Close your eyes and picture it. The turkey. The mashed potatoes. The pumpkin pie. The beautiful tablescape. And the bountiful buffet. No single meal in the U.S. gets more attention than Thanksgiving dinner.
Entertaining at Thanksgiving offers a prime opportunity for retailers to connect with consumers on the joy of at-home gatherings and help them feel better equipped for hosting events of all kinds. That means tapping into the feel-good emotions of bringing friends and family together, as well as sharing ideas and inspiration to get them on track. And it certainly means providing them with the right products to make their events easier, more special and more delicious.
The Right Trends
While buffets have been the more popular way to serve at-home guests in the U.S. in recent years, the pendulum may be swinging back to favor seated events. Over the summer, Pinterest reported that searches for “dinner party” increased 6000% (over the same time period last year).
While Pinterest users were also searching for specific themes for their dinner parties, it seems that formal or fancier affairs of any kind are having a moment. For this reason, retailers may want to lean into some upscale offerings, such as Fortessa Tableware’s Lucca Faceted flatware or Godinger’s Silver Art Decanter Set.
You can also help consumers on a budget—or those who don’t want to deal with the clean-up or upkeep of high-end items—achieve the look of a formal affair. Just one example is Sophistiplate’s sophisticated take on single-use paper products for holiday tables or dinner parties, such as The Bellezza Collection by Deborah Shearer of Table + Dine.
The Right Food
Sure, there are a number of Thanksgiving staples that appear on tables from year to year. But hosts are always looking for ways to add a little bit of newness to their meals when entertaining at Thanksgiving. This year in particular, retailers may want to help shoppers with creative new recipes and help them feel a little more comfortable incorporating new foods and flavors.
Global cuisine and fusion-style restaurants are surging in popularity, and consumers of all ages (especially younger ones) are becoming more adventurous with spices and florals. In addition, The Kitchn identified creative mash-ups of popular foods and flavors as an emerging trend that will continue this year, like smash burger tacos. What Thanksgiving mash-ups can you dream up?
The Right Products
Not everyone is a seasoned host. And those who are often find themselves searching for home and housewares products that are new or different. Retailers can show how they’ve got shoppers’ backs by promoting some of their picks for the most helpful—and most sought-after—items for at-home entertaining.
According to the 2024 IHA At-Home Entertaining Survey, the category most often purchased in preparation for an at-home gathering is textiles (38%). That’s followed by food storage (36%), glassware and tableware (both with 31%), bakeware and serveware (both 27%), décor (26%), and cookware, cutlery and prep gadgets (all with 25%).
Just a few products that fit the bill include:
- Toastess Cordless Warming Tray – Perfect for formal dinner tables, with no unsightly cord needed
- Martha by Martha Stewart Tri-Ply Copper Cookware from Gibson Homewares – Quality cooking combines with attractive style so food can move straight to a dinner table or buffet
- Ritz Napkins and Round Woven Placemats by John Ritzenhaler – Versatile and easy to clean, making it easy to dress up or dress down your table
One Last Tip
Don’t only focus your marketing and promotions to hosts. Thanksgiving in particular is an “all-hands on deck” kind of event. Guests are most often asked to bring desserts (55%), but alcohol (54%) and side dishes (53%) follow close behind, according to IHA’s survey.
The post Entertaining at Thanksgiving appeared first on The Inspired Home Show.