Household goods aregoods andproducts used withinhouseholds. They are thetangible and movablepersonal property placed in the rooms of ahouse, such as abed orrefrigerator.
Businesses that produce household goods are categorized asCyclicalConsumer Products by theThomson Reuters Business Classification and are organized into three sub-categories:
Household goods are a significant part of a country's economy, with their purchase the topic of magazines such asConsumer Reports, their relocation handled bymoving companies, and their disposal or redistribution facilitated by companies likeGoodwill Industries, services likeclassified advertising andCraigslist, and events such asgarage sales andcar boot sales.
Their safety is often regulated by governments,[1] which also promote and facilitate their import and export.[2]
Businesses that produce consumer goods for households are categorized as "civilian goods" with a cyclical nature according to Thomson Reuters' business classification. These businesses are divided into three subgroups:
Consumer electronics or home electronics areelectronic (analog ordigital) equipment intended for everyday use, typically in private homes. Consumer electronics include devices used forentertainment,communications andrecreation. Usually referred to asblack goods due to many products being housed in black or dark casings. This term is used to distinguish them from "white goods" which are meant forhousekeeping tasks, such aswashing machines andrefrigerators, although nowadays, these would be considered black goods, some of these being connected to theInternet.[4][5] In British English, they are often calledbrown goods by producers and sellers.[6][n 1] In the 2010s, this distinction is absent in largebig boxconsumer electronics stores, which sell entertainment, communication and home office devices, light fixtures and appliances, including the bathroom type.
Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, thebroadcast receiver. Later products includedtelephones,televisions, andcalculators, then audio and video recorders and players,game consoles,mobile phones,personal computers andMP3 players. In the 2010s, consumer electronics stores often sellGPS,automotive electronics (car stereos),video game consoles,electronic musical instruments (e.g.,synthesizer keyboards),karaoke machines,digital cameras, and video players (VCRs in the 1980s and 1990s, followed byDVD players andBlu-ray players). Stores also sellsmart light fixtures andappliances,digital cameras,camcorders,cell phones, andsmartphones. Some of the newer products sold includevirtual realityhead-mounted display goggles,smart home devices thatconnect home devices to the Internet, streaming devices, andwearable technology.
In the 2010s, most consumer electronics have become based on digital technologies. They have essentially merged with thecomputer industry in what is increasingly referred to as theconsumerization ofinformation technology. Some consumer electronics stores have also begun selling office and babyfurniture.Consumer electronics stores may be "brick and mortar" physical retail stores, online stores, or combinations of both.
Annual consumer electronics sales are expected to reach$2.9 trillion by 2020.[8] It is part of the widerelectronics industry. In turn, the driving force behind the electronics industry is thesemiconductor industry.[9][10]
Housewares is a general term referring to objects, items, andequipment equipped and used to serve conveniences and utilities for regular activities for the daily life of afamily,household.[11][12] With their widespread popularity and extensive applications, the concept of "housewares" relates to tools and devices designed to fulfill a specific function or purpose within a household environment.[13] According to the Collins English Dictionary, "housewares" are defined as "devices or machines, typically electrical, that are used in domestic spaces and are used for cleaning or cooking".[14] However, in a broader sense, most devices used within a household environment, including both consumer electronics and items such as ovens, refrigerators, baking ovens, and air conditioning systems, can be considered as housewares.[15]
Furniture[16][17] is a term referring to assets and objects arranged and decorated within ahouse,room, or building, aiming to support human activities in work, study,daily life, andentertainment. Furniture items include chairs,tables,beds,wardrobes,bookcases, tea cabinets, altar cabinets, chests, andwall clocks[18] and can be made from various materials such aswood,metal, andplastic. Wooden furniture is environmentally friendly, improves air quality, and is durable.