PH Jan/Feb 2016 NEWS 7-9-11-13-15_5/7/8-9/13/15/16-17/19/20 20/01/2016 12:39 Page 7
News Left: 200th anniversary - Blue Italian from Spode (featuring a serene Italian countryside scene in a detailed Imari Oriental border).
TOP STORY
Spring Fair’s beeline for Hall 9
Out of the blue Spode (from Portmeirion Group) celebrates the 200th anniversary of iconic design, Blue Italian this year. Celebrations will include window display competitions, retailer hosted birthday parties across the globe, a social media campaign, the pledge of 200 hours to local charities as well as films, point-of-sale material and, importantly, the launch of two new Spode collections at Spring Fair. Josiah Spode I is widely regarded as redefining the pottery industry in the late 1700s when he perfected the technique of blue under-glaze transfer printing. His son, Josiah Spode II, launched Blue Italian.
Kitchen, Dining & Housewares at Spring Fair (February 7 – 11 at NEC, Birmingham) returns to Hall 9 for the second year. Hall 9 is adjacent to The Summerhouse in Hall 8 and the Contemporary Gift Halls 6 and 7, making it ideally placed for crossover buying. Hall 9 also provides a hub for top buyers, housing the VIP Seasons Club. Improvements to visitor flow around the show include an express entrance in Hall 9 (leading to the Atrium) – one of the “raft of improvements” described by Spring Fair portfolio director, Nick Davison. Cookware highlights in Hall 9 include Meyer Group’s celebration of 30 years of Circulon and the re-launch of leading Italian brand, TVS into the UK market (see separate story). Meanwhile, Paul Hollywood will be causing temperatures to rise around Kitchen Craft’s stand (see separate story). * Some 3,000 of the best British and international suppliers, including hundreds that are new to Spring Fair for 2016, will present up to 300,000 new products at the show across 14 categories. Some 44% of visitors do not attend any other trade event and 75% of all visitors place orders with suppliers as a result of their attendance at Spring Fair. * Hall 6 houses the e-commerce Theatre and Retail Solutions exhibition area. Meanwhile Volume Home & Gift items will occupy Halls 10, 11 and 12. For more information and to register, see www.springfair.com (See linked stories). Above: Paul Hollywood will be visiting Spring Fair (see linked story below).
Make your Wish List
Spring’s Fair’s new online Wish List facility enables buyers to explore exhibitors’ products throughout the year, as well as plan for their visit to the show. Buyers can save and print ‘shopping lists’ of favourite items from a comprehensive database of Spring Fair exhibitors’ products. The search and select mechanism also provides insight into trends as popular products are placed on wish lists. There is also a dedicated new Licensing section of the Spring Fair website, highlighting properties including The Great British Bake Off and Katie Alice.
Kitchen Craft teams up with Paul Hollywood Paul Hollywood’s baking range from Kitchen Craft launches at Spring Fair (February 7-11) with an appearance by The Great British Bake Off judge and renowned baker himself on Monday February 8. The range has been a year in development and addresses bread, dough products and other home baking including and beyond the realm of cakes, "creating a highly innovative and commercial range of kitchen products and accessories," explains Kitchen Craft's marketing controller, Claire Budgen. The results are “a meeting of minds,” she adds, combining Kitchen Craft’s bakeware expertise with Paul’s insights as an expert baker. The range will appeal to both men and women (with a significant number of men now enjoying baking at home), Claire confirms. “We are thrilled that Paul will be at the show, and for him to be involved in the preview launch of our new collection which Paul and the Kitchen Craft design team have worked on together," said Claire.
Satish introduces TVS at Spring Fair Satish Jethwa (having had 20 years of experience as a retail buyer and buying director, including many in housewares) will be at Spring Fair in his new role, developing the TVS brand in the UK and Ireland. He will showcase 11 ranges at Spring Fair – embracing both induction and non-induction, with unique designs - as well as invite discussion on own label production. Satish reports: “I am very impressed with the R&D and Design Team at TVS in Italy and also the recent ranges in induction cookware, as well as the unique TVS patented non-stick coatings that have won Global Awards.” He advises “shrewd and serious buyers” to review their supplier base considering the likes of TVS (which has invested in a manufacturing plant in Tunisia, in addition to its domestic production) “as Asia is getting limited, more and more expensive as well as having longer lead times.” Satish describes his return to the housewares industry as “excellent,” elaborating: “I was really amazed at the warm reception and help received by the industry - housewares is truly a unique industry, mainly because of the people. “
Give us a gluggle Eddingtons has been appointed official distributor for Wade Ceramics this year. Wade’s pie funnels and dishes continue a rich tradition of design and manufacture in Britain since 1810, while classic Wade Pestle and Mortars (synonymous with the Milton Brook brand) use destinctive unglazed vitrified electrical procelain and beechwood handles. Wade is also famous for its unique Gluggle Jugs (introduced in 1867 and still produced in the Stoke on Trent). When poured the jugs produce a ‘gluggling’ sound.
Above: Satish Jethwa of TVS UK with some of the cookware that will be on show at Spring Fair.
Progressive Housewares
7