The latest issue of Progressive Housewares is ready to read online now.
As always, the year has started with a bang in the housewares industry. While undoubtedly making it a busy return after the festivities, Ambiente is well worth the effort and proves a really positive, inspiring beginning to the year, and 2024’s show did not disappoint.
With Covid firmly behind us, the show was vibrant and busy, with a great attendance from the major housewares buyers and some wonderful innovation on display from across Europe and the world. Train strikes in Germany hit domestic visitors a little, but across the board, the feedback from exhibitors was incredibly positive.
It was then quickly onto Birmingham for Spring Fair, where a more domestic audience turned out to find out the latest in the world of housewares, and also discovered some new sourcing supplies at sister show, Source Home & Gift, before indies turned their attention to INDX Homewares.
This issue sees the return of the annual Progressive Housewares Retail Barometer, providing the industry with a clear picture of the independent housewares retail sector. Indies shared with us how the last year was for their business, their hopes and expectations for the coming year and the future, while also telling us what their biggest challenges and opportunities were in 2023, what’s impacting their businesses, both positively and negatively, their best sellers and much much more.
Encouragingly the survey showed that indies have a largely positive outlook for the coming months, which is likely bolstered by the recent spring budget, where the Chancellor announced a reduction in national insurance, easing the pressure on consumer budgets, hopefully further benefitting the high street and independent retailers.
The issue also holds market focus features on cookware and outdoor living.
The Progressive Housewares team is now stepping into the second half of the Mad March Million challenge in aid of The Rainy Day Trust. We are pounding the pavements, (admittedly some more than others, as one of us is training for the London Marathon) to raise some much needed cash for our wonderful industry charity and to try and collectively take one million steps in the month of March.
We would be so grateful if you could spare a few pounds to sponsor us and in return, we promise to take even more steps in return. https://rainydaytrust.enthuse.com/pf/progressive-housewares
