Retail Column
Flatware with flair
Advances in technology coupled with a trend towards less formal and fussy dining has led to some fantastic flatware on the market. From Mepra to Capdeco to Sambonet, suppliers are delivering on colour, function and flair. Michele Trzuskowski tells us what her customers are buying
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wenty or thirty years ago, when a bride was choosing flatware as part of her wedding registry, she looked for a stainless pattern for everyday use and sterling for her formal china setting. Wow, have times changed – not that there aren’t brides still registering for their favourite flatware choices, but what they are registering for is certainly different. With the prices of sterling silver at an all-time high and innovations in stainless-steel flatware, there is a distinct movement towards 18/10 stainless place settings for both every day and more formal dining. The big change, and in my opinion, the primary reason for the evolution in the flatware category, is due to the innovation of PVD processing. PVD, or Physical Vapor Deposition, is a vacuum coating process that produces a brilliant decorative and functional finish. The process, developed through aeronautic research, creates a hardened coating that makes it extremely durable, 100 per cent dishwasher safe and ideal for use by caterers, restaurants, hotels, and of course, in our homes. These coatings are more resistant to corrosion and offer more durability. As a result, this category continues to have steady growth, not only because it is an essential part of your tableware but also because the PVD choices elevate
the aesthetics of the kitchen and your dining experience. You can now get flatware with finishes in gold, rose gold, copper, black, pewter, and mixed metals. In addition to the variety of colour you can also get alternative finishes, with matte, satin, or shiny options. Because stainless has become more affordable, we are seeing three strong trends in 18/10 flatware – colour, plating (PVD), and personalisation. As a note, there are different types of stainless, we recommend the 18/10 mark which signifies 18 per cent chromium and
that with Bugatti and Capdeco all offering colored acrylic flatware in both traditional and contemporary styles, and you are set. Additionally, we are seeing steady growth in the PVD plating flatware sets. With the ability to pick gold, rose gold, and champagne gold as a plated set offers anyone to perfectly match the gold that might be reflective in their china patterns. That, along with the fact that it is now dishwasher safe, makes is a no brainer. We are even seeing brides take to the gold patterns for their
There is a distinct movement towards 18/10 stainless place settings for both every day and more formal dining 10 per cent nickel used in the steel composition. It is more durable for dishwashers and has a heavier feel in weight. Colour focus Combination resin/metal or acrylic/metal create some unique and colorful flatware. Not new to the industry, these colorful sets continue to grow in popularity. Take Mepra for example, their Fantasia pattern has rounded resin handles in a multitude of colours (19 to be exact). Clearly there is a colour to match anyone’s home décor. Follow
everyday use and not just for more formal occasions. Within this group there has been unexpected movement towards the black finishes. I attribute this to both the minimalist contemporary look as well as the more casual farmhouse look that is so popular right now. That coupled with the fact that the black can be done in a shiny (modern) or matte (farmhouse) finish only adds to the appeal for customers. Sambonet does a great job within this category. I find they offer the most plating colours as
About T is for Table T is for Table is a luxury independent boutique, with a focus on tabletop, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Open more than 20 years, it offers an experiential and inspirational space dedicated to helping customers tell stories, create traditions and celebrate life. The boutique offers everything from fine pottery, china, glass, serveware and table accessories, to home décor, jewellery and body products, and delivers a custom service with its custom engraving, home visits and gift registries. www.tisfortable.com
well as finishes. Along with that they also offer the personalisation to someone’s flatware set. They allow you to choose a monogram (five different font styles) or symbol (six different choices) like a diamond or crown. In addition, they’ll engrave a date on the rear of the flatware piece. All these choices allow for over 100 possibilities from this program. Making the right choice When working with customers purchasing flatware, we recommend they first pick it up in their hands to ascertain if they like the weight. This can really vary if it is a solid or hollow handle. We ask them to pretend they are cutting a piece of meat for the best determination. Then we discuss the handles and how they lay on the plate. Some rounded handles on knives can roll slightly when laid on the edge of a plate. We also review the stacking capabilities. When customers go to store the flatware, some prefer flatware that stacks on top of each other. Again, in the case of wider or rounded handles, this can prove difficult. With all the choices out there, however, we don’t find it difficult choosing an option they like. More importantly, we find that flatware is no longer an afterthought in setting the table, but rather is now at the forefront in creating a stunning table-scape.
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