We can always count on Grazia magazine to zone in on new trends and moods. So when we came across their article Insperiences are here to stay, we weren’t surprised. Written by Hattie Crisell, it says:
When we were all stuck at home back in March and April, the going got tough – and thankfully, the tough got creative. There may not have been pubs, restaurants or gyms to visit, but at-home alternatives sprung up, giving us new ways to look after ourselves, bond with the loved ones we couldn’t see in real life, and have some much-needed fun. But just because lockdown is now over, doesn’t mean we’re ready to give that up.
Yes, according to new research, we’re now living in the age of insperience. This is a term coined by Barclaycard Payments in a survey which found that 88% of retailers saw increased demand for in-home experiences during lockdown. Despite the easing of restrictions, this market is predicted to grow by 32% over the next year, reaching a value of £168m.
The in probably stands for indoor, but could also nod to innovative, ingenious or Instagram, which has been flooded with insperiences since March (which include Pilates classes via Zoom, pre-mixed cocktails, virtual Birthday parties, afternoon tea, cooking presentations, book clubs, remote tours of the British Museum and live streams from Bristol Zoo). Apparently, subscription services for products like gin, cheese and coffee are also flourishing – it was recently reported that one in 10 Britons has subscribed to something during the pandemic.
We may ditch some of our lockdown habits as COVID-19 retreats, but reports predict that over a third of us will carry on enjoying insperiences long-term. We’ve grown attached to a whole new world of home comforts.
Futon Company says: We’ve definitely discovered the joy of insperiences over the past few months. For us, our new-found pleasures include a cup of posh Earl Grey in a new mug; watching English National Ballet live streams; re-discovering the joys of country music via Nashville with a subscription to Amazon Prime; a ready-made cocktail subscription and drinking them with friends on Zoom. Ah the joy of new discoveries! Check out this week’s product highlights – ideally designed to heighten your insperience!
