Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
A Meet The Buyer retail networking day with homewares retailers TK Maxx and Homesense organised by BHETA (British Home Enhancement Trade Association) has been hailed as “a great success” by BHETA housewares sector manager Seema Grantham.
The event, which place on January 30 at the Mercure Hotel in the Hertfordshire town of Watford, saw a total of 47 appointments between 25 supplier companies and buyers. Each supplier was allocated a 20-minute appointment with the relevant buyer or buyers.
TK Maxx buyers from the kitchenware, dining & tabletop, cookshop, utility, laundry & cleaning and bathroom accessories categories attended, with a view to finding ‘great deals to start the year’.
Products were presented from across the categories, including picnic, BBQ and barware, reusable and recyclable items and small electrical products, as well as food preparation, cooking and serving, laundry, cleaning, storage and bathroom.
TK Maxx is a subsidiary of the US clothing and home goods giant TJX Companies which operates 515 stores in Europe. Founded in 1976, its first UK store opened in Bristol in 1994. Created as a budget retail concept but featuring well-known brands, it has latterly moved into a large department store format with a wider product range. Its ecommerce site launched in 2009. Homesense, which is part of the TK Maxx Group, launched in 2008. It operates 70 stores across the UK and Ireland, with more expected.
Commenting on the event, BHETA chief operating officer Will Jones said: “It was great to be able to provide members with an opportunity to meet the TK Maxx and Homesense buying team. These two retail brands have a significant share of the housewares sector, and a reputation for being good business partners.”
More details of BHETA’s events programme, which includes other Meet The Buyer events and networking forums with leading retailers, can be found at www.bheta.co.uk.
