Perfecting Perspective on Current Trends

Tom Mirabile, SVP of Global Trend & Design at Lifetime Brands, is a respected industry insider. Mirabile has a fascinating repertoire of experience and continues to be a reliable predictor of both consumer and style trends.

2 Questions with Tom Mirabile

Has there ever been an instance where another industry has influenced an innovation at Lifetime Brands?

Absolutely, it happens nearly every day. As the consumer experience evolves, our expectations become more homogenized. For example, companies like Target and H&M have taught consumers that they should expect “trend-right” product vertically across nearly all price points. So, whether I’m buying ready-to-wear at Bloomingdales or Target, I expect the product to be on trend.

The same expectation is now moving horizontally across categories. Today’s consumer expects as much color and fashion in housewares as they see in ready-to-wear, and as much function as they see in small electrics. For that reason, we try to stay current with every industry that touches our everyday experience, from fashion to hardware and appliances to toys. It doesn’t matter whether the consumer is buying a can opener from Savora, Farberware, Kizmos, or one of the private label programs we create for our retail partners, it has to be current and relevant in the market. Every brand under the Lifetime Brands umbrella is expected to have a distinct and saleable perspective on current trends, whether it relates to color, pattern, form, or even function.

Looking to the future, how is your company going to be a leader in innovation?

At Lifetime, we foster innovation by focusing on consumer-centric product development. Context is everything. We know that the products we create have to be about more than just great function. Today, housewares is a lifestyle category. We live or die by our relevance to both people’s lives and their living environments. We help them define their personal style. We have to consider fashion and function, giftability, decorative value, and material qualities. Every aspect of the consumer interface, from the packaging to their everyday experience with the product at home is integral.