Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The Housewares Conference returned for its sixth year on Wednesday April 22 at a new venue: the Selsdon Park in Croydon.
Almost 200 delegates attended the event, which was chaired by BHETA (British Home Enhancement Trade Association) home enhancement sector director Will Jones. They were treated to a highly informative programme comprising eight presentations from industry speakers on the theme of ‘innovation’.
The day was organised by Datateam Business Media, publisher of Housewares Magazine and www.HousewaresLive.net, who hailed the event ‘a huge success’.
Thanks must go to all the speakers: Jeffrey Siegel, chairman and ceo of Lifetime Brands, Inc.; Yvonne Stinson, trading manager for homewares at Argos; Carol Paris, chief executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA); Tom Gill, creative director of Creative Media Solutions; Sebastian Conran, ceo of product design and development studio Sebastian Conran Associates; Shanker Patel, ceo of the Lords Group of Companies; retail consultant Guy Cattell; and Bruce Crane, co-owner of award-winning cookshop Loose’s of Norwich and founder of housewares distributor TiCCuk.
A key highlight of the day was a special feature called ‘The Street’, where delegates met and exchanged ideas during networking sessions and refreshment breaks.
They enjoyed watching cooking demonstrations by TV chef Malcolm Harradine and saw a selection of the latest products from sponsors, together with a table presentation of all the products shortlisted for the Housewares Innovation Awards 2015.
Delegates also had the chance to meet cooking legend Ken Hom OBE on the DKB Household stand, where he discussed his range of cookware and signed copies of his latest recipe book.
Commenting on the proceedings, Will Jones said: “The day was well organised and the presentations highlighted not only a number of challenges but also opportunities. It’s important that the housewares industry convenes on occasions such as this; the marketplace is changing and this needs to lead to closer working relationships between all those affected.”
For further details of the event, including a picture gallery, go to www.housewaresconference.co.uk.
