The virtual product judging for Excellence in Housewares Awards 2020 has finished, and the first list of impressive finalists will be announced next week on HousewaresNews.net.
The prestigious panel of retailer judges covered multiple and independent housewares stockists, including trios of buyers from both Lakeland and John Lewis, plus Robert Dyas, ProCook, Harts of Stur and Borough Kitchen.
Independent specialists judging from around the country included Divertimenti (London), Aldiss (Fakenham), Cooks Central (St Andrews), Trevor Mottram (Tunbridge Wells), Kooks Unlimited (Richmond), Prep Cookshop and Richard Dare (London), La Cookshop, Blagden, Dinghams (Salisbury and Winchester), Frankie and Johnny’s Cookshop (York), Cook’s Boutique (Letchworth), Brambles Cookshop (Audlem), etc (North Berwick), Kitchenmonger (Hungerford), The Kitchen Range (West Wickham) and online boutique Silver Mushroom.
Keith Crowther, owner of La Cookshop, Blagden in Northumberand commented: “Judging the Excellence in Housewares Products was thought provoking and enjoyable, and I’ll be following up on some of the new products I saw. The online portal worked well; I liked dipping in and out of the categories over a couple of days so as not to get judging fatigue. I was also able to take time to look up products I hadn’t seen before, checking out videos to see how they worked.”
First time judge Emmie Brookman from Silver Mushroom told HousewaresNews.net: “It was so hard to decide with so many lovely products. I learnt a lot and it was exciting to see new categories. There is a lot of healthy competition out there!”
Top: Who will be among the winners of this year’s Excellence in Housewares Awards? Next week will be a step closer to knowing, with the revelation of the first tranche of finalists. Last year’s winners are pictured on stage with the team from Awards organiser, Progressive Housewares.
