When it comes to color families, green’s star is rising. Under the spell of a biophilia trend, greens are going lush and rich. And although select cool types can still be found, the best new versions are leaning toward warmth. Names like olive and moss keep repeating when makers describe these … [Read more...]
Updating Neutrals for Christmas
When the pandemic began, the black-and-white duos that had been so popular just a year or two before dropped off fast. So did angular geometrics. That’s because—suddenly—high contrast and hard-edged motifs felt too bold for a population that had been whipsawed by Covid. As high contrast looks … [Read more...]
Cool Christmas
Anyone who attended my Holiday-season webinars in the past two last years may remember that I emphasized the rise of green for Christmas. The big winner in this color family was mid-tone eucalyptus, a shade that has now been fully embraced. Fast forward to 2021, and the market is ready for the … [Read more...]
Pets, the Pandemic and Holiday Décor
Pets, especially dogs and cats, are trending as a topic in fourth-quarter seasonal décor. Why? Because for many consumers, they were already valued members of the family. They truly deserved a role for the Holidays. During the pandemic, pets have become even more important. These furry companions … [Read more...]
The Housewares Connection to WFH
From the earliest days of the pandemic, everyone realized how essential a pleasant and comfortable work-from-home space is to efficiency, productivity and creativity. Those factors are still top-of-mind for consumers, since the number of people working permanently at home is expected to double this … [Read more...]
Anticipating 2021-22 Seasonal Trends
In our year-and-a-half of quarantine and isolation so far, we 've had plenty of time to think about the people we have been separated from, and the traditions we once shared with them. To say that we now long for these touchpoints is an understatement. Whether 2021 is the year we return to … [Read more...]
Halloween 2020 is Really BIG!
The National Retail Federation’s annual purchase intent survey, fielded in September, revealed that Halloween celebrations will be fewer this year. Compliments of the pandemic, only 58% of Americans planned to participate, down from 68% a year ago. Still, a Harris poll conducted on behalf of the … [Read more...]
Why Trends Mean Even More to Christmas in a Covid-19 World
There is a lot riding on Christmas every year. For 2020 and into 2022, however, there has never been more at stake. Why is that? To begin with, consumers are planning to reign in their spending. A July 15 Coresight Research survey revealed that 48% of consumers intend to spend less on the Holidays … [Read more...]
Retail Energy in Paris
Over the past three years, we have teamed up on a number of seminars and webinars about best practices in retail visual display. If attendance at our June AmericasMart’s Apparel Mart webinar program is any indicator, audiences are appreciating our unique perspective. They are drawn to our combined … [Read more...]
Décor’s Response to Covid-19
It’s interesting to see how décor choices have started being impacted by the pandemic. In response to Covid-19, some consumers have found themselves newly drawn to tradition. Within this segment, the pull of classic elements that speak to timeless truths has been particularly obvious. Often … [Read more...]