The latest issue of Progressive Housewares is available to read online now.
Spring is starting to show signs of appearing and the housewares industry is on the other side of the exciting start to the new year and the spring trade show season. Spring Fair was first up and was celebrating its 75th edition. Over four days, more than 38,000 retail buyers and industry execs visited the NEC Birmingham for the show and reports indicated that buyers this year has higher spend thresholds and bigger budgets.
Next on the agenda was a flight to Frankfurt for Ambiente. 148,000 visitors from over 170 nations attended the consumer show trio – Ambiente, Creativeworld and Christmasworld. Halls were busy, stands were packed with new launches and as always, the step count for buyers was high as they traversed over 4,660 exhibitor stands.
The response to the show from suppliers was overwhelmingly positive, with adjectives such as ‘fantastic’, ‘special’, ‘favourite’, ‘amazing’ and many more, all used in our show review in this issue.
INDX Home was next and welcomed 250 brands to Cranmore Park, offering trend areas, interactive spaces and much more to inspire buyers.
Finally, it was a trip stateside to Chicago for the 125th Inspired Home Show. Our guest columnist, IHA president and ceo, Derek Miller reflects on the show later in this issue, while a full report of the highlights of the show is also included.
There’s now a brief interlude before we start gearing up for Exclusively from 10-11 June at the Business Design Centre, Islington, for which stand space again, sold out in record time in early February.
But fear not, there is still much going on in this issue despite the trade show break. The 20th Progressive Housewares Retail Barometer paints a full and detailed picture of the current UK housewares retail landscape, which is invaluable to the industry.
You will also find a new market focus in this issue, exploring the growing trend of meal prep and how suppliers are supporting consumers in this more healthy, sustainable and cost effective practice.
Other market focus features look at the huge cookware sector and as the sun begins to show its face, the outdoor dining sector.
This month, we will say goodbye to two of the industry’s most experienced and highly regarded buyers, as Lyn Walsh from Harrods and Borough Kitchen’s Simon Hillman both take a well-earned next step into retirement. You can read reflections of their time in housewares later in this issue, but for now the PH team and I would like to take this opportunity to wish both Lyn and Simone all the very best for the future and to thank them for their wonderful input into our industry, as well as providing constant help and support to us at PH over the years.
