LAS VEGAS— The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) demonstrated not only the next generation of technology but a growing housewares presence.
Vendors attributed that growth to the housewares industry’s implementation of connected technologies across categories like small electrics, cookware, home environment and personal care and wellness, among others.
Tim Buszka, assistant brand manager, Whirlpool Brand, said, “People ignored the appliance for so long, but appliances are the next technology wave. It’s no longer handhelds, it’s what you live with and use every single day.”
Both returning and first time exhibitors also agreed that smart home and connected health have given the housewares industry a story to tell at CES.
Michael Wallace, co-founder and CEO of Perfect Company, which partnered with Vitamix in 2016 to launch connected kitchen appliances, said, “There’s more housewares than there was last year. This is the first year Vitamix has been to CES. As they’re starting to introduce more tech, the app, Bluetooth, things like that, it’s a much more interesting technology conversation, and that’s why you come to CES.”
The home environment category is on the brink of evolution due to the integration of these technologies into a majority of the category’s appliances, including air purifiers, water filtration, air conditioners, heaters and humidifiers.
LG, for example, recently entered the air purification market with its PuriCare line, featuring three air purification models and a humidifier.
The company also launched its take on the smart home hub, the Hub Robot, said to double as a smart home gateway and intelligent home notification center. The hub connects to other smart appliances and uses Amazon Alexa’s voice recognition technology to complete household tasks such as turning on an air conditioner with verbal commands.
Coway also showcased feature-rich air purification appliances in addition to a line of water filtration and skin care devices. Each line touted connectivity and advanced smart features (see story, page 58).
Objecto returned to the show for its fourth year with housewares appliances. Steven Broker, svp/merchandising, Objecto, said, “We have key buyers that are coming here this year. It’s very interesting, we have been showing housewares for four years and there have never been key buyers coming down to the show floor.”
He added, “When you bring housewares to CES it’s a stopper, because it’s something so unique. So many people just stop to look.”
In addition to smart technologies, Objecto also showcased its new line of aroma diffusers, a nod to the presence of home environment appliances at the show that aren’t reliant on connectivity.
Broker said, “We launched diffusers seven years ago but we never brought it to market in the U.S. because we wanted to start with our humidifier line, but we realized that all of our humidifiers have aroma diffuser capabilities. I think aroma diffusers are very hot today. People are very health conscious.”
While challenges still remain for the smart home and connected health, vendors said they expect the housewares industry to see continued growth and evolution, as well as see the industry adding to its presence at CES moving forward.
