Kitchen retailers must digitalize in the face of ongoing challenges – as the US kitchen market transforms.

The kitchen market in the United States is undergoing a huge transformation. And it’s happening because the way that consumers want to design and purchase their kitchens is changing. They are demanding richer online experiences and expect a quicker, simpler way to make decisions and purchases.

Sourcing hurdles, long lead times, a skilled labor shortage and price inflation all impact customer satisfaction. At the same time, kitchen businesses are seeking ways to streamline their operations in the face of ongoing economic challenges.

With an expected compound annual growth rate of 11.56% for the US kitchen furniture segment between 2022 and 2025, the right digital strategies could reap big rewards. A cloud-based 3D planning solution that enables omnichannel design and e-commerce can be transformative for today’s kitchen retailers, improving customer satisfaction while driving down costs.

Here are the three areas retailers must focus on:

1. Consumer experience and digital transformation

Consumers want a personalized experience, and they want to shop in their own time, on their own terms. The same now applies when planning to remodel their kitchens. Looking for inspiration online has become a critical part of the remodeling process. Kitchen retailers need to provide the means to achieve this on their own websites or risk losing consumers to their competitors.

2. Sales cycle acceleration

A record 11.5 million jobs are currently available, 3 million above levels last year. The ratio of job openings to those unemployed is 2 to 1, but the skill sets are not aligning. This also affects the kitchen retail sector, slowing down the purchase cycle because there are not enough consultants and designers to guide customers through the creation process.

By empowering consumers to design online, their time with sales associates becomes more productive and efficient. This enables sales experts to add value where it is most needed. The ability to build error-free and purchase-ready designs online would also mean they can be sent directly to the manufacturer. This not only saves hours in reworking designs to fit building codes and measurements, but it can also cut delivery time.

3. US-based production

With a huge interest in sourcing locally and sustainably, consumers are demanding greater transparency on where and how their kitchens are made: 76% of American consumers would pay more for environmentally friendly furniture. It’s something retailers must also consider – in the face of supply chain shortages, creative manufacturing solutions are required.

To keep up with demand, many manufacturers are expanding their production capabilities to create products in the US. Retailers can adapt here by seeking and partnering with these local manufacturers. As well as catering to consumer preferences, the installation process is even faster if retailers can create a direct sales channel between manufacturers and their consumers.

The value of an omnichannel 3D planning solution

An online 3D planning solution gives consumers the power to create their own kitchens, supported by sales experts using the same platform. However, finding the right solution for your market and region is essential to ensure designs are accurate, compatible with local guidelines, and cater to consumer preferences.

Here are some key capabilities to look out for:

• Accurate floor plans compatible with all units of measurement. Consumers want to create precise floor plans of their kitchens using familiar measurements – whether imperial or metric.
• Auto-generated kitchen designs. Provide recommendations and inspire consumers to populate their designs using your products. This requires a solution that models your entire catalog in 3D and supports every kitchen layout and style, including framed cabinetry.
• Real-time pricing updates in any currency. Faced with rising living costs, consumers need to feel in control of their spending. Real-time budget updates mean consumers can track their budget in their own currency as they design and purchase confidently. And with customizable access, different prices can be outlined for consumers, dealers or manufacturers.
• Intelligent business rules based on regional requirements. An automated design engine is essential for consumers to create purchase-ready designs online that can be sent directly to the manufacturer. It means users are alerted to potential design errors and how to solve them.
• Lifelike HD room renderings. These allow your customers to visualize their new kitchens in detail. Look for options to customize every aspect of the render to showcase the design—for example, a range of backdrops typical to their location and lighting for day and night.

Leading kitchen brands and retailers worldwide are using HomeByMe for Kitchen Retailers to transform their digital strategies. This month, it was announced that Cabinets.com, the largest online retailer of U.S.-manufactured and assembled cabinets, selected HomeByMe for Kitchen Retailers to enhance the user experience further.

As a cloud-based solution, HomeByMe for Kitchen Retailers is quick and easy to integrate into the business and adapt features to your customers’ needs. The most advanced omnichannel 3D design solution available, it’s powered by the 3D software expertise of Dassault Systèmes. Contact us for a demo to discover more.