The December issue of Progressive Housewares is available to read online now.
As we enter the final month of the year, the weather has turned and Christmas is beginning to feel all the more real.
When calling to speak to indies for this issue’s shelf portrait, many were too busy on the shop floor to be able to chat, which I’m hoping is a positive sign that the slight dip in footfall for November is beginning to right itself and that consumers are able to push ahead with Christmas shopping and supporting their local high street.
What was also heartening to hear from the retailers we spoke to, was that the shoplifting epidemic being widely reported in the media of late, has not had too much of an effect on housewares independents and cookshops. Most said they hadn’t seen an increase in recent months and haven’t been too badly affected by it.
We were fortunate enough to carve out some time from the busy schedule of Excellence in Housewares finalist, Housing Units, for this issue. We found out how the team managed to buck the trend over the past few years, delivering record sales in their 75th year of trading in 2022, as well as how trade has been so far in 2023 as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
One sector which has proved robust during the economic pressures, is SDA, and our market focus finds out how suppliers have diversified their offering to meet consumer needs during this time. We also find out how housewares suppliers are working towards more sustainable offerings and how this topic is becoming increasingly important to consumers and retailers alike when selecting products across all sectors.
