THE INSPIRED HOME SHOW 2026
April/May 2026
housewareslive.net
examines how Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers evaluate products, brands and retailers. Mr Mirabile stressed that generational context remains highly relevant
in lifestyle categories, where purchases are closely tied to age, life stage and identity. Consumers are not simply buying products, but reflecting who they are or aspire to be, increasing the need for brands to connect authentically.
Millennials and Gen X dominate spending, accounting for around 60– 70% of the market, while Baby Boomers, though buying less frequently, tend to deliver higher-margin sales. Gen Z currently represents a smaller share but offers strong future potential, driven by its influence on trends through social media. Each group shows distinct behaviours. Gen Z favours space-saving, personalisable and refurbished products, while Millennials prioritise convenience, entertaining and home-focused solutions. Gen X combines high spending power with demand for comfort, wellness and home improvement, and Boomers focus on quality, longevity and products that support ageing in place. Across all generations, quality and trust are the primary drivers of
value, alongside durability and performance, with safety rising in importance. Promotions, free delivery and returns remain key purchase triggers, while ratings and reviews continue to gain influence. Sustainability is also becoming more important, as consumers increasingly favour brands demonstrating environmental and social responsibility. For retailers, the challenge is to balance functional value with emotional connection, tailoring strategies to meet the differing expectations of each generation.
beginning to explore its full potential. He urged companies to move beyond simple automation towards
predictive analytics that can actively drive growth. For a sector managing extensive product ranges and facing margin pressure, this offers significant opportunity. AI can uncover hidden value in underperforming lines, with one example showing more than 1,000 SKUs revitalised, delivering a 39% increase in orders and $1m in incremental revenue within three months. AI is also transforming how consumers discover products. Conant
pointed to a shift from traditional SEO to Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), requiring brands to rethink website structure and content strategies to remain visible in AI-driven search. Without this, brands risk being excluded from key discovery channels. Both speakers stressed that AI should enhance, not replace, human
roles. By automating routine tasks, businesses can free up time for creativity, strategy and decision-making. Mr Bose described AI as a starting point for insight, rather than the end result. He encouraged businesses to focus on outcomes rather than technology, keep humans involved and adopt a test-and-learn approach. This includes challenging long-standing processes and encouraging cross-functional collaboration to drive innovation. The message was clear: as AI evolves rapidly, those who fail to adapt risk losing competitive ground. Retailers and suppliers must start experimenting now and embed AI into core strategies to unlock future growth.
Understanding the consumer
Understanding the “why” behind consumer purchasing decisions is becoming increasingly critical for retailers, as generational differences continue to shape demand in the home and housewares sector. That was the key message from a keynote at The Inspired Home Show 2026, where new research highlighted how shoppers define value today. Presenting findings from the 2026 Value Equation Index, Tom Mirabile of Springboard Futures said that while trends come and go, the data behind them provides a more reliable guide for long-term strategy. Developed with the International Housewares Association, the study
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