The prestigious Product Judging Panel for The Excellence in Housewares Awards 2020 is continuing to grow, with confirmed judges from Lakeland, Robert Dyas, Fenwick Group and Trevor Mottram.
Kathryn Farrell, Lakeland’s kitchenware buyer, Lisa Meth-Cohn, buyer for cleaning, laundry and home, and Carly Bullock, buyer for small electrical appliances will all take part in the judging, ensuring knowledge across all the product awards categories.
Kathryn told HousewaresNews.net: “We’re looking for product that isn’t just innovative and different but something that performs exceptionally at whatever it does. We’re not into gimmicks here; we want to see products that amaze and excite on all levels.”
Joining the Lakeland trio are two judges from Fenwick Group: Helen Miller, buyer for Cook and Dine, along with Andrew Giles, small electrical appliance buyer (who will judge The Plugged In Award).
Adding to the considerable expertise of the Judging Panel is Louise Lee, senior buyer at Robert Dyas. Louise comments: “Really excited to be involved in the Excellence in Housewares Awards again this year! Looking forward to seeing the new and exciting innovation’ that 2020 brings.”
Meanwhile, two more independent retailers are joining the cream of proactive, creative and knowledgeable cookshops that are represented on the panel. Sarah and Alan Wood are eager to judge from Trevor Mottram, Tunbridge Wells, while Jo and Tim Asquith are the enthusiastic judges from Frankie and Johnny’s Cookshop in York.
This year’s judging process will be entirely online. In readiness for viewing by the prestigious Product Judging Panel (see below), housewares suppliers, distributors and manufacturers have been uploading their product entries (entirely free of charge) via the online portal at www.excellenceinhousewaresawards.co.uk
The 2020 Product Judging Panel (so far) includes:
Elaine Hooper, Nicola Hattersley and Matt Thomas of John Lewis,
Helen Miller and Andrew Giles, Fenwick Group,
Louise Lee, Robert Dyas,
Kathryn Farrell, Lisa Meth-Cohn and Carly Bullock, Lakeland.
Tina Barkway of Aldiss (Fakenham),
David Conduit of Harts of Stur (Sturminster Newton and online),
Keith Crowther of La Cookshop (Blagdon),
Richard Barker of Cilla and Camilla (Sherbourne);
Becca Hardingham of Dinghams (Salisbury and Winchester),
Tom Carter and Alison Hobbs of Potters Cookshop (Hockley),
Lisa Austin of Brambles Cookshop (Audlem),
Rebecca Kane and Emmie Brockman of Silver Mushroom (online),
Jason Somers of Divertimenti (London),
Chris Lynn-Thomas at Kooks Unlimited (Richmond), Mandy Cohen at etc (North Berwick),
Holly Wilson at Prep Cookshop and Richard Dare (London),
Andrew Bluett-Duncan, of Art of Living (Surrey and online), Farzana Janjua of The Wedding Shop and Prezola (online),
Sue Hopkins of Kitchenmonger (Hungerford),
Justin Kowbel and David Caldana, of Borough Kitchen (London),
Rachna Dewan of Lords At Home (London and Chorleywood),
Lyanna Winter of Cooks Central (St Andrews),
Sarah and Alan Wood, Trevor Mottram (Tunbridge Wells),
Jo and Tim Asquith, Frankie and Johnny’s Cookshop (York).
* Still time to join up! Retailers, if you would like to add your expertise and enthusiasm to the Excellence in Housewares Product Judging Panel 2020 – a flexible online process for this year – please contact Jo Howard, editor of Progressive Housewares and HousewaresNews.net (organisers of The Excellence in Housewares Awards) asap.
* For any Excellence in Housewares Awards related queries, contact John Barry at Progressive Housewares and HousewaresNews.net on 0203 3752660 or 07730 366410 or johnb@max-publishing.co.uk
Top: Lakeland’s Kathryn Farrell, Robert Dyas’ Louise Lee and Fenwick’s Helen Miller.