Home Fashions (Study Guide)

Home Fashions Key Concepts ● History of the home furnishings industries ● Organization, operation, and product categories of soft goods and tabletop goods industries ● Market segments of the home fashions industry ● Market centers and resources of the home fashions industry ● Fashion influences in the home fashions industry ● Technological advancements and the home fashions industry Home Furnishings ● It’s said that your home is your castle. Whether it’s a sprawling mansion or a studio apartment or even a dorm room, it’s your own space. Therefore creating a sanctuary that you look forward to come home to is essential. As Americans are spending more time at home, they’re also spending more on home decorations. History of the Home Furnishings Industries The Roll of Linen ● From ancient times, linen was used in the Middle East and Europe for clothing and bedding. When medieval Europeans sat at the table for meals, instead of napkins they’d wipe their hands on remnants of linen covering the table. The association of linen with sheets, tablecloths and towels was so strong that even today we still refer to most household fabric accessories as “linens” even though most items are made of other fabrics. The Evolution of Global Home Fashions ● Travelers since Marco Polo have brought home examples of native crafts and handwork to beautify their homes. Today, that tradition lives on with materials and designs. African kente cloth patterns appear on American bed linens. Japanese apartments feature Western style rooms. Home fashions retain their distinctive local character, but they are enjoyed in homes far from their point of origin. Pillows shown from American furnishing company, West Elm. Organization and Operation of the Industries Tabletop Manufacturers ● Fashion influence is also apparent in the hard lines of home furnishings. Everything from furniture to fashion appliances has a fashion cycle. There are 3 categories of table top goods (dinnerware, glassware and flatware). Since they’re used together, manufacturers in each category have grown through expansion as well as mergers into all 3 categories. ● Popular imports of tabletop products include Wedgewood and Waterford. In addition to their famous clothing collections, Italian designers Versace and Armani also have a large collection of table top products. Importance of Name Designers & Brand Names ● Home fashions from name designers and known brands satisfies a customer’s need. It can suggest anything from status (from a designer name) to certain price points associated with a brand. Kitchen Essentials by Le Creuset. Product Categories of Selected Soft Goods ● Bed Linens: sheets, pillowcases, blankets ● Bath Linens: towels, washcloths, floor coverings ● Table Linens: tablecloths, napkins, placemats ● Window Treatments: curtains, shades, blinds ● Upholstery Fabric: slipcovers, pillows ● Area Rugs: scatter rugs and runners ● Miscellaneous: throws, kitchen towels, appliance covers Market Segments Bridal ● Marriages are a source of celebration for the home furnishings industry as well as the newly weds because half the purchases of sterling silver flatware and giftware are bought as wedding gifts. This high percentage is largely due to wedding and bridal registries. New Home / Vacation Home ● When a family or individual moves into a new home, at whatever stage of life, possibilities open up for sellers of home furnishings. Larger spaces mean more demand for bathroom and bedroom products. Going away to college involves buying bed and bath linens. ● Vacation home décor can vary depending on the location. With various themes of beach life to ski mountain retreat. People tend to take longer to decorate vacation homes because they don’t live there fulltime hence removing the sense of urgency to buy things Bed Bath & Beyond ● Established in 1971, Bed Bath and Beyond is an American owned chain of domestic retail stores specializing in goods primarily for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and dining area. Almost every college student moving into their own place has walked through these doors. IKEA ● Started in 1943 by a 17-year-old Ingvar Kamrad (who is currently one of the 10 richest people in the world with a net worth of over 40 billion dollars) Ikea is a Swedish founded multinational group, headquartered in the Netherlands, that designs ready to assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home furnishings. It’s been the world’s largest home furnishings retailer since 2008.The company is famous for its modernistic designs, eco-friendly simplicity and killer Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce.