Housewares industry friends of Liz and David Philips are very welcome to say their ‘goodbyes’ to David, who died on August 12. David’s funeral takes place held next week at St Andrew’s Church in Alfriston on Thursday September 2 at 11.30am.
David had a huge influence on the shift of housewares from functional hardware to aspirational lifestyle products and made many friends over several decades in the housewares industry. Gary Gordon (previously of Kitchen Kapers and a lifetime member of Bira) is among those paying tribute to David. He reflects on the contributions of both David and Liz on the housewares industry:
“I first met David when he was the cookshop and housewares buyer at Habitat, and the first non-Conran family member to become a director. I was a new buyer for House of Fraser in the West End, and I was expected to keep a beady eye of the Habitat store in Tottenham Court Road. He soon sussed out my spying escapades, as I was greeted when I turned up!”
“At a function I met his wife Liz, who was cookery writer for the Times group. Her Sunday article often promoted new products and gadgets. The Krisk bean slicer had just arrived from down under when runner beans were just coming into their summer season. On one of her foraging visits, I gave her a Krisk and insisted she try it on her own beans. The next week I had a phone call to say it was so good she would feature it in that week’s The Sunday Times. As usual with Liz, it was very well described.
“We were inundated! The 48 I had ordered from the importer R G Bennett lasted only minutes. I phoned Bennetts and took their entire stock, as other House of Fraser buyers were baying for my blood as I had neither warned them or advised them of the source. We were bringing them in air freight to keep up with demand. David later thanked me for having monopolised the product!”
Gary continues: “When we started the Cookshop & Housewares Association, Steamer Trading were among the first members to join. They were always very supportive. David was often described as the “father” of our industry, an observation I totally agree with. In conclusion, Gary acknowledges: “David was always a real gentleman, charming and extremely gracious. He and Liz were always great company and good fun. Liz, Ben, and the whole family, not to mention many of us from the cookshop industry are very saddened to see his passing.”
* To read more about David’s contribution to the housewares industry, please see HousewaresNews.net’s recent announcement HERE.
Top: David with his Honorary Achievement trophy at The Excellence in Housewares Awards 2009.
