Inspired Home Show (IHS) 2022
DRC is committed to tracking the latest trends, insights, and innovations impacting all CPG categories from food and beverage to home and personal care. We recently attended this year’s Inspired Home Show (IHS), which returned to Chicago’s McCormick Place for the first time since 2019. While the focus was on home goods, we saw many trends with cross-category implications and relevance. We joined industry thought leaders and experts as they shared strategies, experiences, and data-driven insights from the past few years and examined what retailers and brands should expect throughout 2022 and beyond.
Sustainability and Transparency are Here to Stay
As a company committed to Responsible Design, we talk about sustainability a lot here at DRC. We see environmental and social responsibility continuing to gain traction across all industries. It is no longer a trend but a lasting commitment for many brands. Whether it was water-saving countertop dishwashers, re-usable anything and everything, products that help reduce food waste, or packaging that touts the brand’s eco-friendly or charitable initiatives, Sustainability was EVERYWHERE on the show floor.
Ease and Convenience is Ever-Important
Consumers are leading increasingly hectic lives and looking for products that seamlessly fit into their everyday routines to make life easier. We saw lots of innovation among brands in the convenience space, including “take it anywhere” offerings that are portable for on-the-go use, indoor smart herb gardens that can grow fresh produce year-round, and multi-tasking countertop gadgets like an all-in-one air-fryer that bakes, dehydrates, and acts as a smokeless grill!
Bright Colors are Trending
According to the Pantone Color Institute, product color is a key factor in more than 60% of purchases because it “evokes a strong emotional response from consumers.” That was evident at this year’s show, where the floor was filled with bright, bold colors that seem to reflect the complexity and diversity of today’s world and a sense of hope for the future. Other trending color palettes included natural and earthy tones (as seen above) that target the health- and eco-conscious consumer and sleek, darker colors that cater to a more masculine, athletic, and modern sensibility.
What to Expect This Year and Beyond…
