 The year 2020 has undoubtedly become one of the most challenging years of the current century. The rise and spread of the COVID–19 pandemic have brought several drastic changes in the way we live and run our lives.
One thing that has been strongly highlighted through this unprecedented outbreak is the enhanced importance of staying at home. As homes and apartments become the epicenter of all our activities, it does not only change the way we live in them but also the way we need to design and remodel them. Although we are hoping that this pandemic will not last forever, it will still have a deep prolonged impact on our lives. So, there is an essential need to change the way we design our homes and living areas to meet the needs of the growing challenges. Every home should be able to offer utility, comfort, and a high quality of life. Attractive design and the physical outlook are important, but functionality and convenience have become vital. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) compiled a report on the subject of “Design Trends in 2021”. This report highlights the ways COVID 19 will impact interior design and remodeling of homes in the coming years. The findings of the report are based on a thorough online survey that was conducted by the NKBA in the American and Canadian regions. The survey respondents included a mix of designers, showroom owners and dealers, remodeling specialists, manufacturers, construction contractors, and architects. We did a blog in June on this very topic, “5 Ways COVID-19 will Impact the Interior Design & Remodel Industry”. This article is an update on that blog with assistance from the NKBA report and its findings. In this article, you will read about the anticipated influences of COVID–19 on the way interior design and home remodeling trends will evolve in 2021 based on the given report. So, let’s have a look! More People are Looking to Remodel or Redesign Their Existing Homes Understanding the importance of good interior design of your homes, more and more people are interested in improvising their current homes to make them suitable for various purposes and better living. Apartments and homes were once considered as a retirement place where you return to, every night, just to put your head down. No one expected to spend so much time at home being quarantined or in a lockdown situation. Because of the apparent financial downfall owing to the current situation, people would rather prefer to remodel their existing homes instead of buying a new one. People are looking for ways and designs, which can enhance the utility, comfort, and convenience of your existing homes. Need for Increased Functional Areas For Work and Study During the lockdown situation the world has witnessed many lifestyle changes, one of which is working from home and schooling at home. Every household now needs a specifically dedicated area for a small home office or where kids can pursue their online classes. There is a need for safe storage, bookshelves, a working desk, and a room that has no disturbances or noises. People are looking for areas within the home like the kitchen and living room where they can easily plug in their laptops and connect to virtual meetings along with other cloud technologies. Need for Larger Storage Areas In the future, people are looking to remodel and redesign their homes to have larger storage spaces where excess groceries, lifestyle supplies, toiletries, and even office stationery and files can be stored. Staying home for longer durations means you won’t be going out much. So, your in-house requirements for larger pantries, bigger refrigerators, and freezers are growing, so you would not have to go shopping again and again. The increased storage space is more preferred in kitchens and bathroom areas. Easy To Clean Surfaces Although the need for having clean and hygienic homes has been around since forever, it has become much more vital in the current COVID-19 era. With less help around, everyone is looking to clean and sweep their homes themselves. People all around the world want their homes to have easy to clean and easy to sanitize surfaces. For this purpose, they are willing to remodel their homes and change their furnishings and fixtures to have simple finishes that are resistant to various cleaning agents, antibacterial liquids, and sanitizers that contain ammonia and alcohol. Preferences for objects made from natural materials that restrict the growth of bacteria and micro-organisms are on the rise. Enhanced Need for Having Outdoor Living Areas Surveying thousands of people from various walks of life and backgrounds, the NKBA has found that a very large number of people are now looking for better organized and larger outdoor living areas in their homes. As the COVID–19 pandemic spread, people were restricted to their home, and outdoor and other entertainment activities like going to public parks, festivals, concerts, restaurants, and family get-togethers were all banned. Therefore, people want to have relaxed large outdoor areas in their residence to have a good time while staying at home. Additional demand for outdoor kitchens, BBQ areas, decks and patios, pools and spas, balconies, and rooftop terraces is much anticipated in the coming years. Technology Driven Comfort Living in an era of digitalization and smart devices, technology plays a vital role in our daily living. Whether you are working from home, taking online classes, cooking, or indulging in entertainment activities, technology and devices are important aspects of how we live. The need for incorporation of the latest gadgets, electronic appliances, and uninterrupted technology-driven comfort is on the rise in homes and apartments. To Wrap It Up Designers, architects, remodelers, and interior designers anticipate a substantial impact of COVID–19 on the upcoming trends and customer needs of the industry. With a large number of people spending more time at home, people now are willing to invest larger amounts in re-designing and remodeling their homes. They are looking for living areas that are much more comfortable, easy to manage and clean, multifunctional, and have better storage solutions. The demand for entertainment and outdoor living areas is also on the rise in the market. The industry players need to keep in mind these projections and anticipated changes in customer needs and requirements. Capitalizing on these design influences can turn this otherwise challenging situation into a productive opportunity for the industry. KABMS has developed several Coronavirus Resources to help the interior design and remodeling industry. Take a look at our COVID-19 Resources page here to gain access to a marketing guide and resource guide to help you through this pandemic. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact us so one of our professionals can get your questions answered or schedule a strategy session to learn how we can help you through this pandemic.
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 Interior design and home remodeling are competitive businesses, especially now that a pandemic has trapped families in their houses, forcing them to look at the nagging home projects they’ve been putting off for months. To gain a competitive edge in your market, you've got to be diligent and consistent with your marketing efforts. However, creating and executing a solid marketing strategy is another full-time job, so it’s best to leave it to the professionals. A digital marketer can help you grow your business and revenue by leveraging different marketing tactics to attract your ideal customer and improve your online presence. However, just like homeowners trying to find the right contractor, finding the right marketing firm can be just as nerve-wracking. The five practices below will ensure the company you hire is the right one.
Marketing agencies perform services like market/industry research, running Google/ Facebook/ or YouTube Ads, developing email campaigns, and can even design and build your entire website. Many marketing techniques include content creation through blog post generation, SEO writing, infographic creation, content analysis, social media promotion, and much more. You must first determine what areas of your business need attention. 1. Define your needs and find an agency who can cover the specifics. Marketing is a huge field; some firms are one-stop shops while others are a one-trick pony. Define what your company’s marketing requirements are before looking for an agency. If you’re in the early stages of starting a new business, you need everything from a stellar website to effective email marketing to captivating social media profiles that are posting regularly. However, if you’ve been in business awhile, maybe you just need a tune up to improve your social media presence and build up your email list. The marketing strategies you implement will depend on your audience. An agency will know where to look for your ideal client and what type of avenues will be the most effective for engaging them. Ask potential agencies what they offer, what their area of expertise is, if they’ve worked with companies in your industry before, and what tactics or strategy they would implement given your starting point. 2. How do they run their own business? The best sign of what results you can expect are the results the agency has achieved for themselves. If you’re thinking about hiring an agency for blog management, check out their blog if they have one. If you’re interested in social media promotion, check out their social media profiles. If you want to hire them for SEO, check how they rank in an industry search. The company you hire should practice what they preach and have proof of their successes in their portfolio. You can filter out amateur businesses by asking what makes them different and what their biggest successes are. Professionals who have honed in their expertise will give you a thoroughly mapped out strategy. 3. You get what you pay for. Marketing is essential for all businesses to thrive, which is why many large corporations have in-house marketing departments that do nothing but focus on that full-time. This is one thing you don’t want to cut corners on because it affects the livelihood of your business. As with anything, low prices typically mean low-quality. A great firm won’t low-ball themselves when they know what they deliver is worth the cost. Agencies that charge higher prices tend to treat their clients better. Cost will also depend on the tasks they're doing for you. Basic website creation starts at $2,500 while social media marketing can start at $300 and go up to the thousands for a month's services. 4. Check the Associations. When a company is a member of an industry association like the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) or other industry associations, they’re showing they believe in promoting truth in advertising and integrity in business. Being a member of an association is a great vote of confidence for an agency because they are showing their dedication to serving the industry. They are willing to be held accountable by their community and customers. Just like there’s a common misconception that all home contractors are unreliable or will rip you off, marketing is also an industry that can host a lot of scam artists, giving others a bad name. Being members of industry associations show the company is legitimate, they hold themselves accountable, they stand by their work, and they have nothing to hide. 5. Check multiple sources for customer reviews. As we’ve previously discussed, the best recommendation for anything is word of mouth. Before you call for a consultation, check multiple sources like Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Yelp for customer reviews. Do they work with big clients or have they done jobs that you recognize? Do they have a portfolio with samples of the content they’ve curated for their clients? Any firm in the business of marketing will have at least one social media network which should be up to date and sharing constantly; check there for reviews, content, and recent customer engagement. You’re in the business of designing/building, so trying to develop content, post, and engage with clients online is another full-time job. The right agency could generate millions of dollars in revenue for your business by creating a cohesive and solid strategy to drive traffic to you, allowing you to focus on your clients and other areas of your business. On Wednesday, December 16 at 12 pm central time (1 pm eastern) we will have a webinar on developing a 2021 marketing plan. In this webinar we'll discuss marketing strategies to implement in 2021. We'll help you develop a plan to grow your brand and get new clients. This is the same strategy we use with our own clients. To register for this webinar click here (www.kitchenandbathmarketingsolutions.com/mplan2021). For additional information take a look at our Resource Library for additional marketing tips. If you want to speak with one of our professionals contact us or schedule a strategy session so we can better understand you business and show you how we can help grow your business and your brand. |
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