Millennials have matured. Between the ages of 28 and 43, this generation is now the largest home-buying generation in the market. In fact, according to the National Realtors Association, Millennials accounted for 38% of home buyers last year. They’re taking over the market share from Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, and the kitchen appliance industry is responding accordingly. Here’s a look at how the expectations, preferences, and needs of millennials are shaping the market.
Smart Technology
A technology mindset differentiates millennials from an older demographic. Having grown up with the internet, these tech-savvy consumers are driving a digital transformation. They tend to use smartphones over desktops and are hyper-attached to their devices. Multi-tasking is second nature to this busy group. Ease, efficiency, and convenience are major motivators.
So, it’s no surprise that millennials are propelling the rising popularity of smart kitchen appliances. They are looking for ways to simplify mealtime and enhance the cooking experience. For them, connectivity is a requisite. The digital natives opt for appliances that can be operated via both an app downloaded to their device and voice control through a virtual assistant. Café offers an array of Wi-Fi-enabled appliances that fit the bill. The Café Professional Series French-Door Double Wall Oven, for example, features built-in Wi-Fi, allowing the user to preheat the oven or change temperatures from anywhere. What’s more, regular software upgrades deliver the latest cooking modes, so features improve over time.
Health and Wellness
Cooking at home more than ever, millennials are fueling demand for health-promoting appliances that make it easy to prepare nutritious meals. Steam ovens and those with built-in air-frying capabilities top their must-have lists. Indoor air quality also matters. Induction cooktops—paired with high-performance kitchen ventilation— are gaining traction. Given climbing food prices, enhanced refrigeration that preserves fresh produce longer is incredibly important as well. The Café Smart 4-Door French-Door Refrigerator, for example, features a humidity control system allowing leafy greens to stay fresh 2.5 times longer than standard vegetable drawers.
Additional modern conveniences millennials look for include dishwashers with powerful sanitizing cycles to reduce bacteria on dishes, touchless faucets, and antimicrobial countertop surfaces.
Sustainability
Eco-conscious millennials actively seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint, making energy-efficient appliances a must. The industry is responding with groundbreaking products that consume less power and an expanding line-up of Energy Star-certified options. Products like Café’s ENERGY STAR-rated dishwashers featuring various wash zones, for example, showcase how Café’s forward-thinking technology saves the user time and conserves energy.
As the buying power of millennials increases, so too does this generation’s influence on the kitchen appliance industry. When your millennial clients are ready to purchase the ideal kitchen appliance suite to suit their lifestyle, a Friedman’s Appliances sales professional is excited to show them their options, discuss available rebates, and more.