Formally elected at the BHETA AGM earlier this month, the association’s new president Rythm Jain brings extensive business acumen from her role in the home improvements sector. She recognises similar challenges across housewares and DIY and is passionate about BHETA’s ability to help suppliers.
Renowned for her strong leadership, Rythm is ceo of Avocet Hardware Group, having joined the Group 14 years ago, and has spearheaded several acquisitions of failing companies, turning them into profitable and sustainable businesses within the Group. “Seeing hard work pay off – including taking companies from a point of peril to a point of profitability – that’s what gets me up in the morning,” she tells HousewaresNews.net.
Emphasising the power of the trade association, Rythm acknowledges: “Having been on the board since 2010, I have seen how important BHETA is to its members; and to the future of home and housewares suppliers, helping with legislation, finance and government changes, not to mention trading conditions and commercial opportunities. Having a platform with a powerful voice means so much to suppliers and my intention is continue the great work BHETA has done in this regard.”
She confirms: “I’m sure that I will have some new ideas and be able to offer my support whenever asked, but BHETA is very much the sum of its parts, much like the Avocet Hardware Group. When you consider that Avocet’s portfolio includes a high security lock division, an agricultural fencing and hardware company and our latest acquisition, an artisanal gardening tool business, I feel I have my finger on the pulse across the home and garden improvement sector.”
Having enjoyed the buzz at The Business Design Centre last month, Rythm admits: “I also have a real passion for housewares and my visit to Exclusively in June was truly inspirational. The Show has such an incredibly positive energy and from talking to exhibitors and visitors I was able to get a real sense of how important the show is for the industry. I just wish there were something similar for the DIY sector!”
Talking of the current climate for business, Rythm observes: “We are all facing increased component and raw material prices, energy costs, wage inflation that combined lead to impacting consumer confidence resulting in declining sales for non-essential goods. In addition, labour shortages, challenges faced by exporters, low UK productivity, lack of business investment, over reliance on China and so on.”
She continues: ““It is essential we keep investing in NPD, people and skills, communicating directly with the consumer through the likes of digital and social media and that we continue to capitalise on the significantly increased number of consumers still proactively engaged in home-based projects. Without a doubt, Smart Tech is the hot topic right now which is fortunate for me personally as I have a lifelong love of anything ‘techy.’ In fact, I’m actively involved with Avocet’s door and window research and development team on developing our own Avocet Smart Tech which we will be bringing to market in the near future.”
Rythm enthuses: “My main aim at BHETA is to help the team maintain and develop the association’s relevance by ensuring that we understand members’ needs in these really challenging times; and identify the future opportunities that will ultimately grow their businesses and their people. It’s the same message with which I want to support BHETA’s recruitment aspirations as we look to grow the membership.”
The new president has these words for any housewares supplier thinking about joining the trade association: ““For any supplier organisation not yet part of BHETA I would say if you are looking to grow your business, need support on tackling an issue, want to gain a better understanding of a market sector, would like to talk to an experienced manager with a proven industry track record, or simply make direct contact with a retailer and network with fellow suppliers, join BHETA. The collective
effectiveness of the BHETA team and the industry knowledge and experience in the organisation are all second to none and it really helps its members with both problems and opportunities. You can be sure that BHETA is and will stay a proactive association that will fight your corner, and I am proud to be its new president.”
Top: Rythm Jain, new president of BHETA.
