Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
BHETA’s next retailer networking forum will have a significant focus on sustainability in the DIY sector in terms of buying trends, product development and packaging.
The event, which takes place at BHETA’s headquarters in central Birmingham on February 26, will also feature a presentation from Joseph Bill, associate director of Wayfair, outlining the online homeware retailer’s expansion into DIY, alongside its growing housewares and small domestic appliance offering.
Phil Pond, director of trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus, will provide insights into the hot topic of sustainability, eco-friendly goods and the advances in technology which are leading to manufacturing innovations, material recovery and product design.
BHETA said he will also ‘explore the implications for suppliers of increasing consumer frustration at the business world’s perceived slowness to own the challenge of sustainability. Quoting [economist and banker] Mark Carney who stated that “firms ignoring climate change will go bankrupt”, Phil will look at the potential of recycled materials for product and packaging manufacture; products which help consumers to create less waste; repurposing products and conservation gifting’.
Other speakers include Glynn Jones, deputy agent – West Midlands and Oxfordshire of the Bank of England, who will give an assessment of the outlook for the economy and retail, taking account of the UK’s departure from the European Union; Dachser business development manager Carolyn Hough; and Karina Kulichenko, project manager of FEDIYMA (European Federation of DIY Manufacturers). Karina will present insights from the recently published 2019 Global Home Improvement Report, which includes detailed information on 56 countries worldwide, including the top 10 DIY retailers in each country.
BHETA chief operating officer Will Jones commented: “Retailing in both DIY and housewares continues to move fast, driven by the evolution of different shopping habits, attitudes and beliefs at macro level and ever more advanced technology. This forum will provide BHETA members with an insight into the opportunities and implications.”
Refreshments will be provided on the day (including a networking lunch) which commences with registration at 9.30am. In the first instance, please register interest with BHETA member services manager Nicola Adams Brown on nab@bheta.co.uk.
