Forecasting trends in the sector, Tom Mirabile, Vice President of Global Trends and Design for US-based Lifetime Brands, moderated a panel of retail experts discussing economic, social and environmental crosscurrents driving consumer behaviour for the next two years.

Among these, retailers say the "cocooning comeback" that's in full sway in the US will continue. Consumers are spending less on luxury items, staying at home more and seeking to find greater comfort when in their homes.

Trend watchers say consumers are returning to a more frugal, back-to-basics approach to purchasing, planning more home-based entertaining and activities. "The bottom line," said AJ Riedel, Senior Partner of Riedel Marketing Group, "is that this new frugality is not just a reaction to the economic downturn and financial uncertainty. It represents a paradigm shift in attitudes toward consumptions, materialism and what is really important in life."

Peter Goldman, President with research specialist NPD Group, believed product categories that might benefit include kitchen electrical products such as rice cookers. While most homeware product categories were in the red in 2008, rice cookers were a bright spot, with value sales up 14%, and unit volumes up 4% for the six months ending June, 2008.

Among the examples, Zojurushi of Japan introduced its new induction heating pressure rice cooker and warmer, which is on sale through Amazon.com and other retail outlets. The 10 cup model retails for US$550 and the five cup version for US$515.

This trend bodes well for Chinese mainland and Hong Kong manufacturers. Lawrence Hung, Marketing Manager in the Hong Kong office of Guangdong-based small appliance maker Elecpro, said interest at this year's show was on Elecpro's rice cookers. It is manufacturing several popular models for the Aroma brand.

Hong Kong-based Markpeak Limited has just entered the business of manufacturing rice cookers, slow cookers and induction cookers for the Westinghouse brand and also reported keen interest in its products.