Twice a year, Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) hosts an expo extravaganza with Vendors from across the country representing various categories, including appliances, furniture, bedding, electronics, outdoor and more. And of course, each Vendor is guaranteed to showcase the latest, greatest and best-selling items for the Independent channel.

If you’ve attended PrimeTime, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Browsing the show floor can leave you feeling a bit like a kid in a candy store with all of the product options available. And that is why noticing key trends can be helpful to process it all and form a strategy.

So what trends did we see at PrimeTime in San Antonio this month? Let’s break them down by category, starting with appliances.

Appliance Trends for 2025 

Here’s a look at a few key themes observed at the expo.

Going Green with Appliances

Yes, green seems to be the color of the season when it comes to appliances. Kitchen and laundry products were seen in shades ranging from mint to jade to juniper.

But color wasn’t the only green at PrimeTime. The green trend also made a strong appearance in the form of energy-saving appliances.

A Range of Cooking Methods

While convection, induction and air fry features are not new, the number of ranges equipped with these technologies has certainly increased.

Ice Cubes

In refrigeration, ice was all the rage at PrimeTime. From faster ice dispensers to craft and cubed ice makers, it was impossible to miss the message about gourmet ice and improved ice technology.

Quick Dry Dishwashers

Speaking of fast, speedy dishwashers were spotted at the expo — sans spotted dishes, of course — with cycle times as short as 30 minutes to one hour. New models promising dryer dishes were also on display from various vendors.

Laundry Ventilation

In other “dryer” news, ventless dryers were a major laundry trend at the San Antonio show, offering both energy savings and convenience for limited spaces with no vent pipes required. Another trend seen in venting was the incorporation of AI (artificial intelligence) to more efficiently complete laundry cycles based on specific load needs.

Overall Appliance Observations

Personalization was a key overall trend for appliances at PrimeTime, manifesting in hardware finish options, colorways and even size — specifically noted in microwave options (tall or slim) and taller water dispensers to accommodate larger water bottles.

And, not surprisingly, more and more appliances are now equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity and touch controls and screens. Undoubtedly, AI technology will only continue to advance this trend at future PrimeTime expos.

Furniture Trends for 2025 

Green Fabrics

In line with the appliance trend, green furniture had an uptick at the show. This is not surprising, given that green was a trending color in fashion last year, and furniture trends tend to follow suit.

Green also seems to be a continuation of the earthy tone trend seen at High Point Market last fall.

Soft Fabrics

Also trending at the October 2024 High Point Market, soft textured fabrics were still very much alive and thriving this spring at PrimeTime. Think suede sofas, chenille-style couches and fuzzy throws.

Versatile Pieces

Customization and versatility were common threads across various furniture Vendors, manifesting in everything from murphy beds and convertible love seats to footrests stored under coffee tables and accent tables that transform into 12-person dining room set fit for any host.

Bedding Trends for 2025 

Health and Wellness

With more and more studies showing the benefits of sleep on overall health, it’s no wonder that bedding and mattress companies are taking notice. At PrimeTime, the most highlighted features in the bedding category were related to wellness and even beauty, including sleep solutions to address chronic pain, sleeping hot, allergies and more.

Adjustable Bases

While adjustable bases are nothing new, PrimeTime attendees saw not only an influx of base options but also stronger evidence of the adjustable base as a solution for improved sleep and overall wellness.

Bedding Accessories

Because improved sleep doesn’t stop with just a mattress, accessories like pillows, mattress protectors, cooling sheets and other top of bed products were also heavily featured at PrimeTime.

Above all, the sentiment was that sleep should be personalized to individual needs and preferences — and attendees saw plenty of customizable bedding, mattress and accessory options in San Antonio.

Outdoor Trends for 2025 

Last but not least, the outdoor category made a strong comeback at the expo, thanks to the return of PrimeTime Backyard — featuring seven different outdoor Vendors showing product in action just outside the expo hall.

In addition to free samples, PrimeTime attendees got a first-hand look at the latest in grilling and outdoor cooking, including:

• Pellet grill technology
• Digital screens and advanced Wi-Fi connectivity
• Fast-fired pizza ovens
• Must-have grilling utensils and other accessories

Missed PrimeTime in San Antonio? Log into MemberNet for the latest from all our Vendor partners and keep following along for news about our next PrimeTime event and expo in Nashville, Tennessee from August 17-20, 2025.