17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show

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17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
17.1

innovation   design          trends           inspiration
Emotional    gia Product     Pantone Home &   Create and
Retailing    Design Awards   Interiors 2018   Captivate on
                                              Social Media
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
Letter from the Editors

    Industry of Emotions
    In the home and housewares                 was the joy and excitement – and         about emotion. There are two
    industry, ”business” and ”emotion”         well-deserved pride that you could       articles featuring the gia Expert
    are not strangers. “We love this           see and feel. You can learn more         judge Wolfgang Gruschwitz on
    business,” says Richard Joseph of          about this year’s gia award-             emotive retailing, as well as articles
    Joseph Joseph, in an interview for         winning products and retailers in        providing insight and advice on
    this magazine. “Happiness is               the pages of this magazine.              creating and managing emotions
    coming up with a new idea,                                                          in online and social media
                                               At the Show, thousands of new
    taking a risk in development and                                                    communications.
                                               products are introduced, many
    then having a customer love the
                                               from product suppliers and               We wish you inspiring moments
    end product.”
                                               brands that are not yet household        with this “emotions” issue of Home
    For retailers, there is inspiration with   names or available in foreign            + Housewares Inspiration! For
    new products and creative displays         markets. This is highlighted in the      additional inspiration, be sure
    – the sense of discovery and then          comments we receive from                 to check the gia blog:
    the excitement of introducing              international retailers and buyers       blog.housewares.org/category/
    something new to customers.                visiting the Show – inspiring,           show/gia-retail-awards
                                               innovative, exciting being the key       and IHA’s consumer website:
    And, the most important of all, the
                                               words repeated. Again, emotion.          www.TheInspiredHome.com –
    key to success in our business: the
                                                                                        happy emotions guaranteed! ■
    creation of experiences and                Emotion is the key theme also for
    emotions in order to make our              this issue of the Home +
    products and retail stores, whether        Housewares Inspiration. Martin M.
    brick-and-mortar or online, attractive     Pegler and Terri Winter embrace
    and engaging to consumers.                 emotion in their columns – and of
                                               course, home and housewares
    During the 2017 International
                                               color and design trends are all
    Home + Housewares Show, the
    emotional highlight was once
    again the IHA Global Innovation
    Awards (gia) dinner, where
                                                                                                         Derek Miller
    product suppliers and retailers                                                           Vice President, Global Marketing
    from around the world were                                                             International Housewares Association
    honored and awarded for their
    innovation and excellence. There

                                                               Piritta Törrö
                                                        International Marketing
                                                 International Housewares Association

2
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
Table of Contents

  innovation
  Martin M. Pegler on Retail Innovations ..........................................4
  gia – Honoring Global Retail Excellence ........................................6
  Introducing the 2017 gia Global Honorees......................................7
  gia Expert tips – Show to Sell: Cross Merchandising......................12
  Emotional Retailing ....................................................................14

  design
  Terri Winter on Design ................................................................20
  Elevated Design: Design Highlights from the 2017 gia
     Product Design Awards ............................................................22
  From the World of Design and Fashion –
     Antony and Richard Joseph......................................................24
  Discovering Design: Nambé..........................................................27

  trends
  PANTONE®VIEW home + interiors 2018 ........................................29
  Top Trends 2017 - Consumer Trends by Tom Mirabile ....................32
  Housewares Industry Trends by Trend Bible....................................36

  inspiration
  Inspiring the Industry – Evan Dash................................................38
  Emotion in Online Retailing ........................................................41
  Making a Mark: Create & Captivate on Social Media ....................44

                                        Contributing Editor
                                        Michelle Hespe is a publisher and editor with 21 years experience
                                        in the publishing industry, across Australia, the US, Europe and Asia.
                                        Michelle has a solid grounding in news and journalism, has written
                                        a book on industrial design, and has a passion for creating moving
                                        content across all media platforms. She is a regular travel presenter
                                        on Sky TV and is working on her first novel while managing a suite
                                        of print and digital magazines in Australia.

                                        Michelle Hespe

                                                                                                                 3
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
s m ile
    Put A                                                              Martin M. Pegler is an author,
                                                                       editor, educator and lecturer, and
                                                                       has been a professor at the
                                                                       Fashion Institute of Technology in
                                                                       NY for over 30 years. He has
                                                                       worked with the IHA Global
                                                                       Innovation Awards (gia) from the
                                                                       beginning of the gia program in

W
                                                                       2000, as an Expert Juror, and

           in your Display                                             since 2016 as an honorary
                                                                       member of the gia Expert Jury.
                                               by Martin M. Pegler

            hat is a smile? Is it the   bloody war we were encouraged         memories.
            enigmatic look on the       with “SMILE will go a long, long      You are in
            face of the Mona Lisa       way.” With the big depression after   your shop
that is called the Da Vinci smile?      the crash of 1929, we were            waiting for a
OR, is it that sudden expression of     implored to “SMILE, Darn Ya, SMILE”   “live one” to
relief or pleasure or satisfaction      and then to “put on a happy           enter. The off
that turns a dark, frowning visage                                            weather has
                                        face”, a decade or two after WWll.
into a sunny, glowing face that                                               affected you,
                                        SO, why are musicians, artists and
exudes a sense of hope?? There                                                your bones
                                        especially retailers all concerned
have been hundreds of songs                                                   ache, your feet feel bulbous, and
                                        about the shoppers facial
                                                                              you would like nothing more than
written about SMILES, from the sad      expression upon entering a shop?
                                                                              to get back into your bed and pull
but lovely one by Charlie Chaplin,      What has a SMILE to do with
                                                                              the blanket over your head and
“when your heart is breaking,” to       making a sale? EVERYTHING!!           block out the Monday Blahs. To
the ones that saw us through
                                                                              break this unhappy reverie, your
World War 1, “let a smile be your       Imagine it is a dreary, gray
                                                                              front door opens and a shopper
umbrella,” or “pack up your             Monday morning and all the
                                                                              enters. The shopper is SMILING.
troubles in your old kit bag and        wonders, warmth and sunshine of
                                                                              Something has just happened to
SMILE, SMILE, SMILE.” After that        the past glorious Sunday are now
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
amuse her—tickle her fancy—           your attitude toward your clientele   musical notes to keep in touch with
brighten her day, and now she         and what your brand stands for.       your shoppers. Suggest the values
brings that sunshine and smiling      Some storekeepers keep a              you are offering through the
happiness as a greeting to you.       running conversation with their       captions that are song titles.
You respond. No more achy bones       clientele through message cards       Make “September Song” a joyous
or swollen feet, no more thoughts     that appear in their up-front         fall presentation; “Easter Parade”
of bed and comforting blanket, no     windows as well as on the shelves     the display of pretty pastels or
more gray skies and stormy            and tabletops inside the store. If    bunny and egg inspired products;
weather. You respond with a bright    anything—keep your “message”          “In the Good Old Summertime” a
SMILE. One smile deserves another     light, bright, sunny and brief—like   showcase for picnic or outdoor
and suddenly “everything is           the funny, hand-made “memos”          living products; “White Christmas”
coming up roses and lollypops         left throughout the Lords store in    for an all white product
and sunshine” for everyone. What      London or those scripted by the       presentation. I think you get the
made the shopper SMILE just                                                  idea, and I am sure that whatever
before entering?                                                             your country or language or
                                                                             music is—you can do it!
Was it the charming vignette
that showed the featured                                                     Put an end to Monday Blahs that
products “humanized” with copy                                               can extend throughout the week
balloons floating over them with                                             and dull and gray windows that
clever copy? Was it the                                                      serve only as mirrors to show off
juxtaposing of the newest with                                               glum expressions. There are so
the oldest or the placement of                                               many different and wonderful
an “antique” amidst digital                                                  and inexpensive and adaptable
wonders? Maybe just a simple                                                 forms of lighting to use in your
and deliberate misspelling of a                                              windows that will bathe them in
word that caused the smile—or                                                eternal sunshine to start with
any small gesture that turned                                                that almost anything you do—
things awry or upside down and                                              except overload the window with
                                      owners of K’OOK! in the
thus got her attention or piqued                                            merchandise—will start the SMILE
                                      Netherlands! BUT, always light,
her interest—and then in                                                    process. So think fun—think bright
                                      succinct and with a SMILE!
recognition that she was being                                              and happy thoughts—think of
‘played’ made her smile.              Put a SMILE into your presentation—   what you feel and how you feel
                                      one that may become infectious        and how you want your shoppers
     The lesson to be learned is
                                      and come back to cheer you up         to feel—and go for it. Remember
     that your front windows are
                                      as well. Surprise them—maybe          this one— “When You’re SMILING,
     more than storage spaces to
                                      even shock them! Be unique and        The Whole World SMILES With You.”
     show off new and featured
                                      occasionally unusual. Who says        And they SHOP where they
     products, they’re also
                                      you can’t smile and hum a happy       are happy. ■
     message centers. It is here—
                                      tune at the same time? Use
     with your displays—that you
     announce who you are—
     who you are hoping to sell to
     and what sort of things you
     think they would like to have.
     It is here that you show, by
     example, your taste level,

                                    innovation • design • trends • inspiration 5
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
Every March in Chicago, the
                                                                IHA Global Innovation Awards
                                                                (gia) are hosted by the
                                                                International Housewares
                                                                Association.The gia awards,
                                                                “the Oscars® of the housewares
                                                                industry”, bring together the
                                                                world’s most innovative
                                                                retailers, all having been voted
                                                                as the best in their country.
                      T
                           he IHA Global Innovation
                           Awards program was
                           created to celebrate
                                                                   2016-2017 national gia winners:
                      excellence and innovation in
                      home and housewares retailing                COUNTRY           STORE NAME

                      on an international level. Since             Argentina         Jumbo

                      the launch of gia in 2000, there             Australia         LUC. Design
                                                                   Brazil            Doural Home &
                                                                                     Design
                      have been over 370 gia retail

                                                                   Canada            The Gourmet
                      award winners, from 45 countries
                      on six continents.                                             Warehouse
                                                                   China             Tayohya Corporation
                      A jury consisting of retail
                                                                   Colombia          FÜN FÁBRICAS
                      experts and housewares                                         UNIDAS
                      trade publication editors from               Denmark           Skagerak Denmark
                      around the world decide on the
                                                                   Eastern Europe    Potten & Pannen –
                                                                                     Staněk, Czech
                      gia Global Honorees after looking
                      at all aspects of the participating                            Republic
                      stores, including visual                     France            Culinarion
                      merchandising, marketing,                    Germany           One Kitchen
                      branding, staff training and                 Greece            Parousiasi
                                                                   India             The Home Sukh,
                                                                                     Ishanya
                      other innovative offerings.

                                                                   Ireland           Stakelums
                      We warmly congratulate the gia               Italy             Stile Event-Store
                                                                   Japan             The Loft Co., Ltd
                      national winners. For more information

                                                                   Middle East       Homes R US,
                      on the IHA Global Innovation Award
                      program and to find short introductions                        United Arab Emirates
                                                                   Netherlands       Kooklust 121
                      and images of all 28 gia winners of
                      2016-2017, visit www.housewares.org/
                      show/gia-retail                              New Zealand       Green with Envy
                                                                   Philippines       Rustan's Department
                                                                                     Store
                                                                   Poland            Dajar
                                                                   Portugal          KROST
                                                                   Russia            Boutique Meissen
Watch a quick
                                                                   Spain             Culinarium
gia video at
                                                                   Turkey            Bernardo
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=nstWtqa6yJc
                                                                   UK                Borough Kitchen
                                                                   Uruguay           Amo Cocinar
                                                                   USA               Toque Blanche
                                                                   USA – Internet/   Amazon.com
                                                                   Catalogue
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
Introducing: the gia Stars of 2016-2017
                                                                                                           by Michelle Hespe

     A
             t the 2017 IHA Global Innovation Awards                from the Philippines and Borough Kitchen from
             (gia), 28 outstanding home and housewares              the United Kingdom.
             retailers nominated from 27 countries
                                                                    The Martin M. Pegler Award for Excellence in Visual
     competed to be recognized as one of the top
                                                                    Merchandising was presented to LUC. Design from
     retailers in the world. This year, the five outstanding
                                                                    Australia, and Amazon.com of the USA won the
     stores declared gia Global Honorees were Potten &
                                                                    gia Digital Commerce Award for Excellence in
     Pannen – Staněk from the Czech Republic, Loft from
                                                                    Online Retailing. ■
     Japan, Green with Envy from New Zealand, Rustan’s

     Meet the five Global Honorees.

Czech Republic
                     Potten & Pannen – Staněk opened its doors           the expert jury commented, also noting that
                     25 years ago in the beautiful city of Prague.        the team seamlessly merge their website with
                     Back then, the co-founders had no idea that          the philosophy behind the brick-and-more
                     it would soon become synonymous with the             store. “There is some truly inspiring content
                                               best quality service       available online, bringing the entire
                                               and kitchenware            experience to life for the customer,” another
                                               inspiration in             judge said. ■
                                               the region.
                                                                          To learn more about Potten & Pannen –
                                                    Customers flock to    Staněk, visit www.pottenpannen.cz, or
                                                    the Potten &          read the Potten & Pannen blog at
                     Pannen – Stane   ěk KitchenAid Concept Store &      blog.housewares.org/category/show/
                     Gourmet Academy for a range of exciting              gia-retail-awards
                     culinary classes catering to all levels and
                             interests, presentations and lessons by
                             famous chefs, the sharing of recipes
                             and cooking tips, and of course,
                             products for their kitchens. This unique
                             retail store (it’s the only KitchenAid
                             concept store in the world) continually
                             pushes the limits of innovation,
                             embracing technology and social
                             media to spread the word and
                             heighten customer experiences.

                             What makes the atmosphere so
                             inviting is that Pavel Staněk, the co-
                             founder and President of Potten &
                             Pannen – Staněk, alongside his staff
                             and customers, all share a passion for
                             cooking, dining and art, so the stylish
                             space is gallery-like in its presentation,
                     and it always smells inviting. “Pavel and his
                     staff do an exceptional job of entertaining
                     customers at in-store events, including culinary
                     classes and product training,” one judge on

                                         innovation • design • trends • inspiration 7
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
2017 gia Global Honorees                                                               continued

           Japan
                    Not every retailer can successfully
                    transition from being a single store to a
                    chain, but Loft — a Japanese retailer
                    celebrating 30 years of business in the        with the highly renowned MIKAN
                    same year it became a gia Global               architectural firm to create innovatively
                               Honoree — has achieved just         themed spaces that take customers on
                               that. It is now operating 110       a journey through many inspiring,
                               stores, including four franchise    meticulously curated product zones,
                               stores outside of Japan, and        such as floors organized around themes
                               it’s on track to meet its goal of   of “Renovation” or “Cook and Dine.”
                               achieving net sales from the
                                                                   Mr. Satoru Iimura, executive director of
                               directly managed stores of
                                                                   Loft, believes one element that has led
                               100 billion yen.
                                                                   to Loft’s ongoing success is that he and
                              Loft’s grounding philosophy is       his staff act upon the changing tastes of
                              to be a “container of the times”     their consumers. “Being market-oriented,
                              — a retailer that remains in         we don’t force the logic of our
                              touch with the times and the         manufacturers or suppliers on to our
                              changing tastes of its               consumers. Instead, we collect and
                              customers. With this in mind,        select merchandise with consumers’
                              Loft recently renovated its          logic in mind, and operate our business
                              flagship stores, collaborating       on behalf of those consumers,” says
                                                                   Iimura with pride.

                                                                   Embracing technology and social
                                                                   media while remaining in touch with
                                                                   good old-fashioned values and
                                                                   customer service are other things that
                                                                   Iimura and his staff are incredibly
                                                                   passionate about.

                                                                   The gia jury decided that Loft is “a store
                                                                   that invites people to explore and try
                                                                   new things. The great floorplans and
                                                                   use of space, with beautiful lighting,
                                                                   add a sense of theater and
                                                                   entertainment, which draws customers
                                                                   back again, and again.”■

                                                                   To learn more about Loft, visit
                                                                   www.loft.co.jp, or read the Loft blog
                                                                   at blog.housewares.org/category/
                                                                   show/gia-retail-awards.

8   innovation • design • trends • inspiration
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
“The charming, character-filled store
                                                         exemplifies its relaxed, unique style,
                                                         and the brand exudes a sense of
                                                         discovery in its highly-curated product
                                                         offering,” the judges said.
New Zealand                                              The gia jury loved Green with Envy’s
                                                         innovative events and activities, such
                                                         as the “Take a photo with Santa”
                                                         campaign, and noted that the team
              Traditionally, most retailers have    are “very good creating social media loops
              started out as a brick-and-mortar     based on these innovative activities in-store.”
              store and then created an online
                                                    Green with Envy prides itself on supporting
              store to complement their physical
                                                    the local community and raising money for
              operations.
                                                    charities in need. They also enjoy working
              Green with Envy, from the beautiful   with local artisans to design and create 100
              seaside Matakana region of New        percent New Zealand made, unique
              Zealand, is in the new brigade of     products. For instance, beautiful recycled
              operators who first tested the        timber bedheads with copper nails were
              waters as an online retailer and      designed by Green with Envy, and are made
              then moved on to adapting its         by a local carpenter who custom-makes
              successful concept into a brick-      them to order. This is just one example of
              and-mortar store. The gia judges      how the brand connects with the consumer,
              found that by creating a physical     offering them an unforgettable, warm
              store — housed in an old fruit barn   experience and the feeling of belonging to
              with a jasmine-scented courtyard      something really special. ■
              café built in and around an old
                                                    To learn more about Green with Envy,
              potter’s shed — the brand was
                                                    visit www.greenwithenvy.co.nz, or read
              bestowed with even more character,
                                                    the Green with Envy blog at
              becoming a place that consumers
                                                    blog.housewares.org/category/
              truly wanted to visit.
                                                    show/gia-retail-awards.

                     innovation • design • trends • inspiration 9
17.1 innovation Emotional Retailing - The Inspired Home Show
2017 gia Global Honorees                                                                        continued

                          From a business that started out in 1952
         Philippines      in a husband and wife’s living room,
                          Rustan’s has grown to be the luxury
                  department store chain in the Philippines.
                  A two-time gia winner, Rustan’s still sets the
                  benchmark of excellent customer service,
                  retail sophistication and luxury in the
                  Philippines, and it aims to raise that bar in Asia.   The judges commented that Rustan’s is
                                                                        a “very sophisticated retailer with a great
                  Beneath the big success story, there is a
                                                                        sense of hospitality. The outstanding visual
                  simple vision that unites Rustan’s employees:
                                                                        merchandising is strengthened with themes
                  “We will be the finest and most trusted
                                                                        and a great variation of displays.”
                  destination in Asia for awe-inspiring customer
                  experience. Working with our partners, we will        The jury also commended the store on its
                  deliver innovative experiences with premium           use of greenery. “The green walls, plants
                  brands, exceptional people and inspirational          and flowers used in displays create a sense
                  stores,” says the president of Rustan’s.              of nature and an atmosphere that appeals
                                                                        to senses,” they said. “It is a place that lures
                  Rustan’s prides itself on following a set of
                                                                        consumers in and gives them an exceptional
                  strategic pillars, including Respect, Unity,
                                                                        experience. It’s also very grounding, just like
                  Sincerity, Accountability and Nurturing. And to
                                                                        the company’s pillars.” ■
                  keep ahead of the pack and to always remain
                  innovative, Rustan’s encourages its staff to go       To learn more about Rustan’s, visit
                  beyond the norm, as the original founders did.        www.rustans.com.ph or read the
                  Thus, the last of the pillars is “Trailblazing”:      Rustan’s blog at
                  “Challenge the impossible, and have the               blog.housewares.org/category/show/
                  conviction to succeed beyond expectations.”           gia-retail-awards .

10   innovation • design • trends • inspiration
United Kingdom

Borough Kitchen was born in 2013 out of
two friends’ shared passion for cooking
for friends. The concept opened and im-
mediately flourished in one of the world’s
most exciting foodie markets — London’s
Borough Market next to London Bridge. In an
exciting space with five-meter high glass
walls that let the world outside in, the foodie-
focused co-founders present the highest
quality kitchenwares possible based on
what they love using in their own kitchens.

The heavily edited range evolves
continuously through intense new product
searches and rigorous trialing based on
function, quality and durability – not
aesthetic. “There’s not a lot of color in our
stores because it’s about how things work, not        offline stores, and loved the fact that all staff
what color they are,” the owners Justin Kowbel        members are extremely passionate foodies who
and David Caldana say.                                love what they do. They also loved that potential
                                                      staff members must include a recipe in their
Just as they concentrate on their community, Justin
                                                      applications. “This is one of many elements that
and David also know how important staff is to the
                                                      makes the service at Kitchen Borough so
success of their business.“We hire only the best
                                                      authentic and inspiring,” one judge said. ■
people who are passionate about cooking and
are excellent communicators,” says Justin.“They       To learn more about Borough Kitchen,
are integral to holding our community together.”      visit www.boroughkitchen.com, or read the
                                                      Borough Kitchen blog at blog.housewares.org/
The gia jury thought that Borough Kitchen has
                                                      category/show/gia-retail-awards .
been very successful in combining its online and

                                innovation • design • trends • inspiration 11
SHOW TO SELL:
                                               Cross Merchandising
                                                                                                       by Martin M. Pegler

    V
           isual Merchandising is really a very simple          price: all items under $19.99 or under $35, etc.? Do
           concept to understand. “Visual” refers to sight      you show or cluster them by where they may be
           and “showing” while “Merchandising” is about         used—by “end use”—bedroom/bathroom/kitchen/
    “selling”. WE – people who believe in and are               teenagers room? The answer may depend upon your
    practitioners of VM – think that it is very important to    product offer, your space, your store BRAND, your
    show your products in a way that makes the shopping         competition. Personally, whenever and wherever
    process simple, easy and convenient for the shoppers.       possible, I would opt for or recommend the “end use”
    It is important that the products are shown at their        approach because it is the best and most convenient
    best – in the best possible way – so that the shopper
    can find or locate them in the store, look/study/           “Two different stores, using very
    compare the product, make a selection, and then
                                                                different approaches, are successfully
                                          purchase the
                                          desired product.      SHOWING TO SELL by presenting
                                          THAT is basically     their products by ‘end use.’”
                                          what VM is all
                                          about!                and customer-comfortable way to shop and can also
                                                                include any of the other ways of showing
                                          How you SHOW
                                                                merchandise listed above. Also, it is the most assured
                                          can affect how
                                                                way to get “add-on” sales. By showing the “go-with”
                                          you SELL. How you
                                                                products that compliment and complement the
                                          arrange your
                                                                product, it makes purchasing these items simpler as
                                          product offer...
                                                                well. I will explain.
                                          which product is
                                          featured, which       However (or BUT), there are different ways to show
                                          are adjacent to it,   “end use” in a store. How you use it will depend upon
                                          where it is located   YOUR BRAND, YOUR LOCATION, YOUR CLIENTELE, YOUR
                                          and what signage      PRODUCT OFFER, and whatever it is that makes YOU—
                                          or information is     YOU-NIQUE! So, now it is time for SHOW & TELL, and we
                                          provided...all        will explain by showing how two different stores, using
                                          make a difference.    very different approaches, are successfully SHOWING
                                          Do you arrange by     TO SELL by presenting their products by “end use.” One
                                          color? All blue       store is located in a centuries-old converted barn in a
                                          items clustered       remote part of Finland, while the other is in a new,
                                          together – all the    contemporary mall in a major city in Turkey. Both are
                                          red items in a        previous gia winners.
                                          group – no matter
                                                                Loviisan Aitta in Rusko, Finland is the dream-come-true
                                          where or what
                                                                of the artist Helena Aho and her architect husband.
                                          they are used for?
                                                                Together they have created an exciting retail space
                                          Or, do you
                                                                filled with areas or “rooms” loaded with interesting and
                                          arrange by
                                                                unique textures, architectural features and strange
                                          brand? Or by

12 innovation • design • trends • inspiration
nooks and crannies. The mer-               offer in end-use settings, but with a
chandise seems to have been                difference. She has no real
“tossed” together in a very casual         architectural features or details to
manner that says to an adven-              work with, just a long, narrow
turous shopper, “Come in and see           space with lots of open back
if this will be your lucky day.” It is     windows. The floor is set up with
like going on a “treasure hunt”            recessed areas that are
where you are guaranteed to be a           introduced by a graphic and sign
winner. On the bed, strewn with            as to what might be found inside.
color-coordinated items and                Some of the end-use areas that
surrounded by all sorts of possible        feature the Karaca line of fabrics
“go with” things and rehabbed              and bed linens and go-with
furniture that serve as fixtures but       products include: Baby, Teenagers,
are also for sale...a special              Country, Traditional, Bath, Basic
product is “hidden” for the daring         and Modern.
shopper. This is a very special
                                           What makes Ms. Demirtepe’s
shopping experience that will
                                           presentation different is it is neat,
satisfy shoppers willing to venture
                                           orderly, and carefully planned so
way out into the country—making
                                           that the shopper can see the
an excursion into the past to find
                                           details as well as the overall effect.
products for the future. Though it
                                           Great care is taken to show off the
might seem confusing or too
                                           pattern, color and design of the           clearly visible, easy to pick up and
haphazard a presentation for
                                           bed linens, the duvets, pillows and        load into the shopping cart. And
some, for others it is great fun and
                                           such. Sometimes, in a linen chest          this type of end-use form of VM
a great way to “discover” things.
                                           at the foot of the beautifully             has another great advantage to
As Helena Aho said, “From the very
                                           made-up bed, there will be a               the retailer. Since some of the “go-
beginning, our brand was based
                                           lovely color/pattern coordinated           with” items will or can go with
on a very romantic and mystic
                                           display of bath towels. On the             other major products, the retailer
style. We are very well known for
                                           back wall of the niche or area are         can show the same item in several
our uniqueness, and that is what
                                           shelves neatly lined with a                different places in the store thus
we owe our success to.”
                                           carefully edited selection of              increasing the item’s visibility and
Ayşe Demirtepe, the VM director           bedroom accessories that will              opportunity for add-on sales.
for the Karaca Home store located          enhance the ambiance of the
in the new, up-scaled mall in              room and complement the                    Which, IF either, is right for you?
Istanbul, also shows her product           selected color/pattern of the              Maybe one or the other or neither
                                                              linens. Though          or some mixture of the two. Your
                                                              this shopping           VM depends on YOUR BRAND,
                                                              experience may          YOUR PRODUCT OFFER, YOUR
                                                              not have “the           LOCATION, YOUR CLIENTELE and
                                                              thrill of discovery,”   who or where is YOUR
                                                              it makes up for it      COMPETITION. Whatever your
                                                              with selection          decision, make it YOURS and
                                                              and time saved.         remember that YOU are a major
                                                              The options are         part of YOU-NIQUE. ■

                                         innovation • design • trends • inspiration 13
EMOTIVE
      RETAILING
                                                                                    Retail is not just about
                                                                                    selling things—it’s about
                                                                                    emotionally engaging
                                                                                    potential customers,
                                                              by Michelle Hespe
                                                                                    bringing them into your story
                                                                                    and helping to make their
      T
           he point of sale is, of course,
           the aim of a retailer. However,
           just as the journey is often                                             dreams come true, explains
      more important and fulfilling than                                            retail expert and gia judge,
      the destination, the selling of a
      product is the part of the process                                            Wolfgang Gruschwitz.
      where emotion is the strongest,
      believes retail expert Wolfgang
      Gruschwitz. “After all, 90 percent of
      all products are bought
                                                                                  bring more people into our store?’”
      spontaneously rather than
                                                                                  Wolfgang says, going on to explain
      purchased after planning, so there
                                                                                  that the problem often lies in one
      has to be a lot of emotion involved
                                                                                  commonality: their lack of focus on
      before the point of sale is reached,”
                                                                                  inspiring potential customers. “The
      he says.
                                                                                  non-verbal facet of communication
      Wolfgang has been working in the retail industry for      is the key to how a customer feels and what
      over three decades—collaborating with big brands          motivations lie in that customer’s brain. This ‘brain
      such as Burberry and Zara. He works across many           script’—in other words, what the person is thinking
      varied aspects of retail, but with a focus on inno-       —is the emotional touch point.”
      vation, in architecture, design, branding, marketing
                                                                Wolfgang believes that the evolution occurring
      and how they all come together to create an
                                                                now in retail—it could actually be seen as a
      emotional, engaging retail space.
                                                                revolution—is that people are going back to
      “We are always asked by retailers all over the world,     craving more basic human contact and are
      ‘what can we do to increase sales?’ ‘How can we           looking for emotional experiences.

                                                                                                     EDEKA Ernst, Garching near Munich
14   innovation • design • trends • inspiration
Jaguar Land Rover Deutschland GmbH

“It is an evolution from the ‘touch-
pad’ (iPads, phones, computers) to
the ‘touch point’ (physically
touching and reaching a
consumer emotionally),” he
explains.“It’s a journey from ‘re-
tailing’ to ‘emo-tailing,’ because the
selling of products in the modern
world is no longer the core of a
retail business. The consumer is
becoming a pro–sumer (someone
loaded with knowledge from the
internet) and the retailer is now the
motivator, the entertainer of
consumers in a store.”

It’s this entertainment, offering the
consumer an experience within a
store, that will make them come
back and hopefully create the
loyalty that retailers need from a
customer to make their business
a success.

The enormous amount of
knowledge that consumers now
often have when they enter a store
has changed the game of
retailing. People are more informed
                                         an emotional highlight
these days because product
                                         for the client, and that
information is available and free in
                                         feeling of learning
the “cloud” all over the world.
                                         something, of gaining
“This is where there are new             something, is
emotional points for the retailer to     connected to the
discover,” Wolfgang says. “We have       emotions—the brain
to create more services out of and       of the client. That’s
around that product line, and this       emotive retailing.”
can also cost money, but why
                                         Wolfgang is talking
not? For example, take cooking
                                         about neuro-market-
classes that people pay for. The
                                         ing. Which is, in
expertise on how to use a pan
                                         essence, what
correctly to gain more efficiency
                                         marketing is—it’s
and better results is what they
                                         about sending out
might actually be after. It could be
                                                                              Middle and bottom Tegernsee Arkaden GmbH

                                       innovation • design • trends • inspiration 15
EMOTIVE RETAILING                                                               continued

      a message that connects with the way someone                into these emotions—these thoughts and dreams—
      thinks and feels. And now with social media and, in         and suggest a waterproofing spray to the customer
      particular, things such as YouTube playing such a           to protect the shoes. Emotionally, the customer might
      major role in business and life in general, education is    already be attached to those shoes, and so want
      now often combined with entertainment (edu-                 them to last.
      tainment).“The integration of edu-tainment in the
                                                                  “Just by touching those shoes and picturing himself
      selling process can result in a retailer having
                                                                  in them, in the forest, has meant that there is an
      emotional leadership,” he says.
                                                                  emotional connection created,” Wolfgang says. “That
      And although the selling is the crucial part of the         is human behavior. If we hold something in our hands,
      process, Wolfgang stresses that retailers also need to      we are picturing it as ours already.”
      offer emotion at the point of sale, or they will miss a
                                                                  Combining one retail store, fashion for example, with
      great opportunity to set themselves apart from what
                                                                  another type of place, such as a café, is another form
      a customer can gain on the internet.“In a brick and
                                                                  of emotional retailing. The retailer has created a nice
      mortar store, there can be eye contact, a smile from
                                                                  space for the customer to be in, so emotionally they
      the person who stands next to us. There are multi-
                                                                  are relaxed, enjoying the space with a coffee and
      sensual aspects directly affecting the environment
                                                                  they might see a dress and imagine themselves
      where a person is buying, so to retain their interest
                                                                  wearing it. It is the same approach with wine and
      and gain their loyalty, emotion needs to play a big
                                                                  food bars in a homewares store. It’s the creation of a
      role in the process,” he explains.
                                                                  hospitable environment that helps the retailer to sell
      To illustrate his point, an example of emotional            more products.
      retailing can be the simple sale of a pair of shoes.
                                                                  “It’s not only brick and mortar stores that are taking
      Imagine a potential buyer is looking at a pair of
                                                                  a more emotional approach to retailing,” says
      hiking shoes at a store such as Patagaonia. He
                                                                  Wolfgang. “Online stores also need to become more
      imagines himself walking through the forest, over
                                                                  dynamic, and have more emotional touch points to
      rocky outcrops and fallen branches, perhaps in the
                                                                  remain relevant. They need to be thinking of social
      rain. If the retailer is being innovative, they would tap
                                                                  events, pop-up stores and new marketing channels.”

                                                                                         Weber-Stephen Deutschland GmbH, Ingelheim
16   innovation • design • trends • inspiration
THE EMOTIONAL
                                         RETAIL GAME
                                                                                                     by Michelle Hespe
He uses Amazon as an example.
Last year the company bought a
40,000 square meter old

                                         M
                                                    ost people enjoy
warehouse style space in                            lingering in nice             There are many
London, and created an                              surroundings that give        convoluted
enormous photo shoot and                 them fresh inspiration. However,
                                                                                  dimensions when
casting studio. There were               focusing on only this element of
catwalk shows around the clock,          emotional retailing is not going to
                                                                                  it comes to creating
with dresses on models, aspiring         lead to ongoing success.                 a special retail
models and normal people. It             Besides a location’s comfort,            experience, and
was about bringing things                understanding a potential
                                                                                  while Wolfgang
Amazon sold online into an               customer’s lifestyle is crucial to
exciting, dynamic environment            modern retailing, and it is the crux
                                                                                  Gruschwitz believes
that would stimulate emotions            of omni-channel retailing.               that the emotional
and thus encourage sales.                Because, if you don’t understand         dimension is the
                                         the way your customers live, you
So, whether you want to see it as                                                 key to enticing a
                                         might not be using the right
an evolution, or the return of some
                                         channels to reach and engage
                                                                                  consumer into
good old-fashioned values and
                                         them. And you might not be telling       purchasing products,
approaches, retail is going
                                         a story that appeals to them.            today it’s also about
through another big change that
has been largely caused by the           In a recent talk at EuroShop, the        understanding a
online world.                            international retail fair in             customer’s lifestyle
“As I have said, the retailer needs
                                         Düsseldorf, Wolfgang addressed a         choices in order to
                                         new way of retailing with his talk
to become an entertainer, and                                                     create a strong story
                                         on #PerfectStore. What is a
the store has to provide not only
                                         #PerfectStore you ask? Thanks to
                                                                                  for your brand, and
goods per square meter but also
                                         mom-and-pop brick-and-mortar             a #PerfectStore.
emotions per square meter,”
                                         stores, we know that perfect is not
Wolfgang says. “Excite your
                                         about one thing, such as style, the
customers, speak to their positive                                              retail journey. “The secret to
                                         type of products stocked or the
emotions and you will be the hero                                               successful retailing lies within
                                         price of products.“Perfect” is a
in their story because you will sell                                            potential clients’ minds,”
                                         subjective notion because to
them something that is in their                                                 Wolfgang says. “It’s about their
                                         achieve it in retailing, you need to
dreams and something that they                                                  ideas and emotions, and so more
                                         respond to the specific needs of
are emotionally attached to. As a                                               than ever, storytelling in retail is
                                         your potential customers by
retailer, with your skill, talent,                                              essential.” And as a retailer today,
                                         paying attention to their local
experience and knowledge, you                                                   you need to create an authentic
                                         environment and the life they lead.
are the master of the emotional                                                 story across a range of channels:
                                         What do they like and what do
touch-points in your store. Use                                                 on your website, in your physical
                                         they want? That’s what a retailer
them well, and you will sell.” ■                                                store, across your social media
                                         always needs to be thinking.
                                                                                and your marketing. “And while
To learn more about Wolfgang                                                    doing this, be careful never to
Gruschwitz and the projects of           Great retailing is about creating
Gruschwitz GmbH, visit                   and orchestrating a customer’s         lose sight of the clients’ point of
www.gruschwitz.de.

                                       innovation • design • trends • inspiration 17
THE EMOTIONAL RETAIL GAME continued

      view because you are appealing         targets. They need to grab their      somewhere a little bit cheaper.
      to their emotions to sell your         potential customers’ attention.       And it’s not just about the
      products,” he adds. “Your shop still   They are in a perfect location, but   products – it’s about how they are
      won’t be perfect, but you will         they still need to sell their wares   marketed. It’s about how
      have created interest                                                                       emotionally
      and attracted your
      target group to come
                                  “To emotionally attract a customer,                             attached a person
                                                                                                  becomes to the
      inside or go online             you need to understand their                                way that a
      and discover your                                                                           product is sold.
      store. You are inviting    lifestyle and what makes them tick.”
                                                                                                  Again, it all
      them to like your
                                                                                                  comes back to
      brand, your story.”                    and understand what their target
                                                                                   how you tell a story. You need to
                                             market wants. The #PerfectStore
      Here is a simple analogy to show                                             convey a comprehensive overall
                                             needs to attract a buyer’s
      that nothing has changed when                                                impression that is consistent

      it comes to attracting customers.      attention. It’s not all about price   online, in your store, across
      Picture the floating markets in the    anymore, as thanks to the             social channels and everywhere
      Mekong Delta or a sausage sizzle       saturation of products available      else. “Too much uniformity,
      stand at a stadium during a            online and the ease at which we       however, quickly seems old-
      soccer game. The people selling        can find and research products,       fashioned and boring to people
      products have to focus on their        everything can usually be found       thinking in a new way. So

18   innovation • design • trends • inspiration
instead, focus on the evolution
of a story. Take your customers
on a journey by making them
love your story. And remember,
the more authentic your story is,
the more successful your
concept will be,” Wolfgang says.

Creating #PerfectStore is not a
one-model-fits-all formula, but
there are some things to keep in
mind. Visiting a local, physical
shop is still attractive to             and digitalize them. Then you            understand their lifestyle and
customers, because they might           need to put the pieces back              what makes them tick. Once you
love the atmosphere of the store        together in a new way. This              do, you can begin to tell a story
and it might give them new ideas,       process is called disruption. It’s all   that will lure them in and connect
inspiration and even a sense of         about setting up your tower,             them with your brand. Once they
belonging to a community. In the        engaging in some segmentation            are connected to your brand,
real world, it’s all about creating     and analysis and then rebuilding         they will be interested in your
an event or an experience — a           it. Build, adapt, learn and survive.     ongoing story and this creates
reason for someone to go                                                         loyalty. When you create loyalty,
shopping; while in the virtual          To conclude, it doesn’t matter if
                                                                                 you create ongoing sales. And
world, online, it’s all about           your store is real or virtual – there
                                                                                 that is the aim of the retailing
convenience, things like 24/7           are always emotions involved in
                                                                                 game. ■
availability and an excellent           retailing — and to emotionally
delivery service. “Combine how          attract a customer, you need to
you would approach creating an
online store to how you would
approach creating a physical
store, and you have the perfect
match — you can create totally
new experiences for the
customer,” he says.

And always look at ways of
reinventing what you do to stay
ahead of the game. Think of a
big JENGA tower – the tower is
aesthetically appealing and it
conveys safeness, like a rock,
because it is complete. If your
retail store is a game of JENGA,
you need to pull out some
elements (blocks), analyze them

                                      innovation • design • trends • inspiration 19
Creating an
      Emotive Space
                                                                                                   Terri Winter is
                                                                                                   the co-owner
                                                                                                   and founder of
                                                                                                   retail store
                                                                                                   top3 by design
                                                                           by Terri Winter         in Australia.

      I
          nterior design elicits an emotive response. You can feel
          energized, calm or cocooned in a space based largely
          on the choice of color.

      Color
      Using color and texture can affect the emotions of visitors to your store
      or to your home. Explore the opportunity to create various moods in
      different areas of your store and encourage customers to do the same
      in their own homes with these simple color guidelines.

      The colors:

      Blue: Calm, fresh and relaxing. Light blues bring an open feeling of the
      blue skies and oceans. Darker tones can be more rich and cocooning.

      Red: Passion, power and strength. Red raises the pulse and heart rate.
      Toned-back versions are intimate and when paired with low lighting are
      romantic. Deep reds can make a space feel intimate and luxurious.                            Muuto Dots
                                                                                                   Get playful with a neutral backdrop and place colored
      Orange: Energy, vibrancy and innovation. Use sparingly or muted in living                    elements against it.
      spaces to avoid overwhelming the space.

      Purple: Spiritual, luxe and creative. Deep tones of purples are decadent.

      Yellow: Although it can be sunny and fresh, yellow should be used
      sparingly and with careful consideration to the tone. A lot of yellow can
      be stressful and may cause anxiety.

                                                                    Green: Calming and yet
                                                                    energizing. A great color to
                                                                    use in areas that relate to
                                                                    the outside – for example
                                                                    a living room space pro-
                                                                    viding views of a forest,
                                                                    a lawn area or to an
                                                                    apartment patio with
                                                                    plants. Add real plants
                                                                    rather than actual color
   Normann Copenhagen                                               in paint or product to be
   Bold use of color can give life to a small space that might      calming and creative.
   otherwise be simply bland. Add simple graphic objects, and you
   immediately have a creative vibe.                                                                Skagerak Georg series
                                                                                                    Too much white can be sterile. Combine white with soft natural
                                                                                                    elements to keep it fresh and clean, but more welcoming.

20 innovation • design • trends • inspiration
The neutrals
                                                                                                                   then play around with utilizing
                                                                                                                   many tones and variations of your
                                                                   Gray: Gives a sense of relaxation               chosen color.

                                                                                                                   Objects of
                                                                   and serenity. Use gray in spaces like
                                                                   home offices or bathrooms.

                                                                   Black: Bold and graphic. Use black              meaning
                                                                   to create structure.
                                                                                                                   Color is not the only way to elicit
                                                                   White: White on its own is sterile.             emotion in a space – your choice
                                                                   There are hundreds of variations of             of décor objects adds the finishing
                                                                   white, and layering various tones               touches.
                                                                   gives you a very calm and serene
                                                                                                                   Personal objects such as vases with
                                                                   space. Too much use of bright pure
                                                                                                                   fresh flowers, photo frames or small
                                                                   white will feel sterile.
                                                                                                                   whimsical objects that nod to your
                                 Missoni Home Bath series          As a general rule, no room should               personality create emotive spaces.
    Use natural textures and materials and offset with pops of     ever really be a single color. Even if          Books indicate your taste and style –
    coordinating colors to have a relaxing space that is not
    pedestrian. A neutral palette gives you the flexibility to     you are going one color popping                 architectural books, cooking books
    modify the space to suit the season or your mood. Add                                                          or fashion magazines immediately
    neutral tones to achieve more of a serene look (as above)
                                                                   against neutrals, go for various
    or add pops of color to quickly and easily add some            tones of your selected color rather             add your personality to a space. ■
    energy whilst still maintaining a sense of serenity.
                                                                   than all the same. Create your own              To learn more about top3 by design,
                                                                   blends and you will have a truly                visit www.top3.com.au.
            Brown: A great décor color – with
                                                                   emotive space.
            natural derivatives, it’s nurturing
            and is great to evoke conversation,                    But, a single color can be a very
            nesting and a feeling of belonging.                    deliberate statement choice – which
                                                                   can be a fantastic way to
                                                                   create impact in a small
                                                                   space, for example. A bold
                                                                   choice of a color does
                                                                   make a space memorable.
                                                                   If you blend colors, you
                                                                   can control the emotion
                                                                   and avoid creating a
                                                                   space that is screaming at
                                                                   you when you walk in.

                                                                   Choose a focus tone,
                                                                   keeping in mind the
                                                                   emotion suitable to the
                                                                   space. Then, accent with
                                                                   colors and complementary
                                                                   tones. If you choose a key
                                                                   color – unless you are
                                                                   preparing a particular          Muuto Outline Sofa
                                                                   emotive, bold statement –       Materials like leather will add luxe to any space, and if you pair
                                                                                                   it back with deep rich tones, you create a space with very
                                                                                                   grownup grace.
Skagerak Georg series
To create a space that is calm and tranquil, stick to a muted
palette of natural timbers and soft “non-colors” that don’t jump
out at you.
                                                                   innovation • design • trends • inspiration 21
Design Stars:
      Design Highlights from the gia Product Design Awards

              iscover Design, the premier design destination   At the 2017 Show, several

      D       at the International Home + Housewares Show,
              offers a collection of companies showcasing
      the latest designs found in housewares. Exhibitors are
                                                               exhibitors from Discover
                                                               Design were selected
                                                               finalists in the IHA Global
      based on recommendations from and approval by            Innovation Awards (gia) for

                       Best Product Design – Global Honorees
      the retail and design community.                         Product Design Excellence.

               Kitchen Hand Tools + Cutlery                                      Kitchenware

                    Helix Citrus Juicer                               GEFU Sprouting Jar Bivita

                         Joseph Joseph                                     Gourmet Kitchen Works
                        www.josephjoseph.com                                  www.gourmetkitchenworks.com

                      Personal Electrics                                            Tabletop

                   Touchless Foaming                                        Pino Wine Glass
                     Soap Dispenser

                             KOHLER                                                 Magisso
                           www.kohler.com                                        www.magisso.com

22   innovation • design • trends • inspiration
Best Product Design – Finalists
BATH & PERSONAL CARE                        KITCHEN HAND TOOLS & CUTLERY

Hang Up                                     Shy
Luckies of London                           Bergamaschi & Vimercati
www.luckiesoflondon.com                     www.viceversa.it

CLEANING                                    KITCHENWARE

Do-Dish™ Caddy                              Ittl tumbler

Bosign                                      GBMC Products Inc. DBA Ittl
www.bosign.com                              www.lttlny.com

COOK & BAKEWARE                             KITCHENWARE

Giacomina                                   The Prep,
                                            Rolling Mortar
Munus International
www.munusinternational.it                   JIA
                                            www.jia-inc.com

COOK & BAKEWARE                             PET PRODUCTS

the stasher cooker                          AutoDogMug PURE

Stasher                                     Highwave
www.stasherbag.com                          www.highwave.com

HOME DÉCOR & GIFTS                          TABLETOP

Lovely Breeze                               OnEdge

Alessi                                      Chilewich
www.alessi.com                              www.chilewich.com

HOME DÉCOR & GIFTS                          TABLETOP

Bird Nesting Box                            Salad Bowl with
                                            Removable Wood Trivet
Eva Solo
www.evasolo.com                             Sagaform
                                            www.sagaform.us

HOME DÉCOR & GIFTS

Self Watering Orchid Pot
                                             For more information about Discover Design, visit
                                             www.housewares.org/discover-design.

Eva Solo
                                             For more information about the 2017 IHA Global

www.evasolo.com
                                             Innovation Awards for Product Design Excellence,
                                             visit www.housewares.org/gia-product

                                innovation • design • trends • inspiration 23
From the World of Design and Fashion                                                Michelle Hespe speaks
                                                                                        to Richard Joseph, one

    Richard and                                                                         of the brothers behind
                                                                                        the Joseph Joseph
                                                                                        brand, which beautifully
    Antony Joseph                                                                       fuses form, functionality
                                                                                        and fun.

                                                                 by Michelle Hespe

    I
      n 2003, twin brothers Richard and Antony Joseph            approached them, explained that she loved their
      launched their now hugely popular design brand,            products and wanted to buy them but was only
      Joseph Joseph. Today, they have 125 employees              permitted to purchase pieces relevant to her
    and offices in the U.K., U.S., Japan, France and             department, and so could not sign up for the
    Germany. Both brothers are designers by trade, and           range if the mug and clock were included.
    even after 14 years in the business, they are still living
                                                                 Rather than letting that buyer go, as many might do,
    and breathing their innovative brand and are always
                                                                 the brothers arrived at a decision that would remain
    hands-on in their London office where they work in an
                                                                 at the core of the Joseph Joseph ethos.“We decided
    open plan design with 70 people.
                                                                 that we’d concentrate on being great at one thing, or
    To the dynamic duo, Joseph Joseph has always been            a few things, and do it better than our competitors,”
    about having a clever, meticulously considered               Richard explains. So they dropped the mug and the
    approach to design. Their products often take years          clock, and sold the buyer the chopping board and
    to develop and perfect, but their firm’s focus on going      serving dish, and that’s how Joseph Joseph cemented
    far and beyond is what keeps them ahead of others.           its place in a saturated kitchenware market.

    The brothers are, without a doubt, perfectionists. They’re
    cool, too, and know what looks good in the home.
    And their products are unmistakable, with a signature
    deep lime green applied to many of them. All of the
    products that the brothers create fashionably fuse
    form, function and a great sense of fun – and they
    make people smile, they’re so bright and cheery.

    The streamlined Joseph Joseph approach to design             Joseph Joseph is synonymous with fashion, the colorful
    was established from the outset after the brothers           pieces bringing bright splashes of color and innovative
    created their first range, which included a chopping         shapes to the home. However, Richard and Antony
    board, serving dish, mug and clock. Buyers had to            avoid trends.“If we followed trends, our approach
    purchase the items as a set. A kitchenware buyer             wouldn’t work as we spend so long developing a

24 innovation • design • trends • inspiration
product that the trend we might         everywhere—yes, in design, but        bin that will be released soon is
have been following would be            also in fashion, architecture,        a compaction bin and it takes
gone by the time we made it to          exhibitions, shows and films.         90 liters of waste. Nothing comes
market,” explains Richard.“Instead,     Everyone on our team is really into   into contact with the waste, so
we focus on the useful. We look         getting out there, learning and       it’s really hygienic. It took us
for problems that people face           absorbing. Antony and I won’t go      three years to develop, and it’s
and we find a solution that is          to a cook-shop for inspiration,       very satisfying knowing that we
useful to them. Then the product        however you might find us in a DIY    got it right.”
has longevity.”                         store or at busy flea
                                        market, antique store,
            When it comes to
                                        or in a design
            gathering inspiration
                                        museum.”
            for new products,
            Richard says that you       Their heavy
                        won’t find      investment in research
                        anyone on       and development is
                        the team        one of the main ways
                        sitting at a    that the brothers stay
                        desk            on top of their game.
                        Googling        “Our big point of
                        products        difference, in our
                        and ideas.      design and in our
                        “We find        approach, is
                        inspiration     researching particular
                                        categories and
                                        looking for problems
                                        to solve,” says Richard.
                                        “For instance, our new

                                       innovation • design • trends • inspiration 25
Richard and Antony Joseph continued
      As many Joseph Joseph products are simplistic in            collateral. There’s video, social media teasers, and
      form, they’re an easy target for copycats. Thus the         everything has to be themed consistently with the
      brothers have an ongoing issue with companies               launch. There is huge expectation, but that’s also
      stealing their designs. “Copying is part and parcel         exciting, and through new technology, it’s so easy to
      of industry—it’s the ugly side of it,” says Richard. “We    communicate.”
      have zero tolerance for it—we go after them, and so
                                                                  So the question is, with so many Joseph Joseph
      unfortunately there’s usually a court case going on
                                                                  products out there to love, does Richard have a
      in the background. However, it’s the consumer that
                                                                  favorite? “My all-time favorite is one of our first
      loses out because the copy is always the cheaper
                                                                  products—the folding chopping board,” he says. “It
      version, made with poor materials. The copy has
                                                                  sums up what we do: it’s simple and highly functional.
      had no money spent on the research and develop-
                                                                  It does exactly what it’s supposed to do, and that’s
      ment, and so the consumer ends up buying a
                                                                  the beauty of it.”
      poorer product and then they are disappointed
      with their purchase.”                                       Richard and Antony are very grateful to be in an
                                                                  industry that inspires them, and in a business that
      Richard says that the way retail was when they started
                                                                  improves people’s lives, product by product. “We
      out is barely recognizable in regard to what it is today.
                                                                  love this business,” Richard says. “Happiness is
      “The Internet has opened up growth channels for
                                                                  coming up with a new idea, taking a risk in
      everyone,” he explains.“Once, we were just a
                                                                  development and then having a customer loving
      wholesale business supplying products to retailers.
                                                                  the end product.” ■
      Today, one of the challenges is how to be successful
      as an Omni-channel retailer. You need click and             For more information on
      collect facilities and have top online capabilities.        Joseph Joseph, visit www.josephjoseph.com

      “When we launch products, everything happens so
      much faster—there is still the same launch in-store,
      but then there’s social, website marketing, and all of
      that is much faster and there is so much more

26   innovation • design • trends • inspiration
Discovering Design:                                                                      IHA speaks with
                                                                                         Laura Perri, senior
                                                                                         manager, digital
                                                                                         content and brand
                                                                                         marketing at Nambé,
                                      by Vicki Matranga, Design Programs + Services,     to hear about the
                                                International Housewares Association
                                                                                         latest developments
                                                                                         at the company known
IHA: Laura, where does Nambé find inspiration in               We then work with         for its trendsetting
designing new products?                                        our designers to
                                                                                         tableware and
                                                               create concept
LP: We work with leading designers around the world
                                                               and technical
                                                                                         gift items.
to create products that bring style and function into
                                                               drawings, which we
the home. Our designers find inspiration at every turn.
                                                               then forward on to
For example, our Drift collection, a new introduction in
                                                               our manufacturers
glass for the 2017 International Home + Housewares
                                                               to assess whether
Show, was inspired by sand drifts in the desert. Our
                                                               the item can be
Cabo collection takes a more rustic, beachy
                                                               manufactured and
approach, and POP introduces color.
                                                               if it is cost-effective
IHA: Are there any specific designers, places or               to produce.
eras that influence you?
                                                               IHA: How do you
LP: Nambé just recently celebrated its 65th anniversary        identify the key
and has certainly been influenced by many designers            user audience for
over the years. Nambé’s design aesthetic remains true          your products?
to its heritage, creating products that embrace mid-
                                                               LP: Nambé pieces
century modern design. Nambé products maintain a
                                                               make wonderful
modern appeal, yet they’re still timeless. Pieces like the
                                                               gifts, entertaining
Butterfly Bowl have been in our collection since it was
                                                               essentials and
first introduced in 1957.
                                                               home accents. We put a focus on products that are
IHA: How do you choose which idea to take to                   functional and stylish. The key user appreciates both
development?                                                   and has an eye for good design. The items are
                                                               often passed down from one generation to
LP: There are several factors to consider when thinking        the next.
about new product development. We look at our
current collection and look for
gaps in the existing
assortment, whether it be for
function, price or material. This
often leads us down a path worth
exploring. We’ll also conduct some informal
market research to see what’s trending.

                                      innovation • design • trends • inspiration 27
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