The home market—including furniture, interior décor, DIY, and gardening—has seen remarkable changes over the past two years. This sector was among the few to thrive during the pandemic, as many consumers took advantage of the situation to improve their homes, renovate spaces, or explore DIY (Do It Yourself) projects.
Strengthened online presence
To quickly adapt to these changes and evolving consumer behaviors, retailers strengthened their online presence and introduced services like home delivery, curbside pickup, and hassle-free returns to cater to customers who preferred—or were unable—to shop in-store.
The market has regained momentum, with projections forecasting strong growth over the next four years, reaching nearly $90 billion by 2025. In Europe, the furniture market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3%.
Still, the sector faces short-term hurdles, including volatile raw material prices and shrinking disposable incomes due to inflation, which has hit its highest levels in 30 years.
Strengthened online presence →
The unified commerce challenge
Unified commerce presents another major challenge, having seen rapid growth during the pandemic. While physical stores continue to provide an unmatched shopping experience, digital channels have become a vital part of the purchasing journey, particularly for younger generations.
The customer journey has evolved dramatically. Nowadays, consumers frequently browse a retailer’s website or social media, skipping the in-store experience of seeing, touching, or testing a product before making their final decision.
Shopping habits have also become more impulsive. Millennials, for example, replace furniture more often for aesthetic reasons, unlike their parents or grandparents, who viewed furniture as a lifelong investment.
Younger generations are quick to adopt new technologies such as augmented reality and livestreaming. They place significant importance on user-generated content (UGC) on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. While in-store purchases remain the preferred option, furniture and home décor items have firmly entered the realm of online shopping and are here to stay.
Discover how Orisha Commerce empowers retailers and brands in the furniture, décor, and DIY sectors to embrace unified commerce:
Watching our webinar:
Orisha Commerce: The ultimate solution for furniture and DIY retailers
