From retail to expected industry performance in 2023 –we thoughts key industry figures Viewpoints

board member, Porland

How do you perceive the retail landscape at the moment for homewares/ home décor/ tableware suppliers?

I see great ambition to get back to doing business as it used to be. The feedback we keep receiving has always been positive, not only at fairs and but also by the ascending sales. Economically, the world is going through many complications but I do perceive it as there is great will to engage in the industry.

Do you currently sell more online or in brick & mortar stores?

Our online sales are back to how it was pre pandemic levels, around 10 per cent of our total turnover in retail market.

How do you market/encourage sales of tableware in a cost-of-living crisis?

Porland pricing has always been the key feature for the brand. It always been reachable luxury with no compromise in quality comparing to hi-end pricing competitors.

Do you have a hero collection for the new season?

Yes, and it is a very exciting one, a 100 per cent recycled product range Porland Re-Gen. Completing our ‘no waste’ target in order to lower our carbon footprint, the product contains not only recycled production fallouts but also recycled seconds, broken pieces or any misfits.

Finally, how do you think the industry will perform in 2023?

In a market like this every individual brand/manufacturer has its own agenda, ours is on an upward trend. I believe the variety of designs, shapes, ranges and colours that Porland offers will keep attracting people and keep this trend ascending.

Lisa Müller team lead brand & product management, Zwiesel Glas

How do you perceive the retail landscape at the moment for homewares/ home décor/ tableware suppliers?

In general, the retail landscape is rather difficult due to ongoing crises (energy, resources, Ukraine). Nevertheless, we see a high interest in strong brands. Especially, the high price segment is working really well and strong brands do pay off. But, entry price products are rather difficult.

Do you currently sell more online or in brick & mortar stores?

Globally, we see the online shop business is still increasing and gains more and more importance. Therefore, we decided to expand our online shops in Europe. Looking at the other side, you need to offer a coherent concept in the offline world, like a real brand experience and putting products on the stage. If that is not given, it is a really difficult sales channel.

What is the strongest sales territory for your company?

For our company Europe and the USA are the strongest sales territory.

How do you market/encourage sales of tableware in a cost-of-living crisis?

Our focus is on brand and product value. We do not want to go into a battle of prices. The aim is to show the customer the value of a high-quality product and a strong brand.

Do you have a hero collection for the new season?

There will be new products from Zwiesel Glas in 2023. On the one hand, we will showcase two series from the handmade sector, which means very high-quality and exclusive products. One is a series of vases and the other a series of wine glasses, which will be of particular interest to the end consumer but also to the fine-dining sector. The other novelty is a series from the machine-made sector, with which we would like to expand our bar range. You will find more information about our interesting new products elsewhere in this issue.

Finally, how do you think the industry will perform in 2023?

The outlook, especially for the first months, is very difficult because of the lack of transparency regarding the consumer climate in both professional and consumer sector. The overall economic development makes it hard to plan how things will turn out. However, we strongly believe that the next year will be a good one as we as a brand are well positioned. We will manage 2023 in our usual way – with stability and confidence.