Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
A survey commissioned by Spring Fair to explore UK attitudes to homeware has revealed some surprising findings.
The ‘2017 Home Improvements and Interior Trends’ report found that 60% of respondents said homeware trends really interest them, with three-quarters of those polled saying they get more satisfaction from pictures of homeware and décor than they do from celebrities and fashion.
As many as 51% keep on top of homeware trends through Instagram, while 35% find inspiration from friends’ and family members’ homes and 49% read home interior magazines.
In addition, 16% like to visit show homes for new ideas and 13% regularly attend consumer exhibitions and events to get inspiration.
The data reveals that those in Glasgow (72%) are the keenest to keep up to date, followed by Leeds (67%), Birmingham (66%) and Manchester (65%).
Interestingly, 49% of those quizzed said they also opt for homeware when buying presents, and 39% have a ‘go-to’ gift that they always buy for their friends and family.
The most popular gift is a scented candle, followed by luxury chocolates and toiletries, with four in ten believing everyone ‘loves stuff for the home’ and 24% claiming this is because ‘you can’t offend someone by buying the wrong size’.
More practical gifts appear to be on the rise too, as 59% said they think it’s acceptable to give presents such as toasters or saucepans – and 62% said they often request them for birthdays or Christmas.
Just 44% of Brits said they are proud of their house, while 12% said they were unhappy and embarrassed by their home.
The top jobs which Brits hope to tackle in the home this year are decorating bedrooms and lounges (81%) and hanging new curtains (33%), while a third (32%) have their sights set on revamping their kitchens.
Meanwhile, three in 10 admitted to lying to friends about where they bought homeware finds as they don’t want their style to be copied, with over a third (37%) confessing to being jealous of a friend’s house.
Some 45% said they want to be the first one in their circle of friends to have the latest trends in homeware, while a quarter said there is competition between their friends over who has the nicest house. In fact, three in 10 refuse to tell their friends where they bought something.
Finally, it seems Brexit has put the brakes on moving. One in three people said they have cancelled plans to move house in the wake of Brexit and intend to spend an average of £8,000 on home improvements instead
Organised by Ascential Events, Spring Fair is the UK’s largest homeware and gifting trade show. The event took place earlier this month from February 5 to February 9 at the NEC in Birmingham.
