News

VIDA collection continues to grow

Beatriz Ball’s VIDA Collection of casual melamine and acrylic products was introduced in 2017, and it is growing by leaps and bounds. After mere weeks on the market, their VIDA Alegria tray of luxury melamine was selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, and there’s been no let-up in demand and attention since then.

In the last year, the company has introduced new indoor/outdoor placemats and “Easy Peasy” napkins collections under the VIDA umbrella, and extended Alegria, Havana, Nube and Bloom melamine collections.

“In iconic shapes based on best-selling metal items, our melamine serving pieces are extremely durable and easy to care for, and perfectly suited to outdoor dining,” said Beatriz Ball. “Stylish, casual and un-fussy products for the informal sharing and serving of foods - trays, bowls, platters - are particularly popular and on-trend now. Not just for outdoors or seasonal entertaining, these can be enjoyed year ‘round in a variety of settings.”

“We worked diligently to achieve the color, texture and surface luster of ceramics in melamine,” said Ball.

Sales figures and an expanding product line seem to prove that there is an increased demand for higherquality products, especially for outdoor and casual dining.

Gia Top Window Awards

The Global Innovation Awards program is now looking for the best window displays for 2021! gia – the IHA Global Innovation Awards program – is the world’s leading awards program honouring overall excellence, business innovation and creative merchandising in home goods retailing.

In 2021 gia wants to recognise and celebrate the best window displays! All retailers selling home and housewares are invited to participate in the gia Top Window Award contest.

Get a chance to receive both local and global recognition and positive PR and win a trip to The Inspired Home Show 2022, taking place in Chicago on March 5-8, 2022.

The windows displays will be judged on: Originality and Creativity (theme, concept, special effects), Merchandise Presentation, Professionalism: Execution and Technical Aspects (lighting, attention to detail, signage, copy). To be considered for the 2021 gia Top Window Award, please contact us for more information. Email rachel@lemapublishing.co.uk Entries close at the end of August.

IMC fall design events return

For a third consecutive year, AmericasMart and the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) are collaborating to create the Southeast’s premier dual-venue design shopping destination, September 20-23 in Atlanta, with unparalleled product selections from leading home décor, lifestyle, furniture and rug brands. Fall Design Week at AmericasMart will run September 20-22, and DISCOVER ADAC will operate September 21-23.

“Bringing together AmericasMart and ADAC for a collaborative market experience allows the design community an expanded opportunity to network with industry leaders, preview upcoming trends and buy accordingly,” said Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. “For one week, with two design destinations, Atlanta will be the pinnacle of high-end design trends this September.”

All trade registrants for Fall Design Week and DISCOVER ADAC will have access to ADAC’s 65+ high design home décor, lifestyle and furniture showrooms and to AmericasMart’s 400+ Open Year Round showrooms displaying nearly 2,000 lines in home décor, lifestyle, gift and apparel.

Beyond exhibits, participants can draw inspiration from unique “Directions in Design” vignettes installed at both market centers. The two coordinated vignettes, which will be merchandised and curated by a leading Atlanta interior designer, will showcase the exclusive and complementary design resources available across both campuses.

As an added benefit, attendees will have access to virtual and in-person seminars and networking events with some of the top industry leaders in design. A full schedule of sessions will be available in the coming weeks at Americasmart.com/Year-Round/Calendar-of-Events and ADACatlanta.com/discover-adac/.

Seeba | thinKitchen celebrates 35 years

This July, Seeba™ | thinKitchen™ celebrated 35 years of manufacturing and supply of premium quality steel ware products for the global market. It marks three and a half decades of innovation, enterprise and commitment catering to the international kitchenware segment.

Badri Baldawa, the founder and chairperson, believed early on that if the business functioned with transparency and honesty, stood by commitments and delivered to high quality standards, it would always see growth. These have continued to be the guiding principles through its journey over the decades.

Today as a second-generation business, with Anand Baldawa at the helm, Seeba ™| thinKitchen™ has transformed from being a supplier of choice to being a partner of choice for numerous clients across the United States, Europe and Asia. Leveraging its in depth understanding of the Indian market, the Seeba portfolio has expanded to include thinKitchen™, a premium retail concept which focusses on distribution in India and presently represents over a dozen global leading kitchen and home brands in the India market, such as Berghoff, Denby, Amefa and more.

Neil Hughes, Managing Director, Dartington Crystal Limited, said, “Working with Seeba™ |thinKitchen™ as a business partner is a pleasure. They are building a stable of premium brands as part of a long term strategy and have a very structured and inclusive approach to the way they plan for growth. I personally enjoy the relationship with Anand and the team and feel very confident that we can grow this market together. This might take time, we have always agreed and understood that but I would rather get it right and enjoy the rewards for the longer term.”

To commemorate this momentous occasion, the chairperson Badri Baldawa has written a memoir of grand ambitions, dreams and challenges, aptly titled One Dream Is Not Enough. A melange of pioneering wanderlust and inspiration, it chronicles the company and his own journeys through the years and is available on www.thinkitchen.in/ pages/inspirations.

As the business looks forward to the next decade and beyond, it also seeks to reinforce its founding commitment to innovation, quality, reliability and transparent functioning. To get in touch, please email contact@seebagroup.com

What’s new Thomas Clay

The new collection, Thomas Clay, brings a sense of nature to the table in a trend-conscious way. The stoneware material looks like clay, providing a rustic appearance but with the functionality you would expect.

Available in colour shades inspired by nature – Earth, Sky and Rock, Thomas Clay captivates with its grooved structure and subtle black speckles.

The collection includes a range of plates, bowls and cups that have an authentic character in a handmade look. www.rosenthal.de/en/info/marke/thomas/

Amara partners with Women for Women International

Women for Women International helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives, by enrolling them on a year-long training programme. Through the charity’s Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme, women form support networks and learn life-changing skills, such as how to earn and save money, practical knowledge about her health and her rights and a marketable job skill. AMARA is raising vital funds for marginalised women by donating 15% of profits from sales of Global Explorer, one of the Designed by AMARA brands. Launched in June 2021, AMARA will be pledging a commitment from these sales over the course of the year-long partnership. Sara Bowcutt, Director of Fundraising & Partnerships at Women for Women International stated, “AMARA couldn’t be a more perfect partner for Women for Women International - the brand’s family values, dedicated global community and commitment to giving back and making a difference are just a few of the reasons AMARA resonates with our mission. I love the entrepreneurial story behind the brand and am thrilled sales from the Global Explorer collection will go on to have a truly global impact, helping women survivors of war become successful entrepreneurs and inspire hope for the future.” In addition to AMARA’s Global Explorer donation pledge, the brand will also help to raise awareness and funds for the charity throughout the year in a variety of ways. Women for Women International will become an honorary sponsor of the Blogger’s Choice Award category within this year’s AMARA Interior Blog Awards. There are also a variety of sporting and social events, as well as dedicated staff sales planned, to raise funds internally throughout the yearly partnership.

HOMI II presents new trends in the living sector

HOMI, the “Salone degli Stili di Vita” is the expo event dedicated to home décor and furnishing accessories to embellish contemporary living spaces and it will open its doors at Fiera Milano from September 5-8.

The event confirms its role as a meeting place and an opportunity for industry professionals to experiment and be inspired. It is open to anyone who wishes to understand the evolution of habits and lifestyles, in Italy and in the world, exploring current and predicted home living trends.

The expo will also be held simultaneously to the supersalone, the special 2021 event of Salone del Mobile and the Milano Design Week, confirming the key role of the city of Milan as the capital of design.

Here's are some of the news from the brands participating in the expo:

EVVIVA invites you to experience a new journey around our tables with new products inspired by beautiful locations and colours.

ICHENDORF offers several new collections in borosilicate glass and handcrafted by designers of international fame: from coloured vases to stylized jugs, up to the most varied forms of tumblers.

TAITU' Milano with its Emotion Collection decorates an entire selection of tableware and home decor items that are cheerful, with big personality and elegance while its Collezione Mare celebrates the bright colours of tropical seas.

And BLUESIDE, through a design project in cooperation with architect Simone Micheli, offers a new line of vases, oil bottles and lanterns that, thanks to the purity and transparency of glass, take us back to the sea, the wind, and the freedom that the Mediterranean Sea can still offer us.

HOMI, the Salone degli Stili di Vita will take place in full safety, welcoming exhibitors and visitors in compliance with the safe business protocol developed with a team of experts to guarantee full respect of the health protocols for a Covidfree event.

Gift For Life’s Campaign Raises Nearly $50,000

Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries' leading charitable organization, announced that its “Feed the Hungry – Feel the Good” fundraiser yielded nearly $50,000 for World Central Kitchen, an organization which distributes individually packaged, fresh meals in communities that need support during times of crisis.

The campaign, which ran in connection with this summer’s Atlanta Market (July 1319), raised a total of $48,403 for World Central Kitchen. Individual donations ranged from $50 to $1000, with large gifts from J Douglas, Loloi Rugs and Worlds Away and a $10,000 matching grant from International Market Centers.

“Nearly $50,000 translates to almost 5,000 meals and 30 restaurants supported,” said Cole Daugherty, chair of the Gift for Life board. “We are grateful for the industry’s support of our first at-market fundraiser for World Central Kitchen, and hope that we can continue this momentum in August for campaigns connected with the Retailer Excellence Awards and Las Vegas Market.” Gift For Life’s next at-market “Feed the Hungry. Feel the Good” Fundraiser will take place during the Las Vegas Market (August 22-26).

general News

Summer 2021 Atlanta Market beats expectations

Atlanta Market confirmed its place as the top Summer 2021 buying destination for the national retail and design industry with better than projected attendance and reports of record-breaking shows across its home and gift collections at the closing of its seven-day run from July 13-19, 2021 at AmericasMart Atlanta. “Atlanta Market was exactly what buyers and sellers needed right now,” said Bob Maricich, International Market Centers (IMC) CEO. “The buzz about market quickly traveled through the industry, and the brands and buyers who did not attend were really feeling like they missed out. We’re confident that their need to be a part of Atlanta Market will accelerate the growth of the Winter Market in 2022.” Pent-up demand for inventory led to aggressive buying by retailers and designers. Upticks in Key Account attendance – with nearly 100 top retailers including Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body Works/White Barn, Hallmark Cards, Hamricks, Hobby Lobby, The Home Depot, Joann Stores, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Old Time Pottery, Paper Source, Plow & Hearth, Urban Outfitters, Von Maur and more – also sparked high-volume orders. Buyers from all market verticals were well represented with growth in all three categories over the Winter 2021 staging. Attendees hailed from all 50 states, with continued recovery of international traffic with buyers from some 36 countries. Overall, the Summer 2021 Atlanta Market well outpaced the Winter 2021 staging, growing by nearly 55% in attendance and ultimately beating IMC’s pre-market projections. The Winter 2022 Atlanta Market is January 11 – 18, 2022 (temporary exhibits January 12 – 16).

Independent Hotel Show announces speaker line-up

Independent Hotel Show London presented by James Hallam, the only trade event for the UK’s luxury and boutique hotel industry, is returning with a bang as it announces an impressive speaker line-up for its 9th edition, taking place at Olympia London on October 4-5, 2021.

The two–day seminar programme will see a wide Don’t miss… range of insightful content across the Innovation Stage, in partnership with eviivo and dressed by sofa. com, and the Social Business Space, designed by glamorous textilesAorta, along with new feature the Tech Solutions Bar presented by Hospa, which will provide objective, expert tech advice for guests at the show.

A highlight of the programme will be a session on ‘The Future of Hospitality’ hosted by Robert Richardson FIH, CEO of Institute of Hospitality. Panellists Chris Gamm of Springboard, David Taylor MI FIH of Lore Group, Kathy Dyball of Caterer.com, Julia Sibley MBE of The Savoy Educational Trust and Sally Beck of Royal Lancaster London will be setting the hospitality world to rights as they discuss retaining staff, strengthening the reputation of the industry and where to direct future resources and investment.

Elsewhere in the programme, Juliet Kinsman, Sustainability Editor at Condé Nast Traveller will host an all-star panel for ‘ESG: Building A Sustainable Business Strategy’. The panel will take a close look at what it truly means for a hotel to be socially and environmentally responsible.

The Social Business Space designed by Aorta will be a hub of discussion, debate and learning, as hoteliers are invited to sit down and discuss topics such as rebuilding the urban city hotel, the rise of residences, creating a lifestyle brand and what it means to be an environmentally and socially conscious business.

Independent Hotel Show Event Director Elena Attanasio said, “The Independent Hotel Show programme is packed with content aimed directly at our audience of boutique, luxury and independent hoteliers. We know the specific issues, trends and challenges that affect our audience and work hard to provide practical, implementable thought leadership alongside more wideranging analysis and insight.”

HMRC reverses position on plastic tax

Following lobbying from the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) and other bodies and organisations, outlining objections to the draft Plastic Packaging tax legislation, BHETA has received confirmation from HMRC that it has made a U-turn on the latest draft secondary legislation. HMRC’s original position was to extend the legislation’s scope to include multi-use consumer goods such as home and garden storage boxes and packed lunch boxes as well as packaging. This will not now be the case.

HMRC’s project leader, Mark Palmer has messaged BHETA thanking it for its input and clarifying the following, “HMRC has now published draft secondary legislation clarifying the scope of the tax. Storage boxes for home use and reusable food and drinks containers do not need to be included in these regulations. The draft legislation clarifies that a further number of products are outside of the scope, and examples of these include items sold for long term storage of goods throughout their lifetime, such as toolboxes, items where the packaging is integral to the use of the goods, such as water filter cartridges, and items for reuse in the presentation of goods, such as shop fittings.”

The previous draft of the legislation could have precipitated costs of an additional £10million per year in tax across the supplier base. Commenting on the breakthrough, BHETA’s marketing manager, Steve Richardson who co-ordinated the lobbying initiative said, “The amended legislation follows the principle BHETA championed that ‘single use plastics’ are a much bigger problem than ‘multi-use’ products. Any plastic single use items for home use will be liable to the plastic packaging tax. The change of plan regarding multi-use products is great news for many suppliers across housewares, DIY and garden and BHETA thanks everyone who has supported the campaign to date.”