 |
| |
2008 May 6-8 Las Vegas
|
| |
CONTENTS:
FEATURE: Greener Pastures
RETAILER PROFILE: Der Kuchen Laden
GOOD REP:
Kay Hatterman
|
 |
STATS: Consumers Want Their Greens |
• According to NPD’s Retail Tracking Service, unit sales of Energy Star large appliances have increased 9 percent in the twelve months ending August this year, compared to the same time two years ago.
• Consumers over 55 were most interested in green home insulation products.
• Of consumers ages 18-34, 63 percent rate home insulation as important, and 62 percent rate major appliances as important green purchases.
Green merchandising tips
• Be careful what manufacturers you align with as there is a lot of skepticism around companies' claims of being "green" — in fact, our research shows that many perceive it as nothing more than marketing hype. The double-edged sword of merchandising to more educated, affluent consumers is that they are more likely to research companies' claims of "green" manufacturing. Five minutes on the internet can provide information that could hurt a company's "green" image — choose your vendor partners carefully.
• Be mindful of packaging. One of the biggest complaints that came directly from consumers we spoke with is that products are called out as being "green" but are surrounded with packaging made of plastic and Styrofoam. Some retailers have initiatives to reduce the amount of packaging associated with the products they sell. Consumers are watching so bear that in mind when selecting products for display.
Source: Mark Delaney, director, home improvement for NPD.
|
|
We are so happy to be able to continue to bring you a great source for environmentally friendly kitchen products. As you can see from our feature article, this is an important issue for all age ranges.
At the next Gourmet Housewares Show we have made it a priority to help you target those vendors. How? With highlighted directory listings, special signage, and we’ve added a whole new category to our Gourmet Golds Awards – one that features products that are eco-friendly. We have set up strict criteria that manufacturers have to meet in order to participate. Look for further press announcements!
Don’t just think green – be green!
Susan Corwin
vp and show manager
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| FEATURE: Greener Pastures |
 According to a new report from The NPD Group, Inc., a Port Washington, NY- based research group, nearly two-thirds of consumers surveyed believe it is important to purchase environmentally-friendly products for their homes.
But don’t look to the younger generation for this movement.
Instead the report shows that “green” home products are more important to consumers as they get older.
NPD found that consumers over 55 were the most interested in purchasing green home products.
“The information in the report is somewhat contrary to the belief that it’s the younger generation who is more concerned about going green. It may be that the older generation is now looking to leave the planet in better shape for their children and grandchildren,” says Mark Delaney, director, home improvement for NPD.
Price remains an important factor in purchase decisions, even as consumers opt to go green. While 38 percent of consumers say they are willing to pay more for environmentally-friendly products, 62 percent of the respondents interested in buying green products are not willing to pay more for them. The NPD report also found that consumers have a “healthy skepticism” around products claiming to be green.
“The issue here is education,” says Delaney. “Manufacturers and retailers need to take the time to educate the consumer on the benefits and long-term savings of eco-friendly products.”
Major appliances are the products consumers of all age groups considered the most important eco-friendly products.
|
|
| |
|
| |
Retailer Profile: Der Kuchen Laden
Fredricksburg, Texas |
Der Kuchen Laden is housed in a historic building
Peggy and Jerry Hughes run Der Kuchen Laden from a former medical building that housed both Peggy’s father’s and grandfather’s medical practices. The historic stone structure is now owned by Peggy and is located within a block of The National Museum of the Pacific War, a major tourist attraction for this Texas hill country town.
Appealing to this tourist base has been an important part of Hughes’ business strategy. While Der Kuchen Laden has been in Fredricksburg for 25 years, Hughes moved the store to its current location near the museum seven years ago. She’s seen a marked change in the clientele since the move, and says that change has directly impacted her product assortment.
“We are selling more kitchen textiles now,” Hughes says. “There are many bus tours that come through in this location and the World War II vets that come to the museum aren’t able to carry larger items but they still want to buy something. We always had good linen sales in our old location but when we moved here our linen sales went up.”
Selling Points
- Green thinking: Der Kuchen Laden carries recycled glassware, but at this point “green” products aren’t a major selling point for the store.
- High Tech: The recent addition of a point-of-sale system is the highest tech item in the store, says Hughes. “We aren’t real technological. I don’t have a scanning system for check out and my employees want to murder me for that, but I want a different atmosphere; I don’t want to be like a grocery store.”
- How Vendors Make a Difference: It is a huge help for our store to get some discounted or comped products so we can demo them. DeMeyere and Fissler do a great job of that in cookware and kitchenware, but we really have a hard time getting small electrics companies to supply product for demonstrations and that is a category where it is really needed.
|
| |
| |
| Good Rep: Kay Hatterman |
 Owner Source One Marketing,
Dallas, Texas
Kay Hatterman says putting a few free kitchenware products in the hands of specialty retailers is a vendor investment that pays off, because retailers then get a chance to personally learn about the benefits of the product. “While it might not work the first time around, if a manufacturer gets the product out there it shows that they have faith in the item because it is good,” Hatterman says. “If there is an open-to-buy, ours will be considered first because we had the product there for them to try."
|
|
| |
|
|
HAVE FUN!
Las Vegas is not just about gambling. You can visit a number of stunning natural sites in the region, including Valley of Fire, Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. Dedicated in 1935, the park gets its name from formations made by sand dunes that started shifting back in the age of the dinosaurs. Visitors can also find a 3,000 year-old petroglyph; stands of petrified wood; and rock art left by the ancient peoples who occupied the area around 300 B.C. Open daily from 8:30-4:30. For more information call 702-397-2088. |
| |
What Are Your Hot Topics? If you’d like us to address your specific concerns, please let me know at thyra_porter@glmshows.com or at 207-799-3473.
Thyra Porter, editor, Gourmet 365 |
| |
To register, or for the most up-to-date info, please visit www.thegourmetshow.com
|
|
|
| |
| |
 |
The Gourmet Housewares Show® is presented concurrently with Global Home Textiles®, and Global Home Décor® produced and managed by George Little Management LLC, a dmg world media company, and the National Hardware Show®, Lawn and Garden World® and the Homewares Show™ produced and managed by Reed Exhibitions. For more information on all our shows, visit www.glmshows.com.
To read previous issues of Gourmet 365, please click here. |
|
| |
|