The humanities and crafts market is flourishing, with 72% of adults in america (US) finishing a craft prior to now 12 months. This text supplies an in depth arts and crafts {industry} evaluation, exploring developments throughout the US and Canada. We’ll have a look at motivations for client participation, cross-industry developments, and alternatives for {industry} gamers to develop—so you may strategize with data-driven insights.
Motivations for Participation
Motivations for collaborating in arts and crafts span from escapism to affordability. Exploring these motivations can allow manufacturers to faucet into what makes shoppers choose up—and preserve selecting up—the pastime.
Crafting is a welcome escapism
Almost half of US adults have reported experiencing stress prior to now yr and search leisure actions like arts and crafts as a approach to unwind. Crafting is seen as a type of self-focused leisure, aligning with a post-pandemic mindset that emphasizes private success and individuality. This positions crafting as a really perfect pursuit for adults searching for tangible outcomes that improve well-being in a world with challenges to navigate.
Dad and mom crave crafts as a display screen break for his or her children
87% of Canadian mother and father get pleasure from arts and crafts with their children, reflecting the potential of selling the pursuit to folks. For these mother and father, crafting affords the twin benefit of being a bonding expertise with their kids and a substitute for display screen time. That is very true as nearly three-quarters of oldsters choose to have interaction in screen-free actions with their kids. Manufacturers can leverage this distinctive parent-child dynamic by emphasizing arts and crafts as a helpful various to display screen time and a chance to attach.
It’s budget-friendly
Affordability is a key motivator for crafters, particularly amongst younger adults who’re probably the most energetic crafters and usually tend to have restricted budgets. Crafting is usually seen as a budget-savvy pursuit since the price of provides is normally lower than shopping for completed items. On-line promoting platforms have additionally made it simpler to promote handmade items, which provides an financial attraction to the exercise. Partaking youthful shoppers means highlighting the potential to create outcomes at a low value.
Residence Enchancment Is Linked to Crafting
Elevated engagement with arts and crafts has continued alongside elevated engagement with residence enchancment even in mild of eased pandemic restrictions. Contemplating the similarities and mixed advantages of those two at-home actions can allow manufacturers to reply successfully. As we’ll focus on, well-being facets are key.
The similarities make sense…
The house enchancment class exhibits similarities with arts and crafts, particularly from a well-being perspective. Residence enchancment tasks usually contain artistic duties like ornamental portray, which permits people to precise their distinctive model and create customized dwelling areas.
With residence decor a number one motivator for US arts and crafts participation—as nearly half of shoppers state this—manufacturers can refine messaging not simply across the capacity of each crafting and residential enchancment to raise well-being, but in addition to lean into their mutually artistic nature.
…And might drive model consciousness
As present in Mintel’s residence enchancment market report, enjoyment, talent, and spending on residence enchancment tasks are positively correlated. This underlines the significance of enjoyment and its relevance to engagement with artistic residence tasks.
In Canada, nearly three-quarters of crafters agree that they benefit from the crafting expertise greater than the top product, indicating a excessive stage of engagement with the method itself. Showcasing the inherent enjoyment of each residence enchancment and humanities and crafts can deliver manufacturers prime of thoughts for shoppers searching for a satisfying and productive exercise at residence.
Group is an opportunity for retailers to attraction
The place enjoyment usually meets engagement for shoppers, group meets alternative for manufacturers. Residence enchancment retailers are well-positioned—with their current footprint in residence items and decor—to attraction to crafters and residential improvers alike.
Fostering a way of group amongst these shoppers by providing in-store workshops and selling artistic tasks like refinishing or portray furnishings can improve the sensation of belonging and connectedness amongst shoppers. This not solely encourages in-store purchases however can additional encourage the uplifting notion of DIY residence actions.
Progress Alternatives
The humanities and crafts market is numerous, with widespread participation throughout varied sorts of crafts. Canadian and US shoppers skew general barely towards portray and drawing as a consequence of their accessibility and attraction to a variety of talent ranges. But, there are numerous entry factors for shoppers, and with some shoppers uninspired or more and more conscious of funds and house constraints, manufacturers have the duty of interesting.
Encourage the uninspired
A 3rd of Canadian non-crafters say they don’t craft due to an absence of creativity. On the identical notice, crafters who’re crafting much less state feeling uninspired (39%). Arts and crafts could be inspiring for shoppers, and types want to attract consideration to this. Tutorial movies make 82% of shoppers extra prepared to strive a brand new craft, indicating the potential for partnering with influencers—whether or not crafters or not—to create these.
Partnering with non-crafting influencers permits manufacturers to succeed in untapped audiences, leveraging current follower belief by creating genuine and relatable content material that resonates with the influencers’ current viewers. For example, non-crafting influencers can showcase crafting tasks that align with their common content material, making crafting seem approachable and satisfying.
Allow cost-friendly choices
As shoppers face tightened budgets as a consequence of excessive inflation, manufacturers ought to concentrate on cost-conscious choices. This resonates notably with girls and crafters aged 55+ who’re particularly cost-conscious. Methods akin to free samples, free in-person courses, or discounted upgrades can attraction to open-minded artistic shoppers who’re cautious about monetary investments.
Main the way in which for shoppers can present potential and pre-existing crafters that the pastime is accessible at totally different value factors.
Innovate for house
Many would-be crafting lovers see house constraints as a barrier to entry, with almost half of Canadians stating this, defining a transparent alternative to reply. Manufacturers can design and promote crafting merchandise which are compact and transportable, making them appropriate to be used in small areas or on the go—one thing manufacturers can normalize.
What’s Subsequent for the Arts and Crafts Market?
The humanities and crafts market within the US and Canada is experiencing progress and innovation. Understanding and capitalizing on developments can allow manufacturers to evolve alongside shoppers.
The US arts and crafts market is rising however does face challenges akin to client house and funds limitations. But, general participation is wanting constructive. Trying forward, progress methods will seemingly leverage crafting’s function in self-expression and psychological wellness, whether or not in product improvement or advertising and marketing.
The Canadian arts and crafts market is poised for progress regardless of financial challenges. Crafting stays a cheap and uplifting leisure exercise, with over half of Canadians participating in artistic tasks over the previous yr. Manufacturers can capitalize on this by selling the worth of DIY and luxurious crafting, constructing group by way of occasions and on-line platforms, and making crafting extra inclusive and accessible, notably for financially involved shoppers.
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