As the pandemic kept most people confined to their homes, it is no surprise that homewares and lifestyle products made it onto the Product of the Year Awards winners list.
Product of the Year director, Sarah Connelly, says the ongoing and unexpected restrictions have no doubt made Australian household consumption habits shift considerably.
“We have unsurprisingly seen a range of wider homewares and lifestyle products make the winners’ list for 2022 including two Koala furniture products (a mattress and sofa bed), as well as some more lifestyle products including skin products from The Balnea Body Company,” she says.
With people stuck in their homes more than ever, it seems that as consumers head into 2022 they are giving the nod to brands that put convenience at the forefront. Aussies are also seeking ultimate creature comforts, with 12 out of 37 award-winners being affordable luxury and indulgence items including mattresses and skincare products.
With most of the country in various lockdowns for the past several months, it’s no wonder that Aussies are looking for easy and convenient products that fit their lifestyles and allow for small indulgences at home.
These findings were supported by research conducted by Nielsen for POY that delved into the current consumer shopping habits. The research found that one in three Aussies (38 per cent) would switch products if it was more convenient for them.
“Now we’re seeing people having to work from home more, manage more people in their household and even in many instances, home-school children, which is leaving the average Aussie short on time…,” she says.
The consumer-based awards program is now in its 13th year in Australia, recognising product innovation and serving as a shortcut for shoppers, saving them time and money when finding the right products. More than 5,000 shoppers voted this year.
