Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Steamer Trading Cookshop owner and director Ben Phillips and chief executive officer Mark Saunders will take to the stage next month as headline speakers at a housewares forum organised by BHETA (British Home Enhancement Trade Association).
The duo will outline the specialist chain’s ‘strategic direction and focus over the coming months’ at the event, which will be held on November 9 at BHETA’s headquarters in central Birmingham,
According to BHETA, Ben and Mark will also present their views on the current market, the latest consumer trends and internet trading. The pair will highlight opportunities for suppliers too, divulging how suppliers can ‘best benefit from developing their trading relationships with Steamer’.
Other speakers at the forum include Keith Warren, director of CESA (Catering Equipment Suppliers Association), who will give an overview of the foodservice sector. His presentation will cover the number of catering outlets by sector, the reseller/distributor structure, and the key influences on the sale of products. Keith will also identify the main players in the supply of product, and suggest how suppliers can identify the best routes to market in terms of exhibitions and events.
Eric Churet, business development manager of Sedex, will provide background on this global not-for-profit membership organisation, which claims to be ‘home to the world’s largest collaborative platform for sharing responsible sourcing data on supply chains’.
Sedex is used by more than 40,000 members in over 150 countries to manage their performance around labour rights, health & safety, the environment and business ethics. BHETA said: ‘Increasingly retailers will only stock products that have been sourced through a supply chain that meets all the current standards – and endorsement from Sedex can make the difference between listing or no listing.’
CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) project director Susan Oxley and principal case officer Nadia Muhammad will discuss the role of this government-appointed body. CMA is an independent non-ministerial department that works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers, both within and outside the UK. It has wide-ranging powers to act against and penalise any restrictive practice (including distribution and pricing) which is against the interests of the public.
BHETA housewares sector director Will Jones commented: “This is an excellent line-up of speakers, specifically chosen to highlight opportunities in the industry and stimulate debate on a number of current key issues.”
Will himself will review BHETA’s latest developments and initiatives, and give an update on the ‘Amazon post-event member survey’. This is a reference to the BHETA networking forum held in April when two category leaders from the ecommerce giant featured as guest speakers.
Applications to attend the forum, which includes refreshments and a networking lunch, should be made to Dawn Clarke of the BHETA member services team on dc@bheta.co.uk or 0121 237 1130.
