Around five years ago, my husband Bill discovered Trapeze School New York. It looked fun and straightforward, so we signed up. The experience was by turns frustrating, painful and terrifying… but in the end, transformative.

Walking into the New York Tabletop Show, it was easy to draw parallels between the trapeze experience and some of the development challenges the industry faces in the current lackluster marketplace. Imagine that the trapeze bar we are currently swinging represents our current assortments. Over time, as momentum slows, we must expend ever more energy to keep that bar in motion so we can use it to propel us to the next bar which represents the advancement and evolution of our products, brands, etc. From this perspective, moving forward can be treacherous because any move requires calculation and judgment, factors that change with every swing of the bar we are on. In these moments, staying where we are can seem like the safest decision. Then we remember that our choices are limited – it’s fly or die. This October, the New York Tabletop Show seemed to broadcast a collective decision: Fly. 

This prevailing market mood was best described by one housewares senior executive who noted, “There was a sense that we’ve reached the light at the end of a tunnel. That the industry is ready to move forward again.” This comment captured the show’s atmosphere perfectly. As my review of exhibitors and collections expanded, that sense of emergence and promise seemed ever more justified. 

In brief, here are some of the numbers and newness on show at the New York Tabletop Show reinforcing the potential for renewal in the marketplace: 

With only one exception, every vendor and brand we spoke to at the show reported introducing at least double the number of new products in 2023 than they had in 2022 (excluding minor line-item extensions/expansions). Existing line extensions and minor expansions (including extant licenses) are projected to remain flat year over year. That translated to a significant number of new introductions at this market, revealing many interesting trends in evolution across tableware right now. The fact that trends here often reach across the classifications of dinnerware, flatware, glassware and serveware gives them added stability and helps to build volume potential and lifespan of the trend. 
 

Color, Pattern, and Form  

Looking at what is garnering the attention and excitement of retailers, it becomes clear that descriptors like traditional and contemporary are less important than inspiring design and a sense of style and story. The Meaning, a broad new collection from Vista Alegre, presents a contemporary reinterpretation of floral, geometric, and pastoral imagery that is certain to find great appeal among traditionalists as well with its use of deconstructed traditional themes in crystal porcelain and faience. Futurismo from Vista Alegre is still drawing expansive attention with its complex, vivid geometrics and innovative forms.  

Similar polarities were evident in flatware, as slender Black Shea flatware from Towle Living got top marks alongside fluid, organic Antigo from Costa Nova. In stemware and barware, Riedel’s new Superleggero varietal wine stems gave near invisible lightness to classical forms, while Nachtmann reframed its traditional crystal pattern, Noblesse, offering a whisky tumbler in opaque satin black and stemware sets in four lighthearted pastels. 

Form took some decisive, if unexpected, turns in tabletop. The mission towards minimalism still held strong, but the presence of more organic shapes had a markedly increased presence, as did more textural and irregular forms, intent on delivering a more crafted, handmade appearance. 

In glassware and barware, there was a renaissance of color in palettes ranging from pale to intense. This was a departure for many of the tableware brands that usually have introduced products in this category as accents to their tableware lines. At this market, the classification was clearly directed toward cocktail culture and the continuing interest of the home bar enthusiast. Additionally, many of the new collections were offered in assorted colors, delivering a curated look to the consumer in a single item.  

Material innovations at market also helped move color forward for some brands. At Mikasa, the Madison Colored Bone China Collection was introduced after more than three years devoted to perfecting the technology of creating in-clay color for bone china. Each of the four saturated pale colors available must be fired separately at a different temperature to create the final product. Similarly, Gibson’s Sur La Table brand introduced new tumblers and highball glasses in vivid colors with thick, clear shams. All are dishwasher safe thanks to the casing process used in production. 

All of these made manifest what seemed like a timely new ethos: Great design is a journey, not a destination, which both reflects and inspires the imagination of its times. 

No Net. No Guarantees. 

There are some admirably bold design and product choices being made here. The excitement of forward movement toward new consumers and next-level products involves risk. In this case, leading tableware companies are introducing beautiful, even innovative new products and assortments that disregard some well-established consumer preferences. Paramount among these are use and care issues, including microwave and dishwasher safety. Does the lack of these labels really mean that most consumers will simply walk away? Market conversations indicate a degree of skepticism that these “preferences” and “established standards” are either overstated or lack recent statistical validation, especially when applied to products that are not for everyday use. This is a fascinating rabbit-hole idea. Follow me for a moment…

“Fact”: Consumers want mugs with handles, so they don’t want to burn their hands. At recent home shows in Frankfurt, Paris, Milan and New York, offerings of mugs without handles were definitely in ascent. New technologies such as double-walled ceramic construction and glazes with low thermal conductivity are eliminating the risk of burn injury. But is re-educating consumers worth the effort and investment risk to gain undefined market share? Possibly. Consider Riedel’s decision to introduce stemless wine glasses to the luxury market in 2004 with the “O Series” in 2004. It was a risk that not only paid off, but arguably it also reenergized the classification for consumers. 

With all the new and noteworthy, it’s important to comment on core programs and their place in the market. Basics and core programs remained crucial to assortment discussions, and line extensions and expansions were plentiful and strong. But unlike recent tabletop markets, these primary volume drivers were no longer front-of-showroom features and did not seem to be the lead topic on every meeting agenda. Most walk-through conversations were focused on building forward momentum and reinforcing brand identity and value for retailers and consumers. 

Suppliers at the New York Tabletop Show delivered a solid market focused on issues critical to its continued relevance in the modern marketplace: consumer-centric development and brand evolution and differentiation. In returning to the trapeze analogy, the industry has released the old swing bar and, propelled by a new certainty, it has chosen flight. Now, in this transition period, we wait as it reaches out for “the catch” of a successful market response.  

The Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA), the global sponsors and organizers of the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) program, announced the Global Honorees for the gia Top Window Awards during the “The Window Stage in The Digital Age/gia Top Window Award” presentation by gia expert juror Anne Kong earlier today.

The Global Honorees are:

Small Company Category: Elsasser-Peter AG, Switzerland

Large Company Category: Culinarium, Spain

“The International Housewares Association is very proud to have honored the very best in home + housewares retailing through the gia Awards for over 20 years. The most recent gia Top Window Awards competition had entries from 11 countries, and it is incredibly encouraging to see the creativity and passion that retailers are placing into their window displays,” said Derek Miller, IHA president and CEO. “We look forward to hosting the two gia Top Window Award winners at The Inspired Home Show in Chicago, along with more than 30 additional retailers who have won other gia country-level competitions.”

The gia Top Window Award is a special award program under the gia umbrella. As with the general gia Retail Awards, the Top Window competition is structured on a two-tier level, national and global. Co-sponsoring the country-specific gia Top Window programs with IHA are housewares trade publications worldwide that sponsor national gia programs in their respective countries, nominating the best windows for the global competition.

The global jury, consisting of the four gia Expert Jurors – Anne Kong, Scott Kohno, Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen and Wolfgang Gruschwitz – evaluated home and housewares windows from around the world based on:

• Originality and Creativity (theme, concept, special effects)
• Merchandise Presentation
• Professionalism: Execution and Technical Aspects (lighting, attention to detail, signage, copy)

The two gia Top Window Global Honorees of 2023 will be invited to The Inspired Home Show 2024 in Chicago and honored at a festive awards dinner on Sunday, March 17, together with the other gia winners of 2023-2024.

The gia program was created by IHA and The Inspired Home Show to foster innovation and excellence in home and housewares retailing throughout the world. Since the launch of gia in 2000, there have been over 500 gia retail award winners from more than 50 countries on six continents.

The International Housewares Association is accepting speaker topic proposals for education sessions during The Inspired Home Show 2024.

Retailers, trend forecasters and marketers, intellectual property attorneys and designers, along with experts in branding, smart home and other crucial business topics, are invited to submit proposals for presentations in the Inspiration Theater and the Inventors Revue at the 2024 show. The deadline for submissions is November 22, 2023.

The Inspired Home Show will be held March 17-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Speakers for the Inspiration Theater and Inventors Revue come from within and outside the housewares industry.

The 2024 show will mark the debut of the Inspiration Theater, the renamed industry education program formerly known as the Innovation Theater. With the 2024 Inspired Home Show set to be concentrated in McCormick South and North, The Inspiration Theater will relocate from its former Lakeside Center location to Room S101b in McCormick South adjacent the Keynote Ballroom S102 to form a convenient industry education and inspiration hub near the Show registration area. Inspiration Theater presentations will offer executive-level insights across a wide scope of themes, including trends in consumer behavior and purchasing; product design; retail merchandising; e-commerce and leading-edge digital technology; sustainability and social responsibility; intellectual property protection; international sales development; and more.

The Inventors Revue features topics of interest to makers and inventors, including developing a great idea; how to bring product to market/marketing distribution; patent and trademark education; fulfillment housing; the importance of packaging; presenting to retailers; thinking outside the box; marketing through social media; branding; product development; and trends and colors. Sessions are scheduled throughout the Show’s three days. The Inventors Revue is moving from the Lakeside Center to the South Building exhibit floor in the Dine + Décor Expo.

Further information and details on submitting a proposal are available here. Further information on the show and registering for a show badge is available at TheInspiredHomeShow.com.

Visual merchandising expert Anne Kong will offer a look into compelling store window displays during an October 24 webinar presented by the International Housewares Association.

This year’s Global Innovations Awards (gia) Top Window Global Honorees also will be revealed during the webinar: “The Window Stage in The Digital Age,” set for October 24 from 10 to 11 a.m. CDT.

Kong (pictured above) is an educator and designer specializing in visual merchandising, exhibition design and brand activation. With over 20 years of experience, she develops design concepts and solutions for retail, showrooms, trade shows and promotional events. She is a partner of her own design company, A+D Kong, in partnership with her husband, David Kong.

During the webinar, Kong will share practical ideas and tips that can be applied to maximize the impact of store windows and drive foot traffic in a marketplace dominated by online experiences and flashy digital imagery.

Kong, a juror of the IHA’s gia program, will conclude the webinar by announcing the gia Top Window Global Honorees of 2023. The gia Top Window Awards honor exceptional creativity and ingenuity of window displays in the home and housewares industry worldwide.

Register to attend the webinar here.

The International Housewares Association’s 2023 CHESS (Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession) wrapped up Wednesday with insights into funding strategies in a post-pandemic world, the housewares retail credit climate and artificial intelligence and ChatGPT.

Read a recap of the day-two sessions at CHESS:

Mastering Disruption: Funding Strategies for a Post-Pandemic World

Working capital is the lifeblood of housewares suppliers and a panel lending experts discussed resources to help suppliers secure capital. Richard Gumbrecht of Secured Finance Network, Brian Martin of CIT and Jenn Palmer of JPalmer Collective explained their services and working with lenders can help suppliers.

Throughout the discussion, the panel stressed that it is important for suppliers to develop a relationship with their lender. Researching lenders and learning how much they know about the industry is important. They should know who the players are.  Private lenders may be more aware of the industry and who the retailers are, Palmer said. “We know all the players in an industry so if a borrower comes to us and says they have an issue, we will know better how to resolve it,” she said.

Palmer also noted that the next few years will be more challenging and expensive to access capital. Understanding who your partner is will help weather the volatility that will last through 2025, she said. Gumbrecht added that there is a misconception about private banking and concern about bankers’ reputation. Some of the biggest sources of funding come from private credit and there is “a ton of credit that is available to be used,” he said.

Martin of CIT said their clients are ahead of financial issues. They act like they are broke but then don’t end up that way, he said. “Talking with lenders should be an ongoing process,” he added.

“Think of working with a private lender as an insurance policy,” Palmer said. “If something comes up, you’ll get the white glove treatment.”

Grading the Housewares Retail Credit Climate

Scott Friedman hasn’t seen the housewares retail credit industry as challenged as it has been in the last three years due to COVID, inflation and potential recession. Friedman, chief credit officer at Pulse Ratings, Inc., which also manages IHA’s Housewares Credit Group, discussed the factors affecting the housewares retail credit climate including micro-trends, retail sales, foot traffic trends and distressed retail credit ratings and debt. Debt is a great indicator of a retailer’s strength, he said.

Consumers continue to battle inflation, higher interest rates and higher credit card balances, leaving less available for discretionary spending. U.S. credit card balances total over $1 trillion, part of a total of $17 trillion of consumer debt. With average credit card interest rates now over 20% versus 15% a year ago, the interest rates will likely approach and possibly exceed $70 billion in additional consumer credit card interest expense, further adding to a decrease in consumer discretionary spending, he said.

Retailers are responding to this pressure by emphasizing value, which, when combined with a growing shrink problem, is likely to pressure margins in the second half of the year.  Friedman cited mass retail Big Lots who said they “remain in a very challenging environment in which our core lower-income customer remains under significant pressure and has limited capacity for higher-ticket discretionary purchases.”

Friedman also said retailers with private label credit cards are experiencing growing delinquencies, which will result in higher bad debt and also likely pressure second-half sales to those customers. As bankruptcies are on the rise, Friedman gave suppliers a warning about retailers they are selling to; if they say, “We are managing our working capital, it’s a big red flag.”

Artificial Intelligence/ChatGPT: The Opportunity Is Real & Now

During the last session of CHESS 2023, Jordan Brannon, president & COO of Coalition Technologies and Aaron Conant, co-founder and chief digital strategist of BWG Connect discussed the importance and application of artificial intelligence and ChatGPT. These technologies create opportunities for companies to practically integrate AI, using it for data analysis, personalized experiences for their customers, sales and marketing and more.

One of the biggest mistakes Brannon sees when talking to brands is that there is AI fatigue. “People jumped in, the novelty was great and then they walked away from it,” he said, “The reality is it’s changing so quickly — literally on a daily basis.” He stated that it’s important to constantly stay current and think about AI.

Where does a company start? Brannon suggested that anytime a company has a task, especially if it is done digitally, they should see how they can use AI to complete or help complete it. Many CRMs and sales tools already have integrations that can be used, so he suggested looking into software and products the company is already using.

Some types of artificial intelligence include generative AI, using the technology to create or generate something, chatbots like ChatGPT or merging parallel types of AI, using text conversations to create images, video or audio transcriptions.

Companies can use this technology in many ways: AI-generated product descriptions based on goals and specific channels, personalized customer experiences based on the customer’s history and past preferences, A/B product testing using images of product that do not yet exist, forecasting using data or a customized chatbot using your own past conversations with customers. Brannon noted there is a real value in understanding how to get the right outcome from AI, but that requires interaction with it.

The bottom line, Brannon said, is that you can get 80% of the results with 20% of the work. Start using AI, plan where it will be utilized, test on a regular basis and lean on your partners who might already have tools you can use. Transformation can be overwhelming, but if you come together as an organization to talk about it, you can avoid a standstill.

Read about the CHESS Day 1 sessions including a keynote with Jonathan Johnson, CEO of the new Bed Bath & Beyond, retail repositioning to identify growth opportunities, updates on regulatory compliance and taking control of consumer reviews.

The International Housewares Association’s 2023 CHESS (Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession) began yesterday with an industry education program that covered topics including regulatory compliance, retail growth opportunities, how to take control of consumer reviews and a keynote from Jonathan Johnson, CEO of the new Bed Bath & Beyond.

CHESS is IHA’s strategic networking event for chief officers and top decision-makers of IHA member companies.

CHESS is sponsored by CIT (Platinum sponsor), Houlihan Lokey (Platinum sponsor), Oracle Netsuite (Platinum sponsor), AdAdvance, Krunchbox, Monk Tree Partners, Secured Finance Network, Circana, HomePage News, Housewares Credit Group, IHA Government Affairs and the International Housewares Shippers Association.

Read a recap of the day-one sessions at CHESS:

Housewares Hot Seat: New Directions in Brand & Product Diversification

During this year’s Housewares Hot Seat, Evan Dash, founder and CEO of Storebound; Sal Gabbay, CEO of Gibson Homewares; and Bill McHenry, founder and CEO of Widgeteer discussed the beginnings of their companies, the importance of “failing quickly,” what’s changed and what’s to come.

Though the companies had different origins: Gabbay carrying on the family legacy, Dash seeing a gap in the kitchenware market to skew toward the younger consumer and McHenry licensing brands in Europe before creating original products, the prevailing message among all three was to be open to change.

Dash discussed the importance of “failing quickly,” knowing how to recover when a product does not work out and move on. Gabbay agreed, stating that mistakes are an opportunity to learn and grow.

Regarding the pandemic and the changes that have now become part of the long-term company strategy, Gabbay discussed how Gibson has changed more in the last three years than it has in the last 30 years. The digital part of the industry is getting so much bigger, he said, and they are trying to improve their digital performance and how they conduct business over Zoom.

In 2020, Groupe SEB purchased a majority stake in Storebound, so for Dash, the pandemic was less about the technology (which they were prepared for with robotic cameras in their showroom) and more about becoming part of a larger organization. The company tripled in workforce and it strived to keep the inspired culture it had worked so hard to build in a technology-driven environment.

Further discussing technology, the group discussed the importance of adopting and implementing technology. McHenry has applied a more robust accounting software and embraced TikTok, Dash is working with AI and using data and tools to further his business and Gabbay is working to improve e-commerce, the “biggest global market.”

When asked how they wanted the market to view their business when launched and how they wanted it to be viewed today, Dash said Storebound wanted their products to be necessary and fun then and today, still about the one-to-one connection, product connection and making a customer for life. McHenry said Widgeteer originally had one product, so anyone they talked to thought it was great, but now their tagline is “We create joyful moments,” and they need to be innovative in order to create those moments. For Gabbay, having a need and a value for the consumer is most important and Gibson has been working to move away from traditional thinking.

As panel moderator Peter Giannetti said in closing, “Everything is evolving, but the core values of a business stay the same.”

Solving the Regulatory Compliance Puzzle

PFAS and Prop 65 regulations were the focus of the Solving the Regulatory Compliance Puzzle session presented by Fran Groesbeck of the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance and Thomas Lee of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. Craig Brightup of The Brightup Group and IHA’s government affairs representative moderated the discussion.

PFAS encompasses a large family of chemicals called “forever chemicals” that never break down and cause concern that they may cause cancer. Legislation covering PFAS is fast-moving and changing constantly so something said today most likely will change tomorrow, Groesbeck and Lee warned. And it isn’t limited to cookware. Other industries including electronics, healthcare, automotive, alternative energy, the military, aerospace and defense and oil and gas are affected as well.

Groesbeck and Lee reviewed the differences among the three states with PFAS regulations for household goods, not just cookware: California, Maine and Minnesota. California’s legislation is primarily right-to-know laws requiring notice or labeling requirements. It goes into effect for cookware beginning Jan. 1, 2024, and housewares suppliers should be taking action now, Groesbeck said. The AB1200 labeling compliance states product labels must list all designated chemicals, which expands beyond PFAS and includes 14 different chemical lists. The Minnesota law is the most restrictive; it bans chemicals and requires product reformulation and will be in full effect in 2032. Maine’s law is similar to Minnesota’s and goes into full effect in 2030.

Proposition 65 has been around since 1986 and prohibits “knowing and intentional” exposure to more than 930 chemicals without first providing a “clear and reasonable warning.”  Housewares have been a prime target of Prop 65, which has a bounty hunter provision where litigants simply need to allege a violation has occurred without any harm having happened. Lee said the law is mainly enforced by private attorneys filing lawsuits.

Up-to-date information on PFAS legislation and changing regulations is available on the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance website. IHA will also be holding webinars covering PFAS and legislation.

Retail Repositioning To Identify Growth Opportunities

Although the housewares industry is experiencing challenging times right now, there is money to be made, according to Joe Derochowski, vice president and home industry advisor at Circana. “We are home-centric,” he said to begin his presentation, “Retail Repositioning to Identify Growth Opportunities.” Derochowski and Don Unser, president, Thought Leadership, at Circana, discussed how the current economic environment is affecting retail and consumer trends.

In the retail sector, Circana data has shown recessionary behavior by consumers for the past 18-19 months, Unser said. While other industries have seen reduced consumer spending for a while, the last three months have finally shown a pullback in the grocery segment, from 8% to 2%, Unser said. Consumers are driving this pullback, saying they cannot afford to spend at the level that retailers are increasing prices.

The decline in retail spending reflects the differences in prices and wage growth. Since 2019, prices have risen 32% while wage growth has only increased 16%, “a driving factor in what consumers can buy,” he explained. Prices in general merchandise, retail food and beverage and nonedible consumer packaged goods have remained well above 2019 pre-pandemic levels, but wage growth has not kept pace, affecting retail sales.

Derochowski said the long-term outlook for the home category will be rough until Q3 of 2025 and then begin to improve. He said that replacement of appliances and other products bought during the pandemic should begin then, bringing a strong performance for the second half of the decade.

Taking Control of Consumer Reviews

In the session, “Taking Control of Consumer Reviews,” David Rapps, president of Wholescale, and Laura Kegley, chief revenue officer, North America of Revuze discussed how to make consumer reviews a larger part of housewares marketing marketing strategies.

Kegley stated that 92.4% of consumers use reviews to guide their purchasing decisions, citing a 380% conversion rate to sale if a product shows reviews on a page. In addition, Rapps maintained that the most trusted content shoppers consume pre-purchase and ratings and reviews, looking for popularity, recency and authenticity. He said 78% of shoppers desire products with high volumes of reviews, 38% of shoppers avoid products with dated reviews and 90% of shoppers distrust brands with inauthentic reviews.

Many retailers are applying pressure for brands to receive more reviews, but collecting reviews organically and cost-effectively can be a struggle for retailers and suppliers, said Rapps. Product sampling can be too costly, inauthentic or dated quickly and direct-to-consumer email solicitation through asking for reviews after a consumer buys a product doesn’t convert, he continued.

As a platform that helps brands and retailers generate reviews, Wholescale instead uses insert cards with QR codes and crafted messaging, registration and review forms and integration with retailers and shopping sites, noting the importance of increasing reviews to strengthen relationships with retailers, surface insights and drive revenue growth.

The voice of the consumer can be heard through review syndication, survey collection, social listening and verified buyer reviews, said Kegley. In a world where feedback evolves daily, data from reviews offer real-time insights, but it is important the data come from verified buyers, consumers who have submitted their review through a specific process that tracks purchase history.

Revuze uses an AI-powered solution to help companies monitor the e-commerce market, identify emerging trends and assess products’ strength and weaknesses through these verified reviews. AI can add time back into the day for data analysts; less time can be spent mining the data and more time can be spent using that data for strategy. This data, she stated, can be used for e-commerce and retail optimization, product development and innovation, competitive analysis, marketing and advertising campaigns, customer support and service improvement, market research and trend analysis and supply chain management.

Retailer Keynote: Bed Bath & Beyond/Overstock

“Boy, do I think we got a steal of a deal,” said Jonathan Johnson, CEO of the new Bed Bath & Beyond, during the Retailer Keynote session. He was referring, of course, to Overstock’s recent acquisition of Bed Bath & Beyond’s intellectual property and subsequent rebranding to the retailer.

When Johnson joined Overstock, the company was still exactly as the name described, a liquidator, but in the years that followed it became a general, mass merchant retailer. With that, the name became confusing for consumers who didn’t realize that they were getting first-run, quality goods, he said. While Overstock had a successful business model, it was dragged down by a brand name that no longer matched what it sold.

“It was still a strong brand that we thought was worth something and it was worth more to us than our competition because it solved the problem we had with Overstock, the liquidation stigma,” Johnson asserted. Through the rebranding to Bed Bath & Beyond, Johnson believes the company can combine Overstock’s e-commerce strategy with the legacy name and brand of Bed Bath & Beyond to create success.

To stay on track, Johnson stated the company plans to listen to its consumers and its partners and suppliers. On the consumer side, he believes they have a chance to earn the customers’ trust by selling brand names with good prices and good customer service. With partners, he asserted they will maintain a profitable, strong balance sheet and share customer data and analytics with suppliers.

While Overstock was strictly e-commerce, Bed Bath & Beyond was omnichannel, but Johnson maintained they will be focusing solely on e-commerce, stating, “While we never say never, for brick and mortar store, the answer is never for now and I don’t see that changing soon.” On the revamped Bed Bath & Beyond website, the goal was to not alienate the legacy of Overstock and what it had to offer while making the site feel very comfortable for the legacy Bed Bath & Beyond consumer. Johnson said they are growing significantly in kitchen, bed and bath since the rebrand, but now they are looking to market Overstock products such as rugs and outdoor patio furniture to those customers as well.

Looking toward the future, Johnson remarked, “We’ve learned that the Bed Bath & Beyond brand still has cachet,” noting the consumer growth is up double-digit percentages since launch. The company is still learning, making sure they have the right product mix, hoping to add new SKUs, and making sure the site is right for the new combination of customers. The brand will also be building a registry business to help consumers celebrate all of life’s moments from dorm room shopping to weddings.

Business is succeeding when they solve the customer’s problem, Johnson said, “We plan to listen to what the customers want.”

Read about the CHESS Day 2 sessions including a conversation about artificial intelligence and ChatGPT, funding strategies for a post-pandemic world and grading the housewares retail credit climate.

Shoppe Object, the curated New York City trade show for design-forward home and gift products, will introduce a second venue at its February show to accommodate its growth, show operator Andmore announced.

The additional venue — the recently renovated Skylight at Essex Crossing in Manhattan’s Lower East Side — is twice the size of the auxiliary tent used in 2023 by Shoppe Object adjacent to its Pier 36 base. Shoppe Object officials said the show will provide frequent shuttle service to and from Pier 36 and Essex Crossing, which are less than a mile apart. The winter Shoppe Object is set for February 4-6, 2024.

The twice-a-year show debuted an expanded, two-pavilion format at Pier 36 in 2023 to accommodate more than 500 exhibitors. The forthcoming extension at Essex Crossing allows for more brands and larger booths, according to the show operator.

Shoppe Object Founder and Director Jesse James said, “Over the past two shows we delivered a 30% increase by adding a tent at our Pier 36 home, and now it’s time to double that. With the addition of this brand new venue, part of the Essex Crossing complex and right at the subway hub, we have twice as much room to grow as the tent provided previously.”

Shoppe Object and Andmore (previously IMC) reported it selected Skylight at Essex Crossing for its dramatic architecture and distinctive feeling, as well as its prime location adjacent to Essex Market and The Market Line and its proximity to Pier 36. The market will continue to focus on discovery through careful curation and merchandising of design-forward, high-quality brands across home and gift, according to the show operator.

Andmore announced its new Best Booth Awards program recognizing excellence across six categories of visual merchandising at its Atlanta, Las Vegas and High Point markets. The award program begins in 2024.

“Andmore’s new Best Booth Awards encourage brands to delve into creative approaches for design and display,” said Karen Olson, Andmore executive vice president, chief marketing officer. “These awards not only celebrate visual brilliance and cohesive storytelling but also illuminate imaginative merchandising. We expect the winners to be inspirational and aspirational for buyers and sellers at our markets.”

The Best Booth Awards will recognize temporary exhibitors with exceptional merchandising and visual ingenuity in six categories:

• Best Product Merchandising: Recognizes a sales-oriented display that successfully showcases and cross-merchandises product lines to promote sales. All elements of visual merchanding including lighting, signage and product display are employed for greatest impact.
• Best Branding Display: Represents distinct and memorable branding that successfully communicates the company’s brand through signage and special fixtures.
• Best Interactive Elements: Incorporates elements that captivate buyer attention, prompt engagement and encourage immersive experiences with the product line.
• Best Use of Color: Employs color to elevate product presentations and integrates different tones and hues throughout the display.
• Best Storytelling: Uses visual merchandising to narrate the story of the product(s) and company, attracting customers, inspiring engagement with products and representing unique brand stories.
• Best of Show: Represents the highest level of achievement through the use of all categories of visual excellence into one cohesive and holistic visual presentation.

Andmore’s Best Booth Awards will debut during the winter and spring 2024 market cycle. Atlanta Market runs January 16-22, 2024 (temporaries January 17-21) at AmericasMart Atlanta; Las Vegas Market runs January 28 – February 1, 2024 (temporaries January 28-January 31); and Andmore at High Point Market, April 13-17.

The Cookware and Bakeware Alliance (CBA) is ramping up its membership recruitment of cookware and bakeware retailers.

The CBA introduced a new membership classification for retailers in 2022. Among the benefits of joining the CBA for retailers, according to the association, is the opportunity to network with other retailers, manufacturers, brand owners and suppliers. Retailers can stay up-to-date on relevant market developments and trends, the CBA added.

The CBA also provides timely and relevant regulation information and seminars, as well as information on engineering standards, coatings, and product testing. Retailers can take advantage of these resources to construct their testing protocols to best protect their customers and comply with new fast-tracked enacted legislation, according to CBA.

Manufacturers and suppliers have worked together to fulfill the CBA’s mission to maintain the Engineering Standards for Cookware and Bakeware to ensure the utmost safety for consumers. With input from retailers, the CBA can create a comprehensive set of engineering standards to better serve the industry and consumers, according to CBA.

“Retailers are facing a fast-paced, ultra-competitive, complex world,” said Fran Groesbeck, managing director of the CBA. “By joining the CBA, they can stay ahead of the curve and be part of a community that is committed to industry excellence.”

For more information on joining the Cookware and Bakeware Association, visit JoinCBA.org.