 Global Householder Trends’ keynote at The Inspired Home Show. Why this topic is important for show audiences?
I’ll be covering global householder trends impacting householders in 2025 and highlighting the vital shifts we expect to see. From the rise in transient lifestyles leading to more multi-generational homes to an abundance of creativity as Gen Z lead the way in expressing themselves. I’ll be touching on low-desire lifestyles and how some consumers are seeking new luxuries by powering down and logging off in search of better balance. I’ll also discuss how these consumer macro trends will manifest in product design, looking at mood, colour, materials and finish.
Do come and say hello before or after the talk. It’s always so nice to meet the people listening in!
What do you see as consumers’ biggest concerns regarding housewares products or how to shop for them?
The tension between sustainability and cost of living will cause consumers to re-evaluate their non-negotiables. Particularly younger consumers who are feeling the financial pinch but are more invested in making sustainable choices than other generations – it’s their future that’s at stake. The way we shop has changed so much in recent years, retail must evolve to stay relevant, and brands have to offer a reason to pull consumers into stores.
What are some of today’s trends or issues that new product development professionals and/or retailers face in the housewares market?
Space has become a premium and with growing transient lifestyles and portability is becoming more and more important. We’re also becoming an ageing population, causing multi-generational households to become the norm. Designing products which meet a wide audience’s needs through multi-function and accessibility will be important. With the addition of cost and climate concerns for product developers to consider, the innovation brief has some firm parameters to navigate.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do at TrendBible.
I’m the Consultancy Innovation Lead at TrendBible, which means I’m responsible for making sure our work is effectively supporting our customers to innovate and fulfil their strategic brand goals. Bringing new considerations, behavioural shifts and design inspiration to the forefront for brands is key, to helping them stay one step ahead of the consumer to meet their needs.
What’s the most exciting part of your job?
New challenging briefs! Researching and unpicking new consumer mindsets, helping brands to work out what the next product should be how it needs to perform and what it should look like, to meet their consumer needs. Plus working with such a great mix of highly talented people.
What fuels your inspiration?
People! I could spend hours people-watching and observing behaviours in stores and third spaces, why people make the decisions they do, and how people interact with products and design.
See you in Chicago!
You can attend Anna’s keynote Global Householder Trends: A View to 2025 on Sunday, March 17th at 10 am in the South Building. For more information and to register, visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com.