10 eCommerce Trends for Furniture Brands in 2024
The ecommerce landscape constantly evolves as new technologies emerge and consumer behavior changes. Furniture brands that want to stay ahead of the curve must keep a pulse on the latest ecommerce trends and adapt their strategies accordingly. In this blog post, we will look at ten major ecommerce trends that furniture brands should be aware of in 2024 to drive sales growth and deliver better customer experiences. Whether you sell ready-to-assemble furniture, custom upholstered pieces, outdoor furniture, or anything in between, these ecommerce trends should be on your radar over the next year.
Improved Product Visualization
One of the biggest challenges furniture brands face in ecommerce is conveying what a product looks like and how it fits into a room through static images alone. In 2024, we expect considerable advances in product visualization that allow shoppers to understand products better in a realistic context. For example, augmented reality and 3D modeling can let shoppers virtually place furniture in their living spaces. Likewise, digital renderings and configurable room scenes help customers visualize the scale of a couch or table and how different finishes and fabrics will look. Investing in these enhanced product visualization ecommerce services pays dividends by reducing returns and increasing conversion rates.
Localized Web Design
Though furniture brands may sell globally online, that doesn’t mean a one-size-fits-all website will resonate across regions. In 2024, look for ecommerce sites to deliver more localized experiences and connect better with visitors based on location. This may include using localized imagery, changing promo banner messaging for regional events, accepting local payment methods, and providing country-specific shipping information upfront. Localizing the web experience instills more trust among visitors and makes them feel your brand understands their needs.
Subscription-Based Services
Along with selling furniture outright, subscription models are expected to gain more traction in 2024. “Furniture-as-a-service” options enable customers to periodically update their furnishings by swapping out pieces as their tastes and lifestyles evolve. Brands like Feather allow customers to rent furniture and décor items with flexible plans. Others offer subscriptions for curated collections of seasonal furniture released throughout the year. The flexible access and variety provided by these ecommerce subscription services appeal to millennials who value experiences over material goods.
Shoppable Video Content
Just as shoppable posts have taken off on social media, shoppable video is expected to become more prominent on furniture brand websites in 2024. This includes embedded product tags that allow viewers to instantly click to learn more or purchase the items shown in styled room scenes, assembly tutorials, designer interviews, and other videos right from the video player. Blending entertainment and education with ecommerce gives consumers a more immersive experience and reduces friction when they’re ready to buy.
Virtual Design Consultations
While ecommerce makes it easy for consumers to browse and buy furniture 24/7, many customers still need guidance when pulling together a cohesive room design. That’s why on-demand virtual design consultations will gain popularity in 2024, allowing customers to get personalized advice from furniture brands’ in-house experts during the shopping journey. Key ecommerce capabilities needed to facilitate convenient virtual consultations include:
- Real-time chat.
- Screen sharing/co-browsing.
- Brilliant digital asset libraries.
- Integration with 3D room planning tools.
Smart Recommendation Engines
To provide a more tailored ecommerce experience, intelligent recommendation engines will play a more significant role in 2024. Sophisticated algorithms will analyze individual customer behavior, purchase history, browsing trends, and other inputs to deliver ultra-relevant suggestions throughout the site. For example, the recommendation engine may promote coordinating coffee tables to match a couch the customer just viewed or recommend additional pieces needed to complete the room they’re shopping for based on common pairings. Personalization is critical for furniture brands to guide customers to the right pieces and maximize order value.
Expanded Delivery Options
Demand for speed and flexibility at checkout continues to rise. That’s why furniture brands must expand their ecommerce delivery capabilities to meet customer expectations. Options like next-day and same-day delivery, evening/weekend delivery windows, and “buy online, pick up in-store” will be critical. Optimizing delivery with ecommerce services like real-time route optimization and tracking also improves efficiency. And allowing customers to select their preferred delivery date during checkout can significantly reduce cart abandonment. Going above and beyond on delivery demonstrates the superior service furniture brands can provide.
Photorealistic CGI Models
Traditionally, furniture brands rely heavily on photography to depict their products online. But in 2024, computer-generated imagery (CGI) will become more commonplace. CGI allows brands to render true-to-life 3D furniture models and stage them in various scenes with infinite flexibility. The photorealistic quality of CGI, coupled with its consistency and ability to be modified, makes it advantageous over photography. CGI assets also enable emerging technologies like virtual and augmented reality. As CGI costs decrease, it becomes more viable for furniture ecommerce, especially for brands that sell customizable products.
Connected Commerce Experiences
In 2024, customers will expect ecommerce experiences to be connected across channels like mobile apps, websites, showrooms, and more. Browsing a sofa collection on a brand’s app at home and then having those products sync to an in-store digital catalog positions showrooms as ecommerce extensions. There are also opportunities to connect online purchasing with in-person services — for example, booking delivery and setup in tandem. Building these omnichannel ecommerce experiences requires a technology foundation to unify data across channels into a single view of the customer.
Sustainability Messaging
Consumers — especially millennials and Gen Z — increasingly factor sustainability into purchasing furniture. Whether it’s recycled materials, organic textiles, or responsibly harvested wood, customers want to know the eco-impact of what they’re buying. That’s why communicating sustainability attributes on ecommerce product pages will be essential in 2024. Detailed materials information, certifications like FSC and Greenguard, and imagery/video highlighting manufacturing processes help brands showcase commitment to the environment. Promoting sustainability builds trust and aligns with consumers’ values.
Conclusion
The digital furniture shopping experience is advancing rapidly. Implementing the latest ecommerce services and technologies allows brands like IoVista to keep pace with customer expectations. Furniture sellers that stay ahead of these ten major ecommerce trends for 2024, including innovative solutions provided by IoVista, will be poised for sales growth and continuous innovation in the coming year.
Name: IoVista Inc.
Address: 5220 Spring Valley Rd Suite 568, Dallas, TX, 75254
Phone No: 214–239–0143