World

Industry stakeholders are increasingly debating between sustainability and technology leadership strategies in the appliances market. As margins continue to shrink, leadership in either category is critical to maintain continued competitiveness. In…

The home cushions consumers from a mindset of resource abundance to one of short-term crisis, ultimately leading to long-term compromise. The sustainable home will be centred on the adoption of new technologies, with properties integrating reuse,…

Smart home adoption will accelerate in the near term, as Matter-enabled devices become commonplace. Interoperability will enable companies to provide better experiences, while consumers will enjoy improved and more personalised services.

Smart home is one of the most appealing topics in Home & Tech-related industries but also a concept that is often misrepresented. This briefing defines smart home as powered by artificial intelligence (AI) enabled appliances that are capable of…

Western Europe saw a clear spike in sales of small appliances in 2020, when Coronavirus (COVID-19) hit the region, as consumers were cooking and eating more at home, and looking for products that helped make this easier for them. Further growth was…

After falling for two years, Asia Pacific sales of small appliances recorded positive, albeit very modest, growth in 2022, with the dynamic Indian market helping to offset the continued declines being seen in China and Japan. Stronger growth rates…

Samsung continues to record strong sales growth in recent years, as the pandemic drove consumer focus shifts towards the home. The company has increased investment in product innovation, while its customer-focused strategy is centred around…

Panasonic is a clear leader in Japan. However, its presence overseas is limited compared to other appliance giants. Panasonic is one of the leading players in Southeast Asia in multiple categories such as Split Air Conditioners and Hair Care…

Following a decade of low borrowing costs, businesses and consumers now face increasing financial pressure due to a surge in interest rates in 2023. High interest rates have far-reaching consequences on economies, businesses and households, impacting…

The rise of new business models is linked to a radical overhaul in traditional concepts of ownership, while offering consumers the prospect of new services and improved experiences. Brands exploit the power of connectivity and data generated from…

Mixing-in-the-Moment (MITM) is a smart technology disruption of traditional value chains surrounding consumable additives (like detergents, fragrances, drinks, cosmetics and other fluids).This is proving to be a consistent and predictable disruption,…

Sales of major appliances slipped into decline across Western Europe in 2022, after most countries had been seeing growth during the pandemic, often in both 2020 and 2021. Consumers returning to more out-of-home activities as societies were fully…

Growth in major appliances went into reverse in Eastern Europe in 2020 due to the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the measures taken to try and control its spread. In addition, consumers were increasingly looking for cheaper or economy products…

China’s struggles with the Omicron variant across much of the year meant that sales of major appliances declined in 2022, resulting in slightly negative growth for the Asia Pacific region as a whole, given the size of this country’s market. However,…

iRobot has benefited from the growth of robotic vacuum cleaners and the proliferation of the category during the pandemic, and continues to lead globally. However, an increasing number of low- and mid-tier products threaten iRobot’s share. iRobot…

Inflationary pressures have been present in the appliances industry since late 2020. Production capacity challenges include labour shortages, persistent semiconductor shortages and elevated commodity prices. In 2022, inflationary pressures will come…

Hisense Group has maintained sales since the pandemic's peak due to pent-up demand for big appliances. Even though inflation is rising very quickly, the company will keep making appliances for consumers at reasonable prices, as there is significant…

Haier Group is a world leader in consumer appliances. It realised strong growth over the past years despite the pandemic-related adversities with a multi-brand, connectivity-focused strategy. It has the potential of not only penetrating more markets…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession in nearly a century. Businesses are operating in a world of anxieties and uncertainties, not knowing what will be the new normal or when output and consumer spending…