Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Following the success of this year’s Housewares Conference & Innovation Awards, plans for the 2014 event are now well under way.
Scheduled for Wednesday March 26 2014, the event will combine the Housewares Innovation Awards for retailers and products, with The Housewares Conference.
It’s a programme that promises to be informative and inspirational – and with plenty of opportunities for networking.
The day is organised by Housewares Magazine and www.HousewaresLive.net.
Amongst speakers already signed up for the conference are Paul Britland, buyer for Wilkinson, who has worked in the housewares industry for more than 25 years. He will chart Wilkinson’s rise from its first store openings to the present day and give an insight into its supplier and product development plans for the future.
Also taking to the stage will be Anne Harrison, vice chairwoman of the Women’s Institute, who was recently one of the four judges on ITV’s ‘Food Glorious Food’ alongside Tom Parker Bowles, Stacie Stewart and Lloyd Grossman.
She will be joined in the line-up by Sam Kelly, a TSR director within the Retail and Technology division at market research company GfK, and Erol Sukan, business group director of GfK.
Other confirmed speakers are Katie King, managing director of PR and social media agency Zoodikers Consulting, John Ryan, who is Stores Editor of business magazine ‘Retail Week’ and Michael Weedon, deputy CEO and communications director of bira (British Independent Retailers Association).
The conference will be hosted by Will Jones, housewares executive director of BHETA (British Home Enhancement Trade Association). Will said: “I’m delighted to be asked to host the Housewares Conference as ultimately events such as these are for the benefit of all associated with the industry.”
Host for the Awards ceremony will be TV chef Malcolm Harradine, while the Awards will be presented by Ben Ebbrell and Barry Taylor, founders and directors of SORTED, the UK’s largest social media cooking channel.
The Awards are now open for entry. Suppliers can enter products for the Cookware & Bakeware Innovation Award, Small Electricals Innovation Award, Food Preparation Innovation Award, Kitchenware Innovation Award and Tabletop Innovation Award.
For retailers, there are five awards up for grabs: Britain’s Best Cookshop, Best Independent Store/s, Best Multiple, Best Retail Website and Rising Star.
There is also a chance for an outstandingly helpful or efficient sales rep, agent or account manager to be recognised too, by the Housewares Salesperson of the Year award.
The entry deadline is November 29. For more information on entering the awards, and to download entry forms, please visit www.housewaresconference.net or call Laurie Marrington on 01622 699103 or email her at lmarrington@datateam.co.uk.
