Robert Welch Designs (winner of The Cutting Edge Award at the recent Excellence in Housewares Awards) is in discussion with national retailers following a positive reception to its new concept for safe knife retailing. The display prototype was launched at the Exclusively shows earlier this year, and may be installed in some stockists before Christmas.
The display unit features ‘Try Me’ knives and ‘Buy Me’ cards with no stock out in store. It also offers consumers clear guidance on the intended purpose of each knife – from dicing, slicing and peeling to trimming, boning and filleting – to enable consumers to make the right choice. Once the knife has been chosen, a ‘Buy Me’ card is then taken to the till for purchase. There is no stock is held on the shop floor, reducing the risk of theft.
For safety and security, the innovative new display has triple-locked ‘Try Me’ knives, which have no blade edge, encased in a toughened plastic sleeve and tethered to the display. Consumers can handle the knives and feel the weight and comfort in the hand.
Joint managing director Alice Welch said: “We’re very conscious of the issues surrounding knives and we want to support retailers in their efforts to have kitchen knives on sale in store, safely and securely. It’s vital for consumers to be able to hold our knives and the ‘Try Me’ knives allow people to feel the qualities of the design.”
Alyson Corney, sales manager, UK Retail added: “The introduction of ‘Buy Me’ cards allows retailers to eliminate the requirement for stock the shop floor, and they also provide all the consumer information required for self-select and easy purchase.”
For more on developments surrounding knives, see Progressive Housewares’ latest market focus feature. [Click Here]
Top: A ‘Try Me’ sample of the multi-award winning Signature knives.
