Alexa Plus Rewires The Smart Home Playbook

Home Living

Here's what's happening this week in the world of home and eCommerce:
- Amazon upgrades Ring, Blink and Fire TV with AI.
- Cotswold posts record H1, debuts AI searchandising.
- Home Depot leans into useful-gift demand via Pinterest.
- Real Simple drops value kitchen line at At Home.
- Ralph Lauren co-creates Canyon Road with Navajo weavers.

📌WEEKLY MUST-KNOWS

SMART HOME AI
Amazon Packs AI Into Ring, Blink And Fire TV

Amazon announced upgraded Ring/Blink cameras, affordable Fire TVs, and Alexa Plus capabilities like Familiar Faces and AI Greetings, with preorders live ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. This tightens Amazon’s grip on the living room and entryway while normalizing AI-first features in everyday devices. Marketers and product teams should expect more ambient, voice-led discovery and privacy questions as households upgrade.

OMNICHANNEL + AI DISCOVERY
The Cotswold Company Outperforms, Rolls Out ‘Searchandising’

The Cotswold Company reported +30% YoY H1 sales to £56.9m, expanded DC capacity, and introduced an AI-powered on-site discovery layer called Searchandising. This shows AI-driven product findability is moving from experiment to core UX, boosting conversion and visibility across search and emerging AI answer engines. DTC furniture and homeware brands face rising table stakes in site search, merchandising, and last-mile operations.

HOLIDAY COMMERCE TRENDS
Millennial/Gen Z Want Useful Gifts; Home Depot Curates On Pinterest
Home Depot launched a “Holiday Gift Edit” via curated Pinterest boards, aligning with Millennial and Gen Z demand for practical, value-led gifts this season. This signals a merchandising tilt toward utility over luxury and a heavier bet on social discovery where lists get built. Holiday planners across home categories should prioritize functional bundles, price clarity, and shoppable inspiration content.

LUXURY MARKET EXPANSION
Féau Boiseries Opens First U.S. Showroom In NYC

Parisian atelier Féau Boiseries, renowned for historic wood paneling, opened its first U.S. showroom in New York’s D&D Building. The move brings high-craft French heritage directly to American designers and collectors, reinforcing demand for premium, storied materials. Luxury-focused retailers and trade partners can anticipate deeper project-based sales and collaboration opportunities.

⚡QUICK READS

Real Simple x At Home Kitchen Line: Media brand Real Simple and At Home launched value-forward kitchen tools and storage, reinforcing utility-driven assortments ripe for bundling and gifting.(More)

Ralph Lauren Canyon Road Collection: Ralph Lauren’s American West-inspired home line, co-created with Navajo weavers Naiomi and Tyler Glasses, spotlights artisan partnerships as a differentiation strategy.(More)

Dunelm Extends Sophie Robinson Festive Collaboration: UK retailer Dunelm continues its designer-led Christmas partnership with Sophie Robinson, signaling ongoing reliance on creator capsules for seasonal distinctiveness.(More)

ClickZ is a ClickZ Media publication in the DTC eCommerce division