Increased consumer demands stimulate progress in the hardware industry. The modern consumer is no longer content with conforming to the ordinary. They want to separate themselves from their neighbors with personalized products, particularly for their homes. This trend has led to the development of an entirely new sub-industry focused on rapid development of custom home building materials. Three prominent trends are emerging in this industry:
1. Popularization of Personalized Products and Original Designs
Modern consumers want household products that not only function properly but are also stylish and likely to impress. The rising demand for home building supplies is now coupled with an increased demand for personalization, whether it be windows and doors or entire kitchens and bathrooms. Manufacturers must keep up with this demand for customization, while also having the ability to quickly pivot as new design trends are popularized. Customers constantly want “bigger, stronger, better,” and manufacturers must meet these requirements in order to capture their share of the market.
Today’s consumer values quality of life more than ever, and as a result, they require their home to reflect their own specific tastes. But as society evolves, these tastes will continue to change — and the rate of change is ever-increasing. The desire for personalized products brings unique challenges to the manufacturing industry, and manufacturers must keep up to remain relevant. Mr. Xiao predicted that the hardware industry will continue to focus on big brands and high-end products as the demand for original designs continues to increase, thus spurring further growth in the industry.
2. Integration of Consumer Demands into Overall Household Style
Although consumers desire personalized household items, they still want the designs to fit the overall household style. In the present market, consumers are finding this to be a difficult task, particularly in the hardware field. There are many products in this field — door locks, handles, towel holders, and furniture, to name a few — and all have their own unique designs. The issue arises from trying to find continuity in these designs, especially when trying to match the general theme and style of the house.
Continuity in home design is popular at present, and this trend is expected to grow. To accommodate customer demands, the hardware industry may need to start providing personalized support and catering to each individual home.
3. Increased Use of Copper Products for Health Benefits
Consumers’ quality of life is not only derived from personalized furnishings, but also from leading a healthy lifestyle. The importance of health has been especially apparent in recent years, contributing to an increase in the use of copper in the hardware industry due to its antimicrobial and antibacterial effects. Copper home furnishing products have been popular in China since March of 2008, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially recognized copper and its alloys as effective in reducing bacterial infections and encouraged its use in healthcare and public life.
In addition to its health benefits, copper is also a preferred material in household product manufacturing due to its ductility, ease of forging, and corrosion resistance. Copper also has many historical and cultural benefits, particularly in China. It is thought to ward off evil spirits and is often handed down from generation to generation. For the reasons stated above, copper products are predicted to be widely used.
Generally speaking, the increase in consumer demand is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it creates opportunities for industry development, but on the other, it induces great competition and survival pressure. In the face of ever-changing consumer demands and fleeting market opportunities, hardware industry enterprises must deepen their understanding of human needs in modern society. These enterprises must find a way to balance achieving peak industry innovation with being receptive to their consumer’s needs. They must seek spiritual resonance with the public in order to understand future developmental trends. With this in mind, it’s clear to see that the hardware industry has a long way to go.