Monday February 4 2019 THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM, BIRMINGHAM
to live within easy driving distance of four airports, so I can be flexible with my dates. I want to experience as many places while I can. If I could host a dinner party every week,
I would. Sadly I’m too busy but I love to cook and see my friends enjoy the fruits of my labour.
What’s the biggest issue facing the housewares industry? The complete lack of cooking ability and desire to cook in the younger generation. It’s a huge bugbear of mine. I’ve met far too many young adults for whom the thought of handling raw meat isn't something they want to do, let alone preparing a fish themselves! Look at all the semi-prepared vegetables and ingredients in supermarkets... Convenience is sometimes a good thing but it has a cost. This all leads to less folks being interested in investing in 'the right tools' for cooking, or even in cooking from scratch at all.
What are the biggest challenges facing retailers and suppliers? There is no avoiding the obvious here. The high street has faced sustained pressure over the last 10 years and is facing intense pressure now. First it was out-of-town shopping and
supermarkets encroaching on their markets. Now it’s the internet. On top of this, greedy landlords and rising wage costs make earning a living from a high street store harder than ever - and simply too much for some. Sadly we've lost some long established friends in recent years, with many others facing uncertain times. One day the Government will wake up and
wonder why all our towns look like a scene from a Zombie apocalypse. Oh yes, and then there is Brexit…ugh. In my opinion, the internet isn't the complete answer for fuelling innovation and
fresh ideas in retailing. It’s great if you know what you want, but if you’re seeking inspiration for something different in your kitchen or home, it’s never as good as browsing a store where you can touch, feel and ask questions. When things are tough and manufacturers
see turnover drop, they invest less in new things. So we end up surviving with the same old products, which get too widely sold at poor margins. Plus, penetration for anyone new is becoming the most difficult thing ever in the UK now.
“I actually think
there will be a role reversal in the
retailing industry”
What are the biggest opportunities facing retailers and suppliers? I actually think there will be a role reversal in the retailing industry. I think online-only retailers will want a bricks and mortar high street presence. This will address the browsing issue I mentioned, and also reduce the very high cost of returns. For smaller retailers: use the internet as another store. If you are not online, get online. Maybe reward those consumers who visit your store with a discount or free delivery if they purchase in-store. Also, experiences. People and families will come out if there is an experience to be had. Fortunately we work in an industry where we can offer a wide variety of hands on (and tasty)
comment
experiences for all to enjoy. Bake some bread or cupcakes in your store or find the nearest farmer's market and work with them. And social media is a huge - and mostly free - advertising tool.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the housewares industry? On the retailing and manufacturing side, I
know it’s tempting, but don't sell to Amazon. If you have to, sell on Amazon as a third party, make it your stock and maintain and set your retail prices. This helps everyone. From the supplier side: be honest with your
employees and customers. It will help you build long-standing relationships, which we all need to survive. Above all, smile and enjoy what you do and sell!
• Kam’s contact details are: Mobile: 07747020426 Email:
Kam@thesalesagent.co.uk Website:
www.thesalesagent.co.uk
The Guzzini Feeling Mug is “iconic, stylish, simple and comfortable” says Kam Loqueman
10 years ago this month in Housewares Magazine…
• Pyrex led a campaign to get Britain baking, with the launch of the inaugural National Baking Week from October 20-26, supported by celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager.
• Kitchens of Bath was nominated as ‘one of the100 best shops in the world’ in a survey by ‘Retail Week’ for having ‘real character and a very up to date range’. It ranked alongside Selfridges in Birmingham and Oxford Street, John Lewis on Oxford Street and Brown Thomas in Dublin.
• DKB planned a £2 million TV advertising campaign to promote the launch of three gadgets: Zyliss Multipeeler, Culinare One Touch Jar Opener and Culinare One Touch Can Opener.
• House of Fraser was set to unveil a new look home department with the opening of its 170,000sq ft store at Cabot Circus in Bristol on September 25, which anchored a new south-west shopping centre.
• John Lewis had just opened in the new Liverpool One retail and leisure development. The branch in the northern city’s centre was the third largest in the department store group’s portfolio, with 151,000sq ft of selling space over three floors.
• The best–selling housewares products at four independent retailers were: Kitchen Craft four-hole egg poacher(at Cooking Marvellous, Shrewsbury), CKS Colours silicone tools (Cookery Nook, Blackheath), OXO Good Grips potato ricer (Bentley Interiors, Bradford) and Kuhn Rikon Colori paring knife (The Cookery Emporium, Denby).
• Coffee machine manufacturer Gaggia was trialling its first town centre stand-alone shop at Maidstone in Kent.
July/August 2018
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Source: Housewares Magazine July 2008
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