Tableware International August/September 2020 by Lema Publishing

TableWare www.tablewareinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL

Month: August/September 2020

Issue: 3

134

Volume: 142

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Tableware Team EDITOR MAIREAD WILMOT mairead@lemapublishing.co.uk

ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER PAUL YEOMANS pyeomans@lemapublishing.co.uk

PUBLISHER MARK NAISH mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

MANAGING DIRECTOR MALCOLM NAISH malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR PAUL NAISH paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

To subscribe to the magazine email: ROBERT THOMAS robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

Published by Lema Publishing Ltd. 1 Churchgates, The Wilderness Berkhamsted Herts HP4 2UB PUBLISHING

At the heart Tel: 00 44 (0) 1442 289930 of retail Fax: 00 44 (0) 1442 289950 Front cover supplied by Sambonet Image by Stefan Giftthaler For more information see the website www.sambonet.it

TableWare www.tablewareinternational.com

INTERNATIONAL

Month: August/September 2020

Issue: 3

134

Volume: 142

TableWare

INTERNATIONAL

f ever there was a time to reﬂect on how we do business, it is now. Covid-19 threw us to the wolves, mercilessly exposed our vulnerabilities, forced us to think on the spot – some got eaten, some got out alive. Those who did come out the other side have arguably come out stronger – a bit bruised undoubtedly, but certainly stronger. It is interesting, now, to see reﬂections on the past number of months – particularly from the global retailers – Ukraine, Russia, America, UK – we spoke with for this issue. Almost collectively they said the same thing – online has been key. "If we look at general numbers, we can say that since the pandemic there was an unprecedented 400 per cent increase in our online sales. Moreover, clients purchased a much wider assortment of range than before – two and a half times more," Elena Sokolova, commercial director and buyer, Dom Farfora told us. The sentiment was echoed by Elena Vorozheykina, head of retail, Promenu who says: "We cannot work in the old paradigms any more, you can’t stay there and be successful... Obviously, the role of online in retail cannot be ignored. Omnichannel is no longer just an option, but the only possible working model of the retail business so far." Learn more about what our retailers have to say in our retail viewpoints on page 26. Almost every business we spoke with references the impact of Covid. From Sambonet, who feature on our cover, to our specialist columnist Valda Goodfellow – Covid has impacted how they do business. Interestingly, Valda tells us how they thought on their feet, and moved with the times, by establishing online 'shops' for the chefs they supply tableware for. It's a really clever and interesting way to adapt business, so see what you think on pages 50/51. Similarily, Andrea Sarasso, marketing and brand manager Sambonet Paderno Industrie says the global pandemic forced them to respond in real time, with a halt in production. They used the time wisely, however, and opted to focus on what they could control – enhancing customer service, brand awareness and continuing their digital and social communication. "This allowed us to remain operative and identify new opportunities, reach new communities and, at the same time, keep in touch with the market," explains Andrea, adding the company is working with their key

retail partners to engage with customers by "offering stimuli and solutions". Read more on pages 20/21. Moving away from Covid and its continued legacy on the industry, this magazine is brimming with plenty of our usual features from trend pages to categories such as metalware and giftable tableware. But more about those later because first we must speak about Rosenthal's Heritage – one of the more dynamic collections to come out of 2020 for sheer complexity and historial references. Heritage is – in essence – a three-for-one package. We sat down with designer Gianni Cinti to uncover why he opted to design Heritage as three distinct dècors (linked, by the way, through the use of gold). Midas, Dynasty and Turandot are a celebration of history, family, and life, with a modern design edge brought forth by Cinti. Read his take on designing this detailed collection on page 32. Meanwhile, from page 34 you'll find a review of the metalware category which is a perennially popular choice for consumers – Nambé, Zieher, Royal Selangor and more, give us their take on the category. And on page 12, you'll learn what our retailers make of the category too. Needless to say, stainless steel is a favourite! Our trend expert Donna Ferrari – a firm favourite for her indepth exploration of whatever topic she chooses and almost encyclopedic knowledge of tableware brands – looks at floral motifs. It's a lovely read on page 40. Excitingly, we have also announced the launch of our 2021 Awards of Excellence! Once again this annual event will be held at Ambiente and we recognise the very best this industry has to offer. We have a very exciting guest judge who will lend his expert opinion to the HoReCa categories. Turn to page 14 to find out more, including our new categories and how to enter the awards – and yes, we want ALL the industry to apply!

“Covid-19 threw us to the wolves, mercilessly exposed our vulnerabilities, forced us to think on the spot — some got eaten, some got out alive”

Mairead Wilmot Get social with

See our latest news: www.tablewareinternational.com ‘Like’ us: Facebook.com/tablewareintmag ‘Follow’ us on Twitter: @tablewareintmag ‘Love’ us on Instagram: tableware_international

August/ September 2020

News & Trends

TableWare INTERNATIONAL

News A round-up of international stories

Awards 2021 Tableware International's annual awards are back

New Products What's hot on the market

22 Retail An insight into the Dutch family-owned Leeuwinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Serviezenhuis 30 Category: Christmas Exploring festive styles 34 Category: Metalware All things metal unveiled

52 New Products: HoReCa Focus on fresh products 54 The Chef's Table Chefs tell us what they are using in their kitchens

58 Category: Giftable Making gifts count 62

Product Trend Dark colours explored

AWARDS

2021 OF EXCELLENCE

In focus 20

Interview From Rock to Tailor Made, Sambonet tell us about their cutting-edge collections

32 Interview Rosenthal's Heritage collection explained

46 Viewpoints The industry's key issues discussed

56 Product Trend The glory of tie-dye

Collection Dissection Bergner's Casa Benetton

Regulars 28 Column: Retail Taking stock post-Covid 40 Column: Trends Donna Ferrari talks fresh ďŹ&#x201A;oral motifs 50 Column: HoReCA Valda Goodfellow on using what you've got

The views of the contributors expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher or Lema Publishing Ltd. Comments, letters and criticism are welcome.

Welcome to Renaissance Red

general News

Arc restructures finances Arc recently announced a restructuring of its finances, a move brought on by the global pandemic. At the end of July, the company which employs 9,000 worldwide and boasts a portfolio of brands which includes Luminarc, Arcoroc, Arcopal, Cristal d'Arques Paris, Eclat Cristal d’Arques Paris, Chef&Sommelier, revealed its key shareholder would inject €20 million capital into the company. In addition, Arc will receive €108 million in new loans from the French state, the Région Hauts de France and the local community CAPSO, as part of the measures taken by the French public authorities to help businesses affected by the health crisis. Finally, the key stakeholders reached an agreement on the current financing’s settlements and regarding the Arc’s Russian production subsidiary, OSZ, which will continue to operate under the distribution partnership and long-term licensing agreement with Arc Group. Through a mutually beneficial partnership, the Russian plant, OSZ, will continue to produce for its local market, including Luminarc branded products under a licensing agreement. For its part, Arc group will continue to export its products from France, the Emirates and China to the Russian market, via its distribution subsidiary ADR. The group added that its performance indicators were in line

Ambiente’s talent search is on The search is on for incredible talent to showcase their wares at Ambiente 2021. Sought-after places in the show’s Talents section are now open with applications being received from designers in the fields of interior design in Hall 8 and arts & crafts in the Dining Hall 4. Those chosen will have the opportunity to present themselves to decision-makers and talent scouts from the international consumer goods and design scene from 19 to 23 February 2021. "The rapid change in the way we live is palpable every day. Designers are reacting to this with creative solutions that reflect the spirit of the times. For these inspiring approaches, we are creating with the Talents area an adequate platform that has been an international leader for years", says Nicolette Naumann, Ambiente 2021 takes place vice president of Ambiente. Interested designers can apply 19-23 February 2021. until 22 October 2020 via Ambiente’s website. Meanwhile, there are also opportunities to apply for the Solutions display in the foyer of Hall 4 which focuses on innovative products for the kitchen and household, selected by London-based designer Sebastian Bergne – apply by 12 November. Ambiente offers another opportunity with the Ethical Style Guide – applications to be submitted by 5 November – this is a focus on exhibitors who produce sustainable products and will be evaluated by a panel of judges. Finally, the Contract Business and HoReCa Guide – which will receive submissions until 13 November – is a visitor guide to manufacturers who offer products that are precisely tailored to their business model and are up to the special challenges of contract business. Three reference projects are required but Ambiente exhibitors who have already been listed in the guide do not have to reapply.

Save the date

with the targets set for 2019 and 2020 before the Covid-19 crisis and the effects of containment, which have been particularly intense in the food service sector. Speaking about the restructure, Nick Hodler, group chief executive officer, says: “This is great news for the company and all its employees. Thanks to the trust, commitment and support of our shareholders and partners, the group will be able to continue its trajectory of transformation, modernisation, improvement of working conditions and optimization of services for its customers. In particular, the agreements finalised would not have been possible without the effective business support measures put in place by the French public authorities in response to the health crisis. We managed to find a structural solution to a short-term problem.”

2021

Carrol Boyes marks a year since founder’s passing To honour the year since it’s founder passed, Carrol Boyes has introduced All Dressed Up – an enigmatic centrepiece first sculpted by the designer in 2018. All Dressed Up is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship in glass and cast aluminum – ideal for fruit, flowers or even a layered dessert. Interestingly, it is one of Carrol’s few sculptures where the figure is clothed, the flares of the dress providing a practical solution to the gravity-defying pose. Caught in movement, she presents her offering to the world. The designer passed away in August 2019 with her design legacy living on through her company of the same name.

Don’t forget!

The Tableware International Awards of Excellence 2021 will take place at Ambiente. Turn to page 14 to read more about the upcoming awards and how to enter. 10 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Spotlight on… crystal With a veritable cornucopia of hand-cut crystal tableware and giftware, all innovatively designed, Royal Scot Crystal is a brand to notice. Recent 2020 collections such as Art Deco (pictured), Nouveau and Iona have been well received at retail, while unique pieces – think air twist whisky and port glasses to

thistle-shaped whisky glasses and the finest crystal decanters in a myriad shapes and sizes – engage buyers. Browse the Royal Scot Crystal glassware collection by pattern or drink type on www. royalscotcrystal.com or order a new catalogue to see the very latest collections.

Retail viewpoints on…

metalware

Metal is an integral category within tableware, we ask global retails how it sells for them... “We are selling more vases in a metal alloy finish, in particular burnished and tarnished metals. In terms of plates we have a very small selection of enamelled dinnerware.” Sam Hood, creative director and head of buying, Amara

“Metalware showed itself as an absolute driver of sales in the pandemic period. Pans and casseroles have always been major leaders but during self-isolation, the sell out in this product category increased by 50 per cent. Staying at home let people spend more time on cooking, baking and home renovations so the interest in domestic gadgets, kitchen supplies and metalware rose drastically. It shows that people finally got time for culinary experiments and wanted to bring positive vibes into the house by cooking some new recipes.”

US markets reopen Some markets in the US have reopened this summer with IMC hosting shows in Atlanta, and more recently Dallas. Atlanta ran from 13-18 August, while Dallas followed suite, taking place 19-25 August. Regional buyers turned out for Atlanta, with organisers reporting 20 per cent of the usual buyer traffic and 23 per cent of the number of businesses (stores and designers) represented. Dallas, meanwhile, reported 55 per cent of the attendance compared with last summer’s market. Both events took precautions to combat Covid-19 with Bob Maricich, IMC CEO saying of Atlanta: “To say that the summer 2020 Atlanta Market was a market like none other is an understatement. While the format was changed, the footprint was smaller and safety measures were in place, the impact on the retail and design community was the same.” Meanwhile, speaking about the Dallas event, Cindy Morris, president and CEO says: “This market was unprecedented in so many ways… Working together, we created a market that supported business renewal while also being as safe as possible. Attendance was much better than expected, and the orders flowed."

New dates for Inspired Home Show

New dates have been announced for The Inspired Home Show. The Chicago-based event will take place from 7-10 August 2021 at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago having previously been scheduled for 13-16 March, 2021. “As the pandemic continued into the summer, we had multiple conversations with our board of directors, exhibiting members and retail buyers, all of whom were experiencing apprehension about the ability to safely convene the industry as soon as March of 2021,” says Derek Miller, IHA president. “While the show continues to be a critical part of their businesses, the health and safety of our industry is our first priority and moving the event to later in the year allows more time for authorities to successfully manage this crisis.” The decision to postpone the show until August of 2021 has been met with universal support from the home and housewares retailer community. “We spoke to a number of key retailers, both domestic and international,” Derek adds. “All of them have been very vocal about their desire to have a face-to-face show in 2021 and are enthusiastic about holding the show later in the year.”

Elena Sokolova, commercial director and buyer, Dom Farfora

“High-quality metalware was and remains the main hit of sales, as always in our stores. Stainless steel takes the leading position as a base material. At the same time, cast iron products remain popular in Ukraine, which reflects the cultural characteristics of our national cuisine, where many processes are associated with prolonged stewing of products. Latest technologies allow some manufacturers to combine metal with modern materials for lovers of more revolutionary solutions, for example, interesting combinations with silicone or ceramics. The safety factor is also important. For example, stainless steel products do not require special and complex care, which is especially important for people with allergies or hypersensitivity.” Elena Vorozheykina, head of retail, Promenu

“Stainless sells the best for me – lines like Mary Jurek Designs and Sambonet. Next would come the aluminium metals such as Mariposa, Vagabond, and Arthur Court and finally Pewter from Arte Italica or Match. Stainless is preferred the most because it is dishwasher safe and maintenance free when it comes to acidic foods. People don’t want to spend tie polishing silver or hand washing anymore.” Michele Trzuskowski, owner, T is for Table TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 11

general News

Hering Berlin host trunk show

Hering Berlin showcased some of its collections with an online trunk show recently. Glazes focused on selected objects from the Obsidian (pictured), Blue Silent and Silent Brass collection which were available online exclusively at preferential prices, both individually and in sets put together especially for event. Each collection’s central feature is a glaze based on earth and minerals, which is poured on the plates or inside vessels, while the rim remains in the pure, unglazed and velvety biscuit porcelain that is typical of Hering Berlin porcelain. Glazes ran for a week in July and this September, Stefanie Hering and clothing designer Aleksandra Viktor join forces to present an exhibition called Mindful Design in Berlin. The designers have selected their masterpieces for a unique show which expresses their philosophy of mindfulness in design with the highest creative quality and a comprehensible, pure manufactory production by hand. "Porcelain and fabric are materials that could hardly be more different. The softness of the textiles is in clear contrast to the hardness of the repeatedly fired porcelain. The points of contact that make this show so exciting lie in the close relationship between the working methods in both areas,” explains Stefanie.

Viewpoints… “In an uncertain world it is hard to make medium term decisions, when so much can change overnight, as we saw in March. We completely support the trade show organisers who are left reeling and desperately thinking of suitable alternatives to a physical trade show or socially distanced version. For this reason, we will be completely guided by our customers. They are the ones who form the backbone of any trade fair and without them, they become null and void. For some customers, the transition to digital trade fairs is more comfortable and others it is a complete waste of time. We will be focusing on our relationships with existing customers to keep them fully up to speed with new products, new promotions, etc. so if they don’t wish to attend a trade show, they don’t have to. Communication we see as the cornerstone in the current and immediate future climate, along with supporting our industry events that the buyers feel are important. We are therefore taking a responsive view to sales and marketing activity for 2021 and hope that exhibition organisers can do the same wherever possible.” KitchenCraft’s marketing director Claire Budgen discussing the company’s approach to trade fairs for 2021. For more viewpoints from industry insiders, turn to pages 46 and 48.

Two design awards for Studio William Studio William has been honoured with two European Product Design Awards. The new Studio William pattern Okina (pictured), and the Grove buffet tongs series – a range of 11 items – were both awarded the European Product Design Award under the Professional Catering product category. Grove buffet tongs are a range of specialist tongs designed for enhancing food presentation. Meanwhile, Okina features two contrasting knife designs – the Orientinspired curvaceous knives and the European minimal straight knives.

Inspired by… sustainability As part of its drive to fulfil its eco-commitment for 2020, Revol has introduced No.W – a sustainable collection made from recycled ceramic clay and enamels. Part of the company’s efforts to significantly reduce the use of water and primary minerals in its porcelain production, No.W will be showcased by Revol USA at the upcoming 41 Madison. Interestingly, the company has developed Recyclay – a new way of processing its industrial waste water. It means they can purify the water and return it to its natural state while recovering the mineral matter in suspension that come from the clays and enamels. From this, Revol can create a new ceramic clay with the same technical properties as other Revol ceramics – and they are applying for a patent. No.W is the first to be made from Recyclay with Revol describing it as “a simple, subtle and durable hand-made range, but also one of the most robust and functional for professional chefs”. 12 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

W W W. D I B B E R N . D E

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Celebrating the best! The 2020 winners...

Guest judge We are thrilled to announce Michelinstarred chef Jason Atherton, as our special guest judge for 2021. Jason will be casting his expert eye over our HoReCa entries for this year. Jasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CV is one of the most impressive you will come across â&#x20AC;&#x201C; his portfolio of restaurants includes the Michelinstarred Social Eating House and City Social, as well as 5 Social, The Betterment and Berners Tavern. Alongside his London restaurants, Jason has also opened criticallyacclaimed restaurants in Shanghai, Dubai, St Moritz and his Michelinstarred restaurant, The Clocktower, in New York.

T he 2020 Awards of Excellence

TableWare

The 2021 AWARDS Awards of Excellence INTERNATIONAL

2021 OF EXCELLENCE

The fourth annual Tableware International Awards of Excellence is back for 2021. Once again, the awards will be hosted at Ambiente. We are now inviting exciting new season submissions from global tableware companies for the 2021 awards with a deadline of 1 November 2020. Past awards winners have included brands such as Waterford, Hering Berlin, and Vista Alegre to name but a few. Excitingly, this year’s international judging panel features some new names such as Ukranian retail giant ProMenu, along with new US-based judge Deborah

Shearer of Table + Dine, a creative lifestyle brand and marketing studio in the home, tabletop and housewares market. On the HoReCa side of things, we welcome John O’Donnell, buyer for the Irish hospitality market who will lend his expert, impartial opinion and guest judge, Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton. The awards have been refreshed, but streamlined, with new categories introduced – however, there will now be 15 categories in total, rather than 19, including the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.

New, new, new! One of the most exciting new categories is the 2021 Designer of the Year – we want you, the tableware industry, to nominate the faces behind the collections – the people who actually design the pieces we love so much. We’ve also introduced another exciting category – the Innovation award. This category is for collections which have something unique, extraordinary, different about them – it could be the techniques used in production, the materials used, the design – anything which is innovative and different.

The categories are: Serveware –

serving pieces, platters, bowls

Barware –

tools, drinkware, serveware: collection or speciﬁc pieces

Flatware/Cutlery –

HOW TO ENTER...

collections or individual items

Suppliers/brands should visit www.tablewareinternationalawards.com, select the Entry Form tab and ﬁll in the required information for each entry, before uploading images. Alternatively, you can send entries to the Tableware International team by emailing entries@tablewareinternationalawards.com and including the following information (please enter entries separately):

everyday, machine-made

• Full name of company/brand and name and contact details of person who entered it • Name and brief description of collection/product being entered (eg. Material, design inspiration, convenience factors) • Name of category you are entering it into • Approximate date of when product/collection launched into market • Product price • 250-300 word explanation of why the entry merits an award – based on the following criteria: innovation / design / aesthetics / storytelling • Five hi-resolution images (300dpi) of the collection/product from different angles

RULES OF SUBMISSION • Brands/suppliers can enter up to three (maximum) collections/ products, but they must be in three different categories

WANT TO SPONSOR THE AWARDS?

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

2020

THE WINNERS

SPONSORED BY

Join our international and prestigious lineup of sponsors and reap the beneﬁts, including ad placements and editorial within our Finalists and Winners Supplements, as well as our main title Tableware International, along with brand presence at the Awards evening. To be a Main Sponsor or Category Sponsor, contact Paul Yeomans, pyeomans@lemapublishing.co.uk.

Casual Glassware – Fine Glassware –

premium, crystal, mouthblown

Decorative –

vases, bowls, candlesticks, photo-frames, ﬁgurines

Coffee/Teaware –

full set and/or individual coffee/ tea pieces

Metals –

pieces made of metal

Hospitality Dinnerware – HoReCa speciﬁc collections

Hospitality Glassware –

HoReCa speciﬁc collections

Casual Dinnerware – everyday, informal

Fine Dinnerware –

bridal, formal, premium, luxury

Innovation Award –

collections or individual pieces with stand-out, innovative elements either in design or make

2021 Designer of the Year–

a designer whose work is considered excellent

Lifetime Achievement Award –

someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry

New Products

Minimalism personified Pure, simple but exquisite shapes and forms are personified with Dibbern’s Fine Bone China Coupe series. The collection brings uncompromising minimalism in the creation of authentic, pure and elegant form, offering the perfect fine-dining mainstay for both restaurants and entertaining in a relaxed atmosphere at home.

www.dibbern.com

Focus on…

new

products

Bringing you the most recent releases from the world’s best tableware brands

A premium collection The Marc Newson Cutlery Collection from Noritake Australia is a premium collection of industrial-style flatware that magically melds everyday with delicate; and beauty with efficiency. This collection was previously used in Qantas first class and business cabins and is a stand-out in terms of shape – each piece is defined by its broad, flat design with a distinctive groove in the handle of the knife and spoons. All pieces are rounded rather than angular and at complete ease in the hand. Made by Noritake in quality 18/10 stainless steel, each set comprises 16 pieces – a knife, fork, soup/dessert spoon and teaspoon – for four people.

www.noritake.com.au 16 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Did you know? Perfect contrasts WMF introduced the Kineo cutlery collection to retail in May with the collection already picking up a Red Dot design award. Inspired by modern architecture, WMF says the Kineo design language stands for “the beauty of contrasts”. The collection combines contrasting symmetrical and asymmetrical lines to create a harmonious experience for the eyes and hands – a modern look with an ergonomic fit. Boasting a premium look and feel, Kineo also has a protective Cromargan coating making it resistant to scratches.

www.wmf.com

Artel’s new collection Staro Barnyard had an unusual start to life. it was created by special request for one of Artel’s established clients, Biscuit Home in Houston, Texas. The store’s owner wanted a set of glasses for her charming rural farmhouse, which was featured in Architectural Digest in 2018, but was having trouble deciding which of the two motifs she preferred and asked Artel’s founder Karen Feldman whether they could be combined. “We’ve never entertained such a request before,” says Karen, “but in this case it seemed like it would work beautifully. In fact, the result of juxtaposing these two very different styles was so fabulous that we decided to make it publicly available, and I’m certain our fans will love it as much as we do!” Staro Barnyard is a combination of the firm’s most popular offerings, the new pairing the classic elegance of its traditional Staro motif with the lifelike depictions of 10 farm animals that comprise its popular Barnyard collection!

www.artelglass.com

Eclectic mixology Crystalex has been experimenting with art screen printing in some of its latest releases. Amongst them is this art deco-inspired piece featuring on-trend design elements on both matt black and white vessels. The perfect talking point over drinks.

www.crystalex.cz

Gorgeously geometric Vista Alegre’s Constellation d’Or is a sight to behold. The intricate blue and gold geometric pattern is a celebration of craftmanship with the company explaining the application of gold in pieces, defining various textures, was used in the porcelain of Sèvres in the late 18th century. Known as pointillé d’or or sablé d’or, these motifs mixed golden dots with shades of blue fire, forming small circles. The Constellation d’Or service recreates these geometric patterns and modernises them, keeping the same decorative technique. The result is a gorgeously detailed décor deserving of attention.

www.vistaalegre.com

New designs Dunoon is presenting three new motifs, all designed by the Staffordshirebased company’s team. Mystic Wood (pictured) comprises of six creatures including a fox, hare, squirrel, peacock, pheasant and owl. Dragon, meanwhile, is a stunning set of designs depicting three different types of this mythical creature – Norse, Celtic and Asian. Finally, The World of Tea is new addition to Dunoon’s hugely successful informational series and gives an insight into the internationally popular beverage. The ideal vessel for your morning cuppa, naturally!

www.dunoonmugs.co.uk

True blue Meissen’s Blue Treasures is a maritime feast, and a perfect example of how historic patterns can be given a new lease of life. The animated underwater motifs are based on a sketch by Otto Eduard Voigt from the late 19th century and have been transposed onto Meissen’s Cosmopolitan collection, creating an entirely new offering in the shape of Blue Treasures. Voigt was one of the most important hard-fire, or blue technique painters, of his day, and not only defined this genre at Meissen but introduced innovative ideas that would radiate far beyond the manufactory. Blue Treasures is just part of that legacy.

www.meissen.com

Distinctive style Set apart for its distinctive stylised aesthetic, Kalyke from Cerva Bohemia is a striking glassware collection which draws its inspiration from avant-garde Cubist architecture, characterised by sharp edges and clear geometry. Drinks are given a new dimension through the collection’s elegant curves and delicate lines.

www.cervabohemia.com

TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 17

Focus on…

new products The story continues… Richard Ginori’s collaboration with designer Luke Edward Hall has seen new extensions added to the Il viaggio di Nettuno collection. Inspired by the designer’s passion for Greco-Roman mythology, the collection now boasts new pieces, each with their own rich story to tell. A mermaid, mythological creature famous for her melodious song, lays on a vide poche tray to enchant sailors. Neptune, god of the sea, shown holding the trident, is the protagonist of the new charger plate. Bronze busts with male and female faces that bring to mind submerged treasures appear on a mug, while patterns evoking the marine ecosystem characterise the four coasters.

www.richardginori1735.com

To the bar

The perfect placemat Chilewich has introduced its autumn/winter 2020 collection and amongst its many stylish new offerings is Bouclé a crepe weave that adds visual interest without dominating. Chilewich says: “The rich texture evokes the nubby, character-laden surface of fine fabrics, with the added durability and easy maintenance of all things Chilewich. Bouclé rejoins the range in four colourways: Marshmallow, Moon (pictured), Natural, and Noir.”

www.chilewich.com Beatriz Ball made a number of new introductions in the glassware category which she debuted at Atlanta, Dallas and Las Vegas. Amongst them are new Croc glasses which feature a textured crocodile pattern in smoked glass with gold rims. The DOF and Highball glasses are designed for use with the Croc tray in the brand’s proprietary metal alloy. There are also metal barware items in the Croc collection, with several new metal items being added to the series.

www.beatrizball.com

Oh, honey! New for Iittala’s Teema collection is this glorious honey hue. Teema was designed by Kaj Franck and the vast collection is noted for its versatility with endless combinations that are functional, durable and refined. Honey is the newest shade added to Teema’s colourway collection bringing a fresh warmth to any table.

www.iittala.com

64 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

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Profile Sambonet

From Italy,

with love

A name synonymous with quality, Sambonet screams Italian chic with cutlery truly part and parcel of the company’s DNA. From personalised sets to new collections, we hear from Andrea Sarasso, marketing and brand manager Sambonet Paderno Industrie, about the company’s plans

ambonet symbolises passion. With more than 150 years of history, and over 30 cutlery ranges to hand, the company lives and breathes its collections. Despite recent complications (a halt in production thanks to Covid-19), they instead opted to focus on what they could control – enhancing customer service, brand awareness and continuing their digital and social communication. “This allowed us to remain operative and identify new opportunities, reach new audiences and, at the same time, keep in touch with the market,” explains Andrea, adding the company is working with their key retail partners to engage with customers by “offering stimuli and solutions”. It is this attention to detail that has made Sambonet one of the key names on the market today. And although they are born and bred in Italy – in fact, Made in

Tailor Made is a unique service from Sambonet

Andrea Sarasso

Italy is something they proudly boast in their advertising and marketing – in reality, Sambonet is globally recognised for quality, craftsmanship and brilliant design. “We are for people who want their everyday life filled with functional, beautiful and qualitatively objects,” Andrea points out, from contemporary

to classic, vintage, minimalist to luxury – think silver-plated stainless steel and silver or gold-plated nickel silver cutlery. From entry-level cutlery sets right through to their premium collections, Sambonet is recognised for creativity and excellence. And it is the little things which set them apart, from offering full range cutlery extensions, (butter spatula or shellfish fork, anyone?), right through to the Tailor Made range

which is a really remarkable service born from Sambonet’s experience in the hospitality industry. In short, customers can personalise their own cutlery sets. “It comes from our experience in the hotel and restaurant industry, linked to the need to customise the entire mise en place including cutlery, dishes, glasses and textile,” explains Andrea. “We developed Tailor Made for the end user, they can create their own tailor-made cutlery, choosing model, finish and colour and adding a personal touch by

“Cutlery is our core business. We want to be recognised not only by the Italian and European markets where we have a consolidated historical and widespread distribution, but also globally, always emphasising our vocation for design, expertise in continuous evolution and excellence in living the beauty of the table. Our message is simple: the cutlery is Sambonet. Recently we have also started to enhance it by the claim of some of our commercials, which end with “Cutlery since 1856” and the Italian tricolor, which refers to the exceptional tradition, manufacture and pride of our country.” Andrea Sarasso, marketing and brand manager, Sambonet 20 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

“If talking about simplicity, and by that we mean the shape, Rock finds its own definition. But if we talk about design and production, Rock is the result of a search for balance, and the application of cuttingedge technology to give it life in colour” Paola Longoni, art director, Sambonet

Rock is Sambonet’s newest collection

engraving a symbol, initials or a date. This project embraces the trend for personalisation and describes all Sambonet’s production excellence. Today, we are the only ones with such a high-quality service.” It certainly stands out as a USP, but then again, Sambonet has a few USPs. The company’s bestselling ranges, for example, are their PVD lines. They took the trend for coloured cutlery and made it their own. “It’s opened up new business opportunities for us,” says Andrea. “We have been one of the leaders in the PVD cutlery market because we internalised the process, invested in research and development, and make an effort in innovate design. In fact, the Sambonet PVD is a registered know-how, Num.114361, and it is made in our production site in Novara.” When it comes to retail, particularly for Sambonet’s cutlery collections, brick and mortar is still king and while online is growing it hasn’t matured as a sales medium just yet. Elaborating, Andrea says: “Brick and mortar stores continue to represent a consolidated and fundamental element both in terms of global sales and customer journey. The retailer is still a real strategic consultant for the end user, as well as a plus that is difficult to replace with the e-commerce. Although growing, online channels are not yet mature for

the purchase of cutlery, but together with social networks it is fundamental to convey the brand and embrace a wider and multigenerational audience.” With the second half of 2020 now firmly underfoot, Sambonet has turned its attention towards the festive buying period. “As of September, we will focus on the long-awaited Christmas period, trying to leave behind this year’s difficulties and looking at this special time of the year with a bit of lightness and optimism,” Andrea says enthusiastically, adding that Sambonet has some key collections it will focus on. “Alongside cutlery, which remains our core business, there are also objects signed by design icons and developed by our Centro Stile, destined to dictate the trends of our sector. We introduced novelties and contents related to furnishing objects and gifts, such as the Gio Ponti Miniatures and the new Penelope Collection. Although extremely different in concept and design, they can bring to the table a really sophisticated look. The Ponti collection is minimal and functional, while Penelope looks feminine and original. Two different and complementary ways to renew the table, perfectly capturing your own personality but always with the Sambonet style.” www.sambonet.it

Spotlight on... Rock New for 2020, Rock is a cutlery collection with an innovative DNA. Think minimal design, refined style and flexibility, ready to embrace a young and dynamic audience. Coming in an array of colours (black,copper, gold, champagne) – something Sambonet specialises in – Rock has a finish to suit every taste. Despite an accessible price point, quality has not been compromised with the collection crafted in stainless steel and boasting an eye-catching and gritty design. “This cutlery best expresses our brand’s modern and dynamic nature and is in step with contemporary needs in terms of aesthetics, functionality and price,” says Andrea.

Cutlery can be adorned with intricate detailing via Tailor Made

Turnadot TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 21

Retail Leeuwin’s Serviezenhuis

“We have a heart of porcelain!” Leeuwin’s Serviezenhuis has been bringing high-end tableware to the people of Dutch city Utrecht since 1926. Family-run, this is a business which knows its chosen craft inside out. They live and breathe porcelain – mainly European in origin. Tableware International spoke with general manager Amos van Praagh to learn more about this passionate retail outlet… Tell us about Leeuwin’s Serviezenhuis – how did it begin life? The company started up in 1926 in the city centre of Utrecht by a Mr and Mrs Boutelje. Mrs Boutelje was a cousin of my grandmother Mathilde van Praagh-Huisman. During the second world war the business was “conﬁscated” and after the war my grandfather Israel van Praagh restarted the business together with my grandmother. With relocations over the years he settled in 1968 at Oudkerkhof 21 in Utrecht, where we still are today. In

1980, my father Gideon van Praagh and my mother Ellen van Praaghvan Aspert took over the business and are still very much involved in the company. Now, the majority of the daily business is run by me and my brother Ruben. The shop has grown bigger over the years, but we have always specialised in products for the welllaid table with high-end brands, mostly European. What is the ethos of the store? At the heart of our collection is sustainability, we try to offer

Did you know?

sustainable design and quality in our products with a focus on European brands, often with production still in Europe. We carry a wide range of products to inspire and indulge the customer. We do offer seasonal gifts and decoration, but the main focus is high-end dinnerware and cookware that people can use and enjoy for many years to come. Describe your relationship with manufacturers and suppliers? We try to be hands-on with our suppliers. Keep them on point

Rosenthal, Dibbern, Villeroy & Boch and Wedgwood are just some of the brands stocked by Leeuwin’s Serviezenhuis. 22 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Amos van Praagh when it comes to our needs and wishes, but always a harmonious collaboration. We are very loyal to our suppliers and expect the same in return. This is sometimes challenging, and we reward the ones that support us best by giving that brand more attention. Several partners have been with us for many decades. Are there any Dutch tableware companies you are passionate about? De Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles/ Royal Delft is a Dutch icon. It is one of the oldest companies in the world, founded in 1653, and still they remain current. Especially developments in the past years with modern interpretations of delftware, they are deﬁnitely not a product just for tourists.

Collections are beautifully showcased

The Dibbern display is impressive

The domestic market is really embracing their new ventures like “Peacock Symphony” or their latest collaboration with tattoo artist Henk Schiffmacher. Koninlijke van Kempen & Begeer (1789) is the most famous domestic brand in stainless steel, silverplated and sterling silver cutlery. With still popular Dutch classics like Haags Lofje and Prinses and more contemporary designs like Branding and Concerto, they have a wide appeal for people who like to entertain at home and have a ﬁtting style for everyone. Their latest re-issue of the “Piet Hein” cutlery is a promising

development now that they are under the management of The Cookware Company. Describe your typical customer? We try to appeal to people who like to entertain at home and ﬁnd pleasure in using products that they like. We always emphasise that the products we sell are meant to be used and not just looked at. Good food needs good tools. What is trending in your store? With the current events around the world, we see a big increase in people cooking at home and looking for better tools to do so.

“In dinnerware, artisanal looking plates are still a huge trend with Rosenthal’s Junto being our biggest seller” The basics are being upgraded and the fun elements are being added. Whether it’s a Santoku knife for all the sushi they will make at home to the nice matching decorated dessert plates to liven up the dinner party in the garden. In dinnerware artisanal looking plates are still a huge trend with Rosenthal’s Junto being our biggest seller and in cookware

investing in the frying pan for a lifetime from Demeyere. What would you say has contributed to your success as a retail store over the years? We have always stayed true to our own aesthetic and criteria in what we buy and sell. We also strive towards being knowledgeable about the things we sell and in

1926

Fact!

Dutch tableware company De the year Leeuwin’s Serviezenhuis Koninklijke was ﬁrst established. Porceleyne Fles/ Royal Delft was founded in 1653. TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 23

Retail Leeuwin’s Serviezenhuis

Villeroy & Boch

“We always emphasise that the products we sell are meant to be used and not just looked at. Good food needs good tools”

Bunzlau Castle

Robbe & Berking and Sieger by Furstenberg

essence, we are passionate about what we do. We have a heart of porcelain! Which categories are performing well for you and why would you say that is? Porcelain has always been our forte. We love the material and the diversity of what can be made with it. Brands sometimes shift in popularity but we are known for the wide range we offer. Some popular ranges now are Rosenthal’s Junto, Villeroy & Boch’s Lave, Dibbern’s Bone China, Le Creuset’s Forgees pans, and the modern classics by Wilkens Bremen. How important is customer service to the store? It is a vital element to the future of any brick and mortar retailer. We always try to encourage our suppliers to perform the best they can with the best quality product they can make. Have you been affected by Covid-19? It was already very noticeable on the buying side when I was visiting Ambiente. The vibe was very different, but the impact was unforeseeable and frankly it still is. 24 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

In The Netherlands we were not confronted with a total lockdown so we were still able to do business, but most nationwide chains were closed nonetheless. This had a major impact on people visiting the city and of course the strict recommendation not to go out didn’t help either. When things started to get a bit back to normal, we saw that people really wanted to go out, buy new things for the home while still maintaining the restrictions given. All gatherings were prohibited and all HoReCa was closed but the real issue for us was the cancellations of bridal registries and the lack of new registries coming in. This had a major impact on our business that will not be compensated during the rest of the year. Are you feeling positive for the rest of 2020? With all the uncertainty and the probable arrival of the second wave, I would just be glad if we could do business in a normal manner. Realistically I would like to be positive about 2021 and just endure 2020 with some sparks of joy here and there. www.leeuwin.nl

Amos with mother Ellen and father Gideon

Inspired by… Good, sustainable and original design that has longevity both aesthetically and design wise, inspires Amos’s buying habits. “Something that can blend with other products we already sell or is a good foundation for thing to come. And sometimes we just buy things that are fun to have,” he adds.

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Viewpionts Retail

Sam Hood, creative director and head of buying, Amara

“We have seen very strong retail sales across categories that wouldn’t be in such high demand during those months such as barware and outdoors.”

“We’ve had good financial results for the first six months of the year after a two-month lockdown, mainly due to our government’s assistance and to an increase in online sales. Moreover, we’ve seen the consumer shift to items for the house, and mainly kitchen items. Our kitchenware sales versus gifts have changed after the pandemic. This means that we are focusing on kitchen a lot, despite the fact that our sister company has a chain of 48 Cookshops and is also doing very well.” Mary Sarafidis, owner, Parousiasi

The word on retail

We asked global retailers if how they do business has changed since the pandemic from an an increase in online sales to more demand for outdoor tableware… Elena Vorozheykina, head of retail, Promenu “We cannot work in the old paradigms any more, you can’t stay there and be successful. People have changed and they have new needs in all areas. Obviously, the role of online in retail cannot be ignored. Omnichannel is no longer just an option, but the only possible working model for retail business so far. Promenu, as an omnichannel model, were able to effectively operate under quarantine conditions, even with retail outlets closed for a certain period, and this was a salvation for us and for our clients. Safety in all forms is also a priority, and this is reflected in the processes at all points of contact with customers. Today there is nothing that can be guaranteed for a long time and successfully work as before. There is almost no time left for testing hypotheses, building prototypes. You have to do everything at once and correct in real time. But there is a big plus in everything that is happening, renewal and energy in all processes opens up new opportunities for fresh ideas and nonstandard solutions. This means development for all business sectors.”

26 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

“We have all known that retail has been changing. This pandemic only made that progression come sooner and it is catching up with those who have refused to evolve their businesses with the changing climate. At T is for Table, I would estimate that we quadrupled our efforts with the amount of social media interaction, as well as with our existing store customers. We are also up against all the other small retailers and big box store who have upped their game as well.” Michele Trzuskowski, owner, T is for Table (read Michele’s column on page 28 for more)

Elena Sokolova, commercial director and buyer, Dom Farfora “If we look at general numbers, we can say that since the pandemic there was an unprecedented 400 per cent increase in our online sales. Moreover, clients purchased a much wider assortment of range than before – two and a half times more. Though after the crisis customers still continued to show interest in restoring their shopping experience in actual stores which is associated with much more interaction, visual and emotional experience and what is more important, with getting out of the house. We can say that in post-pandemic period we face an LFL increase in off-line sales and a LFL +300 per cent in online sales. What is also interesting is that online sales clearly show that established and well-known brands have the best results in sales while not-so-popular brands are losing clients, even if the product is still of high quality. Overall, we can say without any doubt that times have changed and online sales now play a leading part in shopping experience.”

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Retail Column

Independent retailers

must evolve

Surviving the pandemic is part and parcel of our vernacular now and more than ever, it is crucial for smaller stores to utilise all they have at their disposal, says Michele Trzuskowski

Proceed with caution At a time like this your inventory can be your asset or your downfall. Many of us took a hit with our spring buys since most of us were considered non-essential and were closed due to the pandemic. And while we were still able to survive partially with our online revenue, and maybe some curb side pickups, that type of revenue will not sustain us going forward; nor will the losses. As we reopen it is essential we proceed with care as to our “open to buy” and spending habits. In my case, I re-evaluated all my fourth quarter orders and pulled back. It was not necessarily that I changed the breath of assortment but 28 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

certainly the depth. The only area I left quantities strong were within my core assortments. I would rather risk running out of a product and having to re-order, than house too much inventory and have to take drastic markdowns. Control your expenses Inventory is not the only expense that you need to control – payroll, supplies, and non-essential purchases need to be in check. This is where forecasting is key. Look at last year’s numbers and evaluate how the pandemic has affected sales and adjust accordingly. Trust me, this is the most difficult aspect especially when it pertains to

”

othing is normal about retail right now, and it may be a long time coming before it even resembles anything like the way the year 2020 began. As an owner or manager, if you are not approaching your business through a different set of parameters, then you need to start looking at your business practices immediately. I’m not talking simply about making sure your premises are clean, and that you have face masks and hand sanitiser, I’m talking about analysing the steps needed to get through these difficult times while coming out ahead or at least close to even. As an independent retailer, I am guessing like me, you don’t have infinite funds to alter the impact of Covid-19 and unlike the big box retailers we can’t just file for bankruptcy protection and hope everything turns out okay. It is more challenging as a smaller independent retailer in terms of getting funding and controlling expenses. Here are several basic tips to help get you through:

media, ask yourself how you can advance it. If you have neither, create these platforms quickly, or watch your business go down in flames. We have all known that retail has been changing. This pandemic only made that progression come sooner and it is catching up with those who have refused to evolve their businesses with the changing climate. At T is for Table, I would estimate that we quadrupled our efforts with the amount of social media interaction, as well as with our existing store customers. We are also up against all the other small retailers and big box stores who

I re-evaluated all my fourth quarter orders and pulled back. It was not necessarily that I changed the breath of assortment but certainly the depth employees, but if you plan to make it through this crisis you really need to run lean and mean on staffing, as well as all expenses. Some of this will naturally occur, without as many shoppers or purchases you won’t go through as many supplies; shopping bags, paper, etc. However you may incur new cost not expected such as cleaning services, masks and protective gear. If managing the finances is not your expertise, this is the time you need to ask for help from your accountant or banking financial officer. Market with a passion Now more than ever is the time to be creative. If you have an online presence, ask yourself how you can improve it. If you utilise social

”

have upped their game as well. We introduced free deliveries within a certain mile radius, we offered free shipping on certain price point purchases, and we began carrying inventory to meet our consumers immediate needs that we would have never considered carrying before the virus. For example, when we were shut down, we brought in products that our customers could do indoors such as personal paint kits, or puzzles. Then we started carrying face masks, and antibacterial soap. I even personally had Instagram chats with customers and would walk the store making suggestions as they shopped for a gift. We did what we had to do while thinking outside the box. Instead of waiting for the business to come, we aggressively went after it.

About T is for Table T is for Table is a luxury independent boutique, with a focus on tabletop, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, that offers an experiential and inspirational space dedicated to helping customers tell stories, create traditions and celebrate life. The boutique offers everything from fine pottery, china, glass, serveware and table accessories, to home décor, jewellery and body products, and delivers a custom service with its custom engraving, home visits and gift registries. www.tisfortable.com

Personalise it Finally, make sure every interaction you have with a customer right now is as genuine and personal as it can be. For us, that is easy, as we’ve been around 20 years and you can’t help but form friendships with long standing patrons. But I have to say that now more than ever I have gone out of my way to thank my customers for shopping small. I have sent more thank you notes in appreciation for purchases they have made during the pandemic. I have reached out to patrons that were not able to come back into the store once some of the restrictions were lifted. I did so, because I truly mean it – these patrons have kept me in business for 20 years and will get me through the pandemic because we have relationships. I remember when someone had a baby, or got married, or lost someone special. This is an advantage we have, as smaller businesses and independent retailers, in terms of a competitive edge. There are no “warm and fuzzies” when they purchase for Amazon or a big box retailer; there is no relationship. So, if you do one thing to survive this crisis, remember the importance of your relationship with your customer, and I guarantee it will be the one thing that sees you through this to the other side.

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Category Christmas

Villeroy & Boch

Rosenthal From the Rosenthal camp comes the Hutschenreuther Christmas Song collection “Father Christmas is coming”. Classic motifs evoke a real sense of festive fun with a busy Father Christmas using all modes of transport to get gifts to people on time! In addition to the popular hand-painted musical boxes, different gift articles and collecting cups, a star bowl and a biscuit box will join the Christmas collection this year. www.rosenthal.de

We couldn’t mention Christmas without Villeroy & Boch. The company is marking 10 years of it’s celebrated Toy’s Delight collection with a special anniversary edition consisting of a bowl, breakfast plate and mugs, decorated with fine scattered patterns and high-quality real-gold décor. There are also lots of new items in the range; a plate for soft cakes, a large round serving plate ornamented with a nostalgic central motif and a handleless cup. And of course, the La Boule decorative orb is a particular highlight. fSeparately, the Toy’s Delight Royal Classic collection offers a modern but still festive version of Toy’s Delight in seasonal white. www.villeroy-boch.com

The table that Christmas built With the holiday season just around the corner, we bring you some gloriously festive tableware options sure to get tills ringing…

Lenox Lenox do festive very well and this year is no exception. First up is Balsam Lane, which brings wintry charm into the home, think pine trees, artistic cabins and golden stars. Another new introduction is Holiday Handpainted Stripe which boasts candy cane stripes in festive reds and whites to create a signature holiday accent. These dessert plates feature a painterly holly leaf design with berries in the center and cheerful red stripes around the rim. If that doesn’t scream Christmas, we don’t know what will! www.lenox.com

30 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Sambonet Named after the great Italian designer, Sambonet’s Gio Ponti capsule collection of centerpieces is a delectable offering for the table. Along with the larger size, Sambonet brings miniature and intermediate size pieces to the collection, all available in an impactful array of colours – black, champagne, gold, and copper along with stainless steel, silver and gold-plated. Sambonet suggests the larges pieces as being ideal for fruit or flower arrangements while the smaller pieces have a myriad of serving uses on the table, ideal for the festive season. www.sambonet.it

Denby

This year Denby’s Christmas campaign will focus on bringing people together to celebrate and say thanks with Denby. The “For a Christmas which means more” campaign will focus on Halo, which will be celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary this year, along with the Studio collections and the company’s autumn 2020 launch Statements, which showcases statement pieces ideal for serving and gifting. www.denbypottery.com

Wedgwood The timeless décor of Wedgwood’s Winter White collection makes it a sophisticated choice for festive dining. Pieces are delicately illustrated with intricate woodcut-style motifs of mistletoe, holly, wreaths and fir trees, in crisp white with platinum detailing. The ideal accompaniment to a festive interior. www.wedgwood.com

5 mins with… Taitù Milano

We caught up with Taitù Milano’s CEO Marina Vago to learn more about their Christmas collections and how they approach design after Covid-19… Consumers have really been embracing the concept of making their home their castle over recent months, how did Taitù Milano respond to this? During lockdown we all faced new challenges, and we have all been reassessing how we live at home and what we surround ourselves with. We’ve really looked at our needs, at how we live together harmoniously, appreciating the spaces we move in, from outdoor to indoor, and in the rooms dedicated to the table and conviviality. Taitù has interpreted this trend through its key concepts of optimism and colour, these have been the brand’s distinguishing features for 60 years! Customers are being driven by this desire to have a cosy ambience at home. Post lockdown, retailers have been counting on Taitù’s optimistic designs, shop windows are overflowing with nature, colour, and joyful elegance. How will Christmas look like for Taitù? It is going to be All about Feelings. This year has challenged many of our habits, we want to restart from authentic emotions, such as being together well and sharing. Christmas will be focused on the variations of loving one another or oneself. First is Noel Oro which we have expanded with 10 new items. Moreover, Taitù is also launching Home Feelings and My Feelings ¬– two new collections of small, precious objects to cheer every home up. www.taitu.it

TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 31

Interview Rosenthal

Heritage unveiled When Rosenthal collaborated with designer Gianni Cinti, the result was the incredible Heritage Collection. Three different décors exist within the one collection, each bringing something unique to the table. Carefully thought out with exemplary attention to detail, Midas, Dynasty and Turandot are a celebration of history, family and life, with a modern design edge brought forth by Cinti. Tableware International caught up with the designer to learn more about the processes behind Heritage Gianni, how did your collaboration with Rosenthal on the Heritage collection come about? My collaboration with Rosenthal came about after I had designed the Kyma collection for Sambonet. I studied in the center of Italy with a secular ceramic tradition (Deruta) and, even though I come from a fashion background, this material plays a substantial part of my DNA. The main idea of the collaboration was to delve into Rosenthal’s archive. It helped that I had already developed skills in analyzing the archives of the Gianfranco Ferré Foundation which protected the heritage and legacy of this great designer, who was also my maestro. I consider the collaboration with Rosenthal a crucial and substantial step in my career as a designer. You worked with porcelain for the first time on Heritage, how did you find it and what sort of support did Rosenthal give you in the process?

It was my first time with porcelain, but not with ceramics which I had already worked with. The support of a company like Rosenthal has been fundamental in obtaining excellent results in terms of quality and using a methodological approach. My project was technically very demanding, and it demanded a deep knowledge of the materials and colour processes to achieve the results we needed for Heritage. Was any piece more challenging to design than others? My background in fashion focused on tailor-made pieces, so I looked for dedicated solutions for each single item. I thought of each object as a small unique piece that required an exclusive application. I looked at the possibility of creating textile effects on porcelain, something I found very interesting, take the camouflage in the Midas décor for example, the handpainted golden edges and trims are a mix between tradition and innovation.

Did you know?

Gold plays a central role in all three décors within the Heritage collection — acting as a link between each assortment. 32 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

You mentioned delving into Rosenthal’s archive’s in Selb, what prompted that, and how did it help you envisage the type of collection you wanted to create? The Selb archive is a wonderful place, full of masterpieces. My attention was focused on a specific production of Philipp Rosenthal Senior (all the production before the coming of the Bauhaus age). This analysis has allowed me to create a collection very similar to my taste as a designer with maximalism, decorations, symbolism and historical references with connections between cultures, traditions and art. There are three different décors – Midas, Turandot and Dynasty – within the Heritage collection, why did you choose to bring the collection to life in this way? In the Rosenthal archive there are infinite new collections that could be developed. My project tries to describe different inspirations that are only apparently distant from each other. The use of gold as a symbolic colour, as decoration and preciousness, is the common thread that links these three decorations and it is a meta-topic that can only be truly understood by reading the work in its entirety. My work is not only formal but also intellectual – I want to create new

languages starting from historical paradigms, that are not always going in only one direction, but that try to identify different roads and different meanings. What is the connection between each element of the collection? There is a massive use of gold in the three décors – a very present element in the first Rosenthal collections – but this is not the only connection. There are many formal and stylistic references to different cultures and worlds. I consider porcelain one of the most interesting materials at the moment, not only for its sustainability, but also the idea of the table as being a bridge between cultures, able to connect east and west in a balance between contemporary and historical, between present and future generations. Do you have a favourite décor?! It is very hard to answer to this. If I had to choose, I would say Midas, because it is apparently the most classic one but it turns out to be the most punk, with its sharpened graphics and sophisticated chromatic innovations – the play of white on white, and the pearly accents visible only when you are physically in front of the object.

www.rosenthal.de

Midas

“The use of gold as a symbolic color, as decoration and preciousness, is the common thread that links these three decorations and it is a meta-topic that can only be truly understood by reading the work in its entirety”

The inspiration behind each incredible décor Midas… For Midas, Gianni took reference from the Greek mythology of King Midas, who was given by Dionysos the power to turn everything he touched into gold. Dynasty… Dynasty is based on history and imagination. The surrealistic, rich pattern tells the story of any family business from Renaissance to contemporary in all parts of Europe by using symbols as the cornucopia.

Dynasty

Turandot… Inspired by Puccini’s famous opera, the pattern Turandot pays homage to eighteenth-century chinoiserie – also a source of inspiration for Rosenthal’s very first projects in the 19th century. Turandot is very enigmatic and full of beauty, building a bridge between east and west, past and present.

TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 43

Turandot

Feature Metalware

Sierra Modern, Beatriz Ball

A moment with metal Metal is one of the more interesting and dynamic materials to work with, pieces are crafted with skill, precision and above all, a depth of beauty rarely found with other materials. We learn more about the category from leading suppliers...

Lenox Lenoxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cocktail Party bar tool set has everything you need in one space-saving statement piece. Lift the lid to find an ice scoop, jigger, muddler and bottle opener at the ready. Lift out the tool stand and you have an ice bucket. Available in brushed gold and brushed stainless steel.

www.lenox.com

Beatriz Ball

Beatriz Ball on metal being a mainstay category How would you describe the metals category currently? Is it buoyant? Metal will always be one of the main categories in tabletop. Since ancient times, together with ceramic, wood and glass, we have used metalware as one of the four main materials for our table. That will never change. In terms of sales, do you find metal pieces more popular in some territories over others? The southwest and southeast (of America) have had long traditions of using metalware for serving, and that custom remains strong. Pieces with hammered finishes were very much in vogue over the past number of seasons, is this still the case? More than simply hammered surfaces, I would say that metal pieces with texture have increased in popularity. We are introducing a new collection, Sierra Modern, with gorgeous completely new surfaces and forms, and in a variety of metallic colours that are jaw-droppingly beautiful. What coloured finishes are proving to be popular with consumers? We have seen a lot of golds, blacks, chromes etc. Gold has become a very modern and popular new colour when paired with unexpected forms and surfaces. What sort of innovative methods are you using when crafting your metal pieces? We have developed a proprietary method of altering the colour of our metal alloy in tones of gold, rose gold and gun metal that are totally new and stunningly beautiful. They are not only food safe, but also extremely sturdy and stable, and will not chip, stain or fade with use. Is metal something which appeals to younger consumers, do you find? Yes. Younger consumers respond to something that is new and unexpected, that has a story, is safe for the environment, and respects the artisan traditions. They want items that maybe looks like something their parents had but is re-invented in a way they feel is their new version.

34 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Nambé

Lou Scala, chief marketing officer, Nambé talks popular collections and pushing design boundaries How would you describe the metals category currently? Is it buoyant?

Our very distinctive, mid-century modern design aesthetic meets current interior trends of simple, clean and contemporary design, and so Nambé is able to appeal to an extensive audience.

Despite the current impact of Covid-19, business here at Nambé remains buoyant across the globe. We are seeing great interest in our metal collections, with ecommerce and retail sales doing well.

Pieces with hammered finishes were very much in vogue over the past number of seasons, is this still the case?

In terms of sales, do you find metal pieces more popular in some territories over others?

Almeda

We have listings for Nambé metal pieces across the world, including the US, UK and Australia. Being a US brand, Nambé is very popular on the east and west coasts of America, and of course in the southwest too, with our headquarters being based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Nambé’s Almeda collection is a modern interpretation of the traditional hammered look, and resonates well with consumers. I believe new versions of this finish will continue to grow as trends progress, appealing to those who appreciate this look. What coloured finishes are proving to be popular with consumers? We have seen a lot of golds, blacks, chromes etc. As a growing trend we are seeing an increase in the appeal for copper finishes, with the Nambé Copper Canyon collection being well received by our consumers. Each piece is unique, a sculpture of contrasting colour and texture. Another trend

Copper Canyon

proving popular is combining metal with other materials, such as wood, enamel and glass. The combination adds a new dimension to the design, appealing to consumers of all ages. What sort of innovative methods are you using when crafting your metal pieces? It was the discovery of our exclusive alloy that inspired Nambé’s passion for exceptional design in 1951, and is still used nearly 70 years later to craft our metal pieces. Nambé has enhanced its metal designs over the decades, combining it with other materials and embellishments, but our alloy pieces are classic and are the very core of our brand. Our alloy, a unique alchemy of eight distinct metals, exhibits impressive temperature retaining properties, which make it the perfect material for serving chilled or heated dishes and drinks. But not only that, it offers timeless beauty, artistic integrity, and uncompromised quality.

Nude

Nude’s Hepburn collection is enhanced by brass-like accents giving the collection a stylish edge. Designed by Brad Ascalon, the range includes a cocktail shaker, a mixing jug, an alchemy glass, as well as tumblers, martini and mixer glasses. By gently weighting the bottoms, Ascalon adds stability and a sense of authority to each piece.

Rosenthal The Bar Collection from Rosenthal meets Versace is the perfect mix of seduction and functionality – for homes, bars, restaurants and exclusive clubs. From champagne buckets in two sizes to a cocktail strainer to a caviar set, the collection with pieces in silver and gold-plated stainless steel is a lesson is quality and class.

www.nudeglass.com

Pip Studio New Edition’s Pip Studio brand boasts a diversity of metal serving trays with an enamelled layer for an luxurious and elegant look and feel.

www.pipstudio.com

www.rosenthal.de

TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 35

Feature Metalware

Julia Knight

Julia Knight on appealing to younger customers and the popularity of texture How would you describe the metals category currently? Is it buoyant? Metals did experience a dip a couple of years ago but it has since made a roaring come back. It’s perfect for the active modern lifestyle since it doesn’t break and can also be used outdoors. In terms of sales, do you find metal pieces more popular in some territories over others? We sell internationally and have the similar success in all markets. Gold is exceptionally strong in the Middle East. Light weight metal, such as stainless steel, does very well in coastal markets, especially with yacht designers. The light-weight material and the fact that the pieces are durable and unbreakable, make metal an easy go-to.

Robbe & Berking Robbe & Berking’s Dante Bar Collection is everything you would expect from the company. Think purist lines and elegant proportions. As a special feature, the silver-plated drinking vessels are also available with a gold-plated interior and offer a wide range of possible combinations in line with the popular mix & match trend. In addition, the Dante Bar Collection possesses a whole range of other features. The high thermal conductivity of silver, for example, allows every drinking vessel to assume the temperature of the beverage.

www.robbeberking.com

Pieces with hammered finishes were very much in vogue over the past number of seasons, is this still the case? Texture continues to be huge. Hand hammered has a strong appeal, as well as hand-finished pieces. People are looking for artisan handmade finishes, where each piece has a one-of-a-kind feel. What coloured finishes are proving to be popular with consumers? We have seen a lot of golds, blacks, chromes etc. I totally agree. We have several special metallic finishes including rainbow bronze, graphite and steel blue. They have a stunning “swirled” effect and strongly resemble Raku pottery. Both finishes have a lot of movement within them, and with the hand finishes, they truly are one-of-a-kind. Gold remains strong and continues to be on trend. We are finding a strong appeal for gold and metallic finishes, especially with younger, social media influences. What sort of innovative methods are you using when crafting your metal pieces? Rainbow bronze, steel blue and graphite use a proprietary, one-of-akind metallic plating process that makes each piece uniquely different. Is metal something which appeals to younger consumers, do you find? We are finding our dishwasher safe stainless steel, as well as the unique metallic finishes, appeal to a younger consumer looking for something special that is still easy to care for.

36 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Sambonet Available in an array of impressive colourways, Sambonet’s Penelope is a design triumph. The series of serving bowls, centrepieces and macaron dish in stainless steel combine craftsmanship and innovation typical of Sambonet in small details. The “jewel” spheres that defines this collection are in noble resin of various hues.

www.sambonet.com

Royal Selangor Royal Selangor’s drinkware collection, Cosmos, is inspired by the heavenly forms that populate our skies. The swirling clouds of the Helix nebula are recreated in the pewter foot of the Nebula white wine glass. Like the arms of a spiral galaxy, pewter lines coil and twist at the bottom of the Galaxy white wine glass. The orbits of comets are reimagined as criss-crossing pewter bands at Comet red wine glass base. The elliptical paths of celestial bodies are recreated at the bottom of the Ellipse red wine glass. Closer to earth, imaginary meridian lines are given pewter forms which combine in the Meridian champagne flute base.

www.royalselangor.com

Stelton

Julia Knight

Elements of Stelton’s Ora collection feature stainless steel, giving the collection a depth and interest which make it stand out. The Ora collection is composed of multiple sculptural elements – bowls and candleholders comprised of stainless steel, wood and glass are designed to work in unison or separately.

The perfect mix of modern elements of hand cut stainless steel and hand crumpled bases and handles, Julia Knight’s Sierra collection (pictured) immediately evokes movement, beauty and sophistication. The stainless steel Cascade Collection meanwhile consists of the Julia Knight signature enamel infused hand-crushed mother-of-pearl as well as the stunning trade secret metallic finishes. These pieces bring a modern organic element to every tablescape. Finally, the Eclipse Collection is hand poured and every edge, hand finished, creating a refined elegance.

stelton.com

juliaknightcollection.com

Zieher

What coloured finishes are proving to be popular with consumers? We have seen a lot of golds, blacks, chromes etc.

Nikolan Dietz, marketing manager with Zieher on the enduring popularity of metal How would you describe the metals category currently? Is it buoyant? Metal is and we assess will ever be an important material regarding tableware, dining and buffets. It is durable, highly versatile and can be shaped into almost anything. Our classic, Skyline by Zieher, is made of metal and still quite the seller. In terms of sales, do you find metal pieces more popular in some territories over others? There are regional preferences, but it would seem they are more in regard to the look then the material. We have a range of different finishes for our equipment, gold, silver, copper, polished and hammered among them. In the Middle East and Russia golden coloured items are quite popular, Europe more tends towards silver. We have a Champagne flute made of glass with platinum and golden finishes, that demonstrates quite well that the look counts, not the actual material. Pieces with hammered finishes were very much in vogue over the past number of seasons, is this still the case? Sales regarding hammered items are still good, not counting the effect of the crisis of course. But Zieher aims to be innovative and since everybody does hammered items now, we might be looking for something different.

Gold, black and polished silver are the most demanded for sure. Black finishes are on the rise, copper not so much. One of our novelties, the Falcon comes in two versions, both highly polished – one is a light gold, the other one silver. As of now both versions are doing well, but as mentioned earlier, in different regions. What sort of innovative methods are you using when crafting your metal pieces? There are various techniques used to create our distinctive design items, it really depends on the look of a certain series to determine the best production method. Is metal something which appeals to younger consumers, do you find? I don´t think metal is limited to a certain range of age, everybody likes a shiny finish. The affection for a certain product is more influenced by the design of the item, be it classic, modern or playful.

TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 37

Feature Metalware

Beatriz Ball

Royal Selangor Craig Skinner, sales director, Royal Selangor United Kingdom on the demand for metal How would you describe the metals category currently? Is it buoyant? The demand for metal or metallic products is always there. In the past, metal cutlery, dinnerware and drinkware were valued for its beauty and high quality of craftsmanship. The same exacting standards previously enforced by guilds, are now being upheld by companies like Royal Selangor that merge top notched artisans with technology. This powerful combination makes a wide variety of designs possible, leading to increases in local and global market reach.

Beatriz Ball has launched several new metalware collections having developed a new proprietary production technique and is now also able to make metal alloy items in a gold tone finish. Sierra Modern is a collection of finely detailed gold tone products. It includes both decorative picture frames and elegant serving items like bowls, serving trays and platters. New in the brand’s classic metal alloy collection is the gently undulating Devon shape. The Devon designs include ice buckets, bowls and a wine bottle coaster. New are also several Croc metal barware items (pictured) which work perfectly with the new Croc glasses for an integrated barware story.

www.beatrizball.com

In terms of sales, do you find metal pieces more popular in some territories over others? Metalware is popular everywhere because it is generally durable and easy to maintain. However, markets do have preferences. For example, our western customers purchase bottle chillers, decanters, tumblers and photo frames as wedding or bridal gifts. They also buy our children’s gift ranges as christening gifts. We’ve also seen the rise of hip flasks as gifts for groomsmen. Pieces with hammered finishes were very much in vogue over the past number of seasons, is this still the case? Yes. Hand hammering is a traditional method of finishing a metal piece. The texture it produces adds visual interest to a piece. Mr Yong Koon, who founded Royal Selangor was fond of using this technique when he was a pewtersmith back in the late 19th century. What coloured finishes are proving to be popular with consumers? We have seen a lot of golds, blacks, chromes etc. I think warm-toned finishes are popular because they add a subtle pop of colour in the living space. Phonos, our upcoming range of pod amplifiers for the mobile phone, features copper and bronze finishes. What sort of innovative methods are you using when crafting your metal pieces? We focus closely on the creative aspect of the design process. Technology becomes the means of developing an idea to its maximum potential. In addition to carefully keeping an eye on trends, we also partner with designers from around the world, museums and other brands. Our designers and product developers use rapid prototyping, digital scanning and other techniques to speed time to market. Is metal something which appeals to younger consumers, do you find? We do appeal to a certain demographic. But our audience has certainly grown to include the younger ones when we expanded our pop culture collectibles to include Batman, Star Wars and Marvel. For us it’s about timeless design. Our customers are people who enjoy beautiful well-designed products. I was talking to a good friend of mine and her daughter who was in her twenties asked her to purchase teapots and lamps for her home. At the same time, we have customers who purchase our limited edition pop culture figurines because of the extraordinary level of detailing. 38 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Elia Elia is bringing style to the table with its Perfect Pour range and Infuser Tea Pots, all made from 18/10 stainless steel. Thoughtfully designed to overcome the issue of dripping whilst pouring, the Perfect Pour range does exactly as expected. With heat dissipating hollow handles and a pedestal base, this product is light in the hand and easy to use whilst the shape is classic yet contemporary to suit any style. To complete the collection there is a co-ordinating stainless steel sugar bowl and creamer set with Oval Tray. Meanwhile, an infuser secures neatly inside the body of the Infuser Tea Pots to allow loose leaf tea or other infusions to be prepared easily.

www.elia.co.uk

Nambé Innovative design takes centre stage with Nambé’s Scoop Chip & Dip Server. Designed by Wei Young, this showstopping piece is made from Nambe’s exclusive temperatureretaining alloy. A smaller vessel hangs in a graceful arc over the larger bowl, allowing for easy, all-in-one-place dipping – perfect for chips and salsa or fruit and chocolate.

www.nambe.com

Royal Copenhagen

Trends Column Marimekko

Tableware Trend Analyst

Donna Ferrari

Fresh picks

Back to the garden Juliska

Donna Ferrari has worked in magazine publishing for over thirty years. As a consumer magazine editor she specialised in the tableware, homeware and bridal markets, and styled and produced stories related to bridal gift registry, wedding reception design and at-home entertaining. Personally, she has eleven different sets of dinnerware and closets dedicated just to tabletop accessories; she says she loves not ever having to set her table the same way twice.

Meeting the moment is a tableware trend lavish in fresh picked floral motifs, Donna Ferrari explores more In the lyrics for the iconic ‘70s song Woodstock, written by Joni Mitchell, there is a line that says, “And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.” At this unsettling moment in time we may be feeling the fundamental wisdom in a notion like this; perhaps accounting for the uptick in interest for floral and foliage designs on dinnerware, home textiles and in fashion and jewelry. For home and outdoor living décor, trends in vessels for flowers and plants are also in exceptionally imaginative mode. Bernardaud

Fresh picks No longer bound to traditions, the floral comeback is a trend taking root with fresh and fanciful design ideas and innovative techniques that bring on a modern point of view. At Bernardaud, the

Féerie dinnerware pattern, with its playful, firework-style blasts of small flowers, birds and butterflies, created in collaboration with multimedia artist Michaël Cailloux, epitomises the trend for fantasy-floral designs. Hering Berlin, a tableware brand ever on the cutting-edge of innovation, recently introduced their Palmhouse X dinnerware range. The collection uses an x-ray process to translate floral motifs into decorations that create the illusion the food is floating on a flower’s petals. The appeal of roses never really goes out

of style but a rose redux on dinnerware is clearly a trend showing up on many of the newest patterns. A fresh pick from Marimekko is the bodacious Rosarium pattern with its avant-garde impression of a rose garden when the blooms are at their fullest. At Juliska, for the new Blue Rose pattern, artist and designer Jan Erika choose abstract colours and shapes to interpret the grand dame of flowers in a spry, non-traditional way. In 1775 Royal Copenhagen introduced its original Blue Fluted Plain pattern. In 2000 ceramicist, Karen Kjældgråd-Larsen, the first tableware designer to conceive of modernising a classic dinnerware pattern, created Blue Fluted

40 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Hering Berlin

Mega — a somewhat amplified version of the original. Twenty years hence, now the company is presenting the limited-edition Mega Rose collection, an artistic collaboration between Karen and visual artist Mette Hannemann. Unique in concept and execution, the Mega Rose pattern blends time-honoured hand-painted brush strokes with the addition of a spray-painted rose silhouette.

Rosenthal

Extreme-naturalism Boundaries are off the table even for floral motifs grounded in naturalism. Rosenthal’s Magic Garden collection, inspired by a hortus medicus, Latin for a pharmacy garden, is a dinnerware series designed by tableware and home product design veteran Sacha Walckhoff. Upping the usual handful of options within a mix and match dinnerware pattern, in this collection, all the dinnerware pieces are available in all three décors: Black Seeds, Foliage and Blossom — symbolising the three stages of a plant’s development. While each décor has stand-alone status, when layered in a place setting, they artfully transform into a manifold botanical bouquet. Included in the colour palettes Pantone’s ColorWatch 2021 anticipates, there are colurways described as emphasising positivity, having deep, lush tones to convey a feeling of passion, featuring adventurous tonal ranges, and, contrasting colours used in combination. Hermès’s Passifolia collection, imagined by designer Nathalie Rolland-Huckel, certainly speaks to this type of exuberant use of colour, and incredibly, each of the thirty pieces in the collection, thick with verdant greens and other succulent shades, is decorated with a different, exactingly portrayed, tangle of tropical jungle flora. Vista Alegre’s Duality collection truly turns the tables on tradition. Based on 19th century naturalistic floral prints Vista Alegre held in the brand’s museum, the surprising scheme of placing minimal décor on the main side and a bountiful display of décor on the opposing side of the dinnerware pieces means to evoke a dialogue between conventional and unconventional design concepts.

Hermès

Bordallo Pinheiro

Lasting value Wedgwood

Lasting value

Georg Jensen

To cut through the confusion and clutter of a world market engulfed in uncertainty, and largely, too many choices, many consumers are turning, or returning their attention to the lasting value in goods that are multifunctional, made using authentic materials and sustainable practices, are from trusted heritage brands or artisan makers, and products favoured by influencers and friends. Wedgwood, a brand steeped in heritage, has introduced the Blue Pebble collection of vases. Each vase is handcrafted using the signature Jasper colour and material developed by company founder, Josiah Wedgwood. As each vase is unique, it will carry the maker’s mark, its own serial code that coordinates with a matching authenticity certificate, and packaged in specialised gift boxing.

Horticulture is a hobby with a growing following. Georg Jensen, in collaboration with design house Snøhetta, have tapped into this trend with their Terra collection; a range of plant pots and watering utensils stylishly combining the warmth of terracotta with sleek mirror polished stainless steel. The two companies' multidisciplinary approach to design is exemplified in the reversible Pot & Saucer shown left; at its narrow end the tapered shape can support a small plant, then be flipped over to the wider end for replanting as the plant grows. Bordallo Pinheiro, a company with wide artistic fame and a history for sustainable practices, sees success in partnering with world famous super model and avid art collector Claudia Schiffer to design the Cloudy Butterflies vase — a handmade work of art adorned with a flutter of butterflies.

TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 41

Atelier Swarovski

Trends Column

Compelling contours When is a vase not just a vase? Even sans flowers, vases featuring compelling contours are an object lesson in how to make a statement. Atelier Swarovski’s Framework vase collection, offered with blue or white glass encased in a brass frame, was designed under the creative direction of Nadja Swarovski. Inspired by the healing properties believed to come from natural crystal formations a vase from this collection can bring a sense of wellbeing into a room. Jonathan Adler’s Pompidou vases — each vase sold separately, join ‘70s influenced shapes and graphics with primary colours to recall that era’s high-tech vibe. LSA International’s Bratislava vase — one of three vases featuring angular silhouettes in the Metropole City Vase set, would make for monumental accent pieces with, or without, the addition of flowers or foliage. Octaevo’s collection of Paper Vases are handmade using a special waterproof paper and offered in a variety of contemporary surface designs — Bazaar is shown. Yet, overarching each decorative design is the vase’s shape, a contour especially chosen to recall ancient classical era ceramics. A clear-cut example illustrating today’s ethos to both borrow from and break with design traditions.

LSA International

Compelling contours

Octaevo Jonathan Adler

To the touch

Orrefors

Enjoying the scent and the sight of flowers arranged in a vase engages two of the senses, the trend for perceptibly tactile design now invites touch too. Orrefors’s Carat Vase Lower Cut (shown), is also available in a polar opposite design, Carat Vase Upper Cut. The duo, designed by Lena Bergström, take inspiration from the look and feel of raw gemstones. Rosenthal’s range of Phi vases, designed by Cairn Young, consists of five different forms: Freeze, Manhattan, Snow, Spindrift, and City (shown). Each of the forms have a differing highly dimensional surface which is not just tempting to touch but creates a strong contrast between dark and light areas for dramatic chiaroscuro effect. Phi is also offered as a collection of pendant lighting.

The high relief artwork and the play of satin and clearly polished crystal on Lalique’s Pivoines vase — available in clear, amber, green and purple, virtually make each blossom on the vase feel fully realised. Beatriz Ball, founder and head designer of her eponymous Beatriz Ball tabletop brand, worked with ceramicist Gretchen Murchison to create the Vida Bloom collection. Holding the sculptural pieces in the range, with their petal-like forms and graceful shapes, bring to mind touching a flower. The collection is offered in melamine and the company’s signature sand-cast metal. Lalique

To the touch

Beatriz Ball 42 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Rosenthal

Like a frost-painted window or cracked ice. The frosty touch of the pantograph engraved a delicate motif into the modern Sandra glasses collection, evoking winter moments spent in the comfort and warmth of your home. The fitting patina rim raises the entire holiday collection to perfection.

Crystalex.cz

FROST

Product Spotlight

Collection Dissection Bergner

Casa Benetton by Bergner F

ashion powerhouse Benetton has paired its stylistic prowess with Bergner's skill and know-how, resulting in the exciting launch of Casa Benetton. The creative collaboration was first mooted between the two companies at the start of 2019, with Casa Benetton finally coming to fruition with a limited launch this summer, before a full assault on retail follows. A riot of colour, this collection – which includes tableware and an assortment of kitchenware – is a veritable expression of all Benetton stands for. The concept behind the collection is to bring colour

44 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

into everyone’s home, perfectly marrying with the brand's globally recognised slogan; United Colors of Benetton. Emphasis has been placed on strong primary colours – think yellow, red, blue, green – visually linking Benetton’s brand message to the tableware assortment. The team at Bergner are working to develop new and fresh ideas with lots of interesting concepts coming to fruition soon. While the initial launch of Casa Benetton has been in the EU, Bergner is developing the market in the USA, Canada, LATAM, Asia and MENA, with plans to launch in these territories by 2021. Despite launching a new

collection in unprecedented times, Berger says retail response has been strong. Feedback, thus far, on the collection has been positive, despite such ambiguous times. Interestingly, Casa Benetton's colourful décor has been highlighted as a huge plus, having a positive impact on consumers, evoking happy feelings and that has been a huge contributing factor to the collection's success so far. By 2021, Bergner plans to have Casa Benetton available in all Benetton stores and on the Benetton webshop. www.bergnerhome.com

Did you know? Bergner is working on a very exclusive collection with Jean Charles Castelbajac – head designer for many Benetton pieces.

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Viewpionts Hering Berlin Stefanie Hering, designer

Has your company decided on an approach to trade fairs in 2021? In 2021, we will continue to follow our strategy, which we decided on last year and have been pursuing consistently – in view of Hering Berlin’s very design-oriented, critical target group, we want to be present at the most important design fairs, but in a different way than with the typical trade fair stand. We focus on co-operations with other design brands such as Gaggenau and specifically on events parallel to the trade fair. These can be designer talks and collection premieres in the form of trunk shows online – virtual exhibition worlds that every viewer can access online – or, if it’s possible again at some point, dinners with international chefs on Hering Berlin porcelain for around 10 to 20 people. What has been your approach to launching new collections for the second half of 2020?

Since the lockdown in March and April this year, the new collections of Hering Berlin are all presented online. For this purpose, we have launched the model of the online trunk show for the porcelain sector. Something that has so far been known mainly from the fashion world. New designs are offered exclusively online and for a limited time to collectors and buyers worldwide. The TrunkShow will be accompanied by designer interviews about the design idea, the manufactory production and with recommendations on how to stage the porcelain in everyday life. Here we enter into cooperation with international star chefs. Under the heading ‘Recommended by’ on our website you can see which recommendations these Hering Berlin Ambassadors make for porcelain. Although the collections are mainly presented online for the first time at the moment, this form of premiere is as sophisticated as it is exciting.

“We have launched the model of the online trunk show for the porcelain sector. Something that has so far been known mainly from the fashion world”

Viewpoints… From trade fairs to new collections, we hear from industry insiders about their approach to the rest of the year Denby, Hayley Baddiley, global marketing director

Has your company decided on an approach to trade fairs in 2021? Being able to present Denby’s ceramics and homeware directly to our customers and potential new retailers has always been an essential part of Denby’s trade marketing programme and historically trade fairs have been great way to reach our trade audiences. However, as you might expect we are reviewing whether they will continue to play the same role for us in the ‘new world’ where we all face the possibility of continued restrictions on travel and large gatherings. For the last couple of years, we have been exploring exciting new methods for reaching our customers and new trade audiences and for example now service many customers for presentation and ordering via our ‘NuORDER’ platform. Recent events have consolidated our view that we need these types of remote / digital vehicles alongside more traditional means for presenting our brand and our products throughout the year. 46 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

What has been your approach to launching new collections for the second half of 2020? Denby’s proposed launches for the whole of 2020 were previewed at the spring trade shows (Top Drawer, Spring Fair and Ambiente). Early previews allow buyers to see not only spring launches but what is coming later from Denby and give them the ability to plan their buying schedule for the year ahead. All Denby’s proposed collections have been launched as planned which includes the mid-year launch of Denby’s Impression collection which is currently being despatched to retailers and Statements giftware which is being launched in John Lewis in September.

Villeroy & Boch Jürgen Beining, international sales director tableware Has your company decided on an approach to trade fairs in 2021? Due to the pandemic, trade fairs and external events will not provide any reliable planning security in the coming months, as currently shown by the numerous cancellations and postponements of major events of all kinds. We at Villeroy & Boch always evaluate the upcoming trade fairs and events individually. What has been your approach to launching new collections for the second half of 2020? Reaching our customers and launching our new collections for the second half of 2020 has been quite a challenge for us. We organised a digital roadshow in Italy in which we presented our collections for the second half of 2020. This new concept was very successful and we are happy about the results. Therefore, we plan to develop this concept further and to organise similar digital events also in other countries from September on.

Collections

Viewpionts

Melody Rose, Melanie Roseveare, owner “The pandemic meant we had to delay the collection and instead launch for AW20. We will be launching online and in a few exclusive boutiques rather than at the trade fairs”

Sambonet, Giovanni Coppo, sales and marketing director Has your company decided on an approach to trade fairs in 2021? Our company, as well as the other brands of the Arcturus Group, is ready to concentrate resources and energy to confirm its participation at Ambiente, Frankfurt, and at the main trade fairs at the beginning of the year. We hope that the situation will evolve back to normal and that we will be able to meet our partners and possibly find new leads. However, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the situation at the beginning of next year.

“We are trying to deal with this complex scenario, supporting the markets that are struggling to get back on track and which, of course, have hopes and expectations in the last four months” What has been your approach to launching new collections for the second half of 2020? We will keep the Sambonet focuses and launches already scheduled for the second half of the year, dedicated to the new Rock cutlery collection and design objects, perfect for gifts and Christmas tables. We are trying to deal with this complex scenario, supporting the markets that are struggling to get back on track and which, of course, have hopes and expectations in the last four months. We offer proposals and services suitable for the renewed needs of consumption and both offline and online content able to communicate our products and to enhance the quality of our brand. Has the pandemic had an impact on your export market? The pandemic had an impact on the export market in general, but we are aware of the group’s solidity. Many countries have gradually restarted and emerged from the health emergency, for this reason we look to the future with extreme caution, but confidence. We are facing the restart with enthusiasm, maintaining the necessary safety measures and offering new commercial solutions in order to upgrade our customer and partner service.

48 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Has your company decided on an approach to trade fairs in 2021? Our plan for trade fairs for 2021 has definitely been impacted by the pandemic and we have decided not to go ahead with any planned events for winter/spring 2021. We're taking a wait and see approach for the third and fourth quarters. Although it’s disappointing, we feel it’s a good opportunity to take some time to review and also rethink our approach going forward; there may be new, innovative ways that work for our company. What has been your approach to launching new collections for the second half of 2020? In January 2020, we previewed our new The Show Must Go On Collection at Maison et Objet which we planned to launch in late spring 2020. The pandemic meant we had to delay the collection and instead launch for

Posh Trading Company, Fran Maunder, sales and marketing director Has your company decided on an approach to trade fairs in 2021? We have decided to not participate in trade fairs in 2021, as with current Covid issues we believe attendances will be very different in the coming year and people will be cautious. Also, with the launch of our showroom in January we will focus most of our efforts there. Has the pandemic had an impact on your export market? The majority of our business is working with our retail partners internationally. As most of them suffered the effects of Covid, this made a huge impact to our sales internationally thus the export. We are hopeful everyone will make a full recovery and can make up for the loss of sales during the remainder of the year.

autumn/winter ‘20. We will be launching online and in a few exclusive boutiques rather than at the trade fairs. We are currently working on a new digital strategy which includes a refresh to the Melody Rose website which will work in tandem with and complement the launch. Has the pandemic had an impact on your export market? Although the pandemic has meant the temporary closure of many retail shops and we have seen a decrease in export to our stockists in China, we’re pleased to report that we have new stockists in Japan and Lisbon both opening in September 2020 and orders for Korea and Canada. We’ve seen a large increase in our online orders including shipping to the USA amongst other countries. We’ve also been commissioned for a HoReCa order of plates for a new exciting restaurant opening late October in Sweden!

KitchenCraft , Claire Budgen, marketing director What has been your approach to launching new collections for the second half of 2020? We have just launched over 300 new products in autumn/winter ‘20, something which was planned, and we feel is still appropriate. As consumers invest in their home, cook and experiment more, including entertaining in the home rather than going out, our product range has never been more fitting. So, we feel investment in continued development to be what consumers are going to expect and even more so demand and purchase going forward. Has the pandemic had an impact on your export market? Initially of course, as the pandemic hit some international markets ahead of our home market. However, some markets recovered quicker than the home market, so we feel it has rebalanced over the past month or so.

Creativity and Beauty

WrzeĹ&#x203A;niak

G L A S S W O R K S

www.glassworks.pl

Monno

Column HoReCa

About G & G

Home truths

Use what you’ve got to your benefit, says Valda Goodfellow ust when we all thought we’d pictured where the market was going, with retail in decline and food service destined to be the saviour of tableware manufacturers… boom! Covid-19 came along and threw the jigsaw pieces up in the air. They haven’t all landed yet but what is evident is that there is no really reliable data (no matter what some marketeers like to claim) on what consumers think now, what they want, or where the market is going. What we think we know is that online selling is supposed to be the answer, whether you are aiming at retail or food service. Based on the fact that everyone has been stuck at home for months on end with nothing to do but shop online;

now that we can go out, no one wants to physically go shopping! It is so uncomfortable having to wear a mask that the joy of ‘reallife’ shopping has been greatly diminished, so why not shop from home? Even chefs have had to adapt. With their restaurants forced to shut, these ingenious souls started selling take-away food and making meals for hospital staff (for free). One chef even moved his family into the restaurant so they could keep going as a business and a family, all together. Their selfless actions, including making free meals for key workers, lifted the mood of the nation, provided valuable income in desperate circumstances and led to the creation of a movement that is now really taking hold.

Did you know?

Even before Covid-19 had a name, chefs had discovered the reach-potential of the video cookery lesson. From YouTube to Tik Tok, there is a platform and cookery video for every age, ability and cuisine. Video-based marketing now seems to have so much more impact than static images. After all, we are now accustomed to serious news being presented from bedrooms, lounges and kitchens all over the world (with and without children, cats and partners appearing at the most inconvenient times). Wives and boyfriends have been drafted in as camera crew and kitchens have been turned into studios. At the start of lockdown, I realised that, through our online consumer website, Goodfellows at Home, we had the ready-made

Through their website Goodfellows at Home, Valda and her team has brought the restaurant to the home. They have started selling tableware to the public ¬– inspired by chefs working from home. 50 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Founded by Paul and Valda Goodfellow, G & G Goodfellows is a highly creative design & Distribution Company with an amazing showroom in Little Portland Street. Oﬀering a truly hands-on service, Goodfellows passion is to bring new and exciting, bespoke food presentation concepts to the UK’s culinary scene. As well as oﬀering a wide variety of the world’s best branded tableware, kitchen equipment, clothing and machines, Goodfellows also collaborates closely with UK craft producers for totally unique products. It works with all sizes of restaurant and catering projects, happy to supply anything from an individual plate to a full restaurant concept.

sales-generating platform to offer to those chefs who wanted to sell additional products direct to consumers. When they link our shop to their cookery videos, it provides a compelling proposition. We offer chefs their own shop on our site and back them up with strong digital marketing campaigns. They don’t have to handle any stock or take any payments. We do it all for them and we pay them a commission at the end of every month. During lockdown, when they had very little income, it provided a real boost and more than that, it made them understand the power of customer reach, beyond their restaurants and into people’s homes. With income from takeaway service and meal-kits to finish at home, plus commission from selling tableware through us, chefs and restaurateurs are starting to think about online selling as a very viable proposition and a great way to enhance their brand. Infotainment is the way forward in

new normal. A bit hit recently has been our breakfast bundle made up from Costa Nova’s Friso Range and the social dining bundle we put together for Jason Atherton’s ‘shop’. We put a huge amount of effort into supporting the chefs/ restaurateurs and growing the audience for online, including offering advice and technical expertise in maximising social media. Those that see this as the dawn of a new era will reap huge rewards. They will not give up their new-found audience and income streams. Incorporating at-home offerings will soon become the norm and those that do it first and best will become powerful food brands. Don’t get me wrong, it is not easy creating these collaborative

Fact!

Top name chefs such as Adam Handling, Jason Atherton and Adam Byatt all work with Goodfellows at Home.

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engaging with a target audience. Consumers love it! They associate the products with what they see in the restaurants of their favourite chefs (we work with those that buy their tableware from us for their restaurants); and as many did not have great tableware at home, the temptation to buy beautiful tableware, along with kitchen gadgets such as KitchenAids, became the new fashion fix. Taking images for social media of their home-cooked creations or chef-prepared kit meal on old plates just wasn’t good enough. From dinner party bundles, to funky statement pieces, we try to offer products suited to all occasions in today’s at home dining scene, from date-night In, to virtual family celebrations, we offer products for today’s

Chefs and restaurateurs are starting to think about online selling as a very viable proposition and a great way to enhance their brand. Infotainment is the way forward in engaging with a target audience. relationships with chefs and restaurateurs but we have managed to perfect a process which is only possible because we already have their trust and confidence and our products are relevant to them because they use them in their restaurants. However, we really believe in this new movement which has not only been incredibly

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important to us during these challenging times but it has been a significant opportunity for our manufacturers to resonate with hard-to-reach consumers. We may not have the hard data to back this up yet, but we know by instinct this is true. goodfellowsathome.com

TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL 51

New Products HoReCa

Inspired by… Stunning to look at, the Kintsugi design from Churchill is a modern interpretation of the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. Churchill tell us the intricate crackled design features a subtle, reactive texture that makes each piece unique. The design is decorated underglaze, creating a protective layer for added durability.

www.churchill1795.com

Focus on…

HoReCa With restaurants, bars, hotels and cafes open for business, we take a look at products designed for the hospitality industry

First class service

Noritake Australia’s David Caon designed collection actually began life as an airline range for Quantas, catering for both first and business class. It was such a hit, Noritake has converted it into a retail line. The fine dining range features a combination of stunning contemporary design and brilliant functionality. Manufactured from the finest bone china, the company says it is commercial quality tough.

www.noritake.com.au

Transport in style A little bit of theatre never hurt anyone, particularly when that theatre involves a dynamic combination of hospitality-friendly products from Steelite. Step forward the Robert Gordon Potter’s Collection pictured here with the Rantang by Creations carrier. The Potter’s Collection features a substantial collection of embossed plates, platters and accessories while the unique Rantang by Creations carrier cleverly also works with other Steelite supplied pieces including their Folio cookware. www.steelite.com

Double delight Utopia has launched a range of double walled glasses made from bora silica glass, which has a high resistance to extremes of temperatures making them ideal for use in restaurants, cafes and bars and other catering outlets.

www.utopia-tableware.com

The perfect platter Anything that makes serving easier is a welcome addition to the table, take T&G Woodware’s revolving platters which are designed to making service simple. Fitted domes are also available to for the revolving platters to keep food fresh. 52 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

www.tg-woodware.com

HoReCa

The art of choosing “I was looking for crockery when opening up my first business and after a mad hunt I found Sango Hospitality. If you are looking for unique style, this is the place to go. Other products didn’t feel natural, but Sango had that personal feel to them. Going forward Sango is my first port of call.” Chef Jamie Savage on why he has opted for Sango Hospitality’s ranges. Jamie runs Savages Mussels at The Picturedrome in Macclesfield. The art deco building was originally a cinema, which was overhauled and reimagined.

Picture perfect effort You’d be forgiven for thinking this plate of food was served up by a Michelin starred chef, but you’d be wrong. Step forward Monno’s creative designer Billy Lloyd who whipped up this, frankly, delicious looking pasta dish with fresh truffle. While on lockdown, Billy took part in an online cookery masterclass with one of London’s leading caterers Rocket Food, and served his dish on Monno’s Euclid bone china bowl, which was designed by Queensberry Hunt. Well, if you spend your days designing tableware, it helps to know what to put in it!

The Chef’s Table From the most exotic restaurants to the most glamorous bars – tableware plays a central role in creating memorable atmospheres. We showcase a few examples of HoReCa products in action on The Chef’s Table...

Food poetry in motion Chef Asimakis Chaniotis is photographed at restaurant Pied à Terre serving up on the Isumi presentation plate. The presentation plate from Utopia’s Isumi range combines natural forms and textures with high-end finishes and precise, considered design to create a stunning signature piece to showcase the finest meals. “Asimakis’ menu is defined by the freshest and best produce, presented in dramatic and striking ways,” says Josh Rammell, marketing manager at Utopia. “The Isumi presentation plate was the ideal choice to complement such impressive meals.”

Work it! We all know Chilewich as a purveyor of luxury placemats but an entire restaurant worktop? Why, yes, actually. At Eleven Madison Park that is exactly what Chilewich has created – using the well-respected fine dining restaurant as its test kitchen. Explaining the concept, Chilewich says the worktop is a turn-key solution for the daily task of preparing the pass. This process

on ich e also

Chef Daniel Humm with Sandy Chilewich

54 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

typically involves using masking tape to affix a linen covering (usually a tablecloth) to each pass, creating a clean, stable surface for plating and pick-up. Chef Daniel Humm and his team stepped up to the plate (pardon the pun) for Chilewich by testing prototypes and providing invaluable feedback, helping them to refine the design. The worktop concept

is wipe clean and amongst its many benefits, Chilewich points out that it helps to minimise breakage of tableware and decrease ambient noise. “With the Chilewich Worktops setup and breakdown of the kitchen is immediately easier,” says Humm. “The products are beautiful, durable, and easy to clean. They improve our kitchen, and that’s a special quality.”

Trend Tie-Dye

Lenox There is something dreamy about Lenox’s Season’s Radiance designed by Tim Carder. Spring, summer, autumn, winter are all represented in the beautiful, watercolorinspired collection. This dusk shade highlights the beauty of twilight.

www.lenox.com

Rosenthal Merging from one shade to the next, the Thomas BeColour collection perfectly showcases ombré in stylish, fresh colourways. Blues, pinks and greens mix to create a joyful collection.

www.rosenthal.de

Tie-dye goals

Wedgwood Wedgwood’s Blue Pebble Collection has been inspired by natural textures and the fluid organic shapes of water washed pebbles. A series of statement pieces, made with Wedgwood’s signature blue and white Jasper material, brings impact to the home.

www.wedgwood.com

Tie-dye recently enjoyed a real resurgence, particularly on the high-street, and tableware is not adverse to being fashion forward. We highlight some pieces which fall into the category...

Nude

The Pigmento collection from Nude Glass reinterprets a traditional technique used to add colour to glass in the process of mouthblowing an object, an intuitive process that generates a different result every time. Gorgeous yellows, oranges and pinks bring each piece to life.

www.nudeglass.com

Blue Pheasant

“The idea of combinations of colour combining to create magical effects such as the ones achieved by dip glazing to create the ombre effect of tie-dye patterns is at the heart of Denby’s rich, reactive glazes. Unlike many potteries, Denby develops its own glaze recipes which are produced at its site in Derbyshire which has been its home for over 200 years. Renowned for its glaze effects, Denby's glaze recipes are a closely guarded secret.” Richard Eaton, design director, Denby Pictured: Denby’s Blue Haze

Blue Pheasant has certainly embodied the tiedye trend with its Austin range. The serving board now comes in Black Swirl with the teak and resin materials bringing a pop of colour to the table. The cake stands (not pictured) meanwhile, are a new finish for this season with blue, brown, and green swirl. Each cake stand is hand-dipped, making them one-of-a kind.

www.bluepheasant.com

Tableware International Noritake.pdf 1 30/06/2020 4:13:54 PM

CMY

Burleigh Category Giftable

Blue Pheasant

The gift of giving Giftable tableware ticks a lot of boxes, we examine a few options ready to make an impact Denby

Forge De Laguiole

Posh Trading Company

58 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

Viners

nextricably linked, gifting and tableware are part of the same parcel, born from the same veins of human experience – sharing, giving, togetherness, experiencing a moment. These are all fundamental parts of connecting as humans, so it makes perfect sense for tableware to serve as a gift. Wedgwood know this well, the brand’s famed blue gift box is as recognisable as jasperware. Tapping into the upcoming festive season, Wedgwood presents two festive Winter White dinner plates in their signature box. Burleigh Pottery, meanwhile, have been working on new gift packaging this year – ready to present for the buying season. In a nod to the environment, each box is made from corrugated cardboard and is free from any glue or adhesives making it 100 per cent recyclable. And not just that, the designs inside the box are copper printed, telling the story of brand’s heritage. You’ll find teapots – all of which incorporate an integral grid in their spout to elegantly regulate pouring flow and prevent dripping – along with a teacup, saucer and teaplate trio, not to mention cake stands and cow creamers. Burleigh’s sister company, Denby, is also hot on gifting, packing their collections as individual pieces or in gift boxes of two, four, 12, or 16 pieces – think collections such as Imperial Blue, Studio Grey, Modus and Natural Canvas while their Monsoon collaboration is also gift boxed. Another impressively packaged assortment comes from Posh Trading Company, all of their Coastboxes come in a gift box and there are 18 finishes to choose from – so the choice really is yours. One company presenting gift options to buyers is Viners, part of The Rayware Group. Take the Eden Canteen Gift Box, made of 18/10 stainless steel, the design is inspired by a modern teardrop shape. It also comes presented wooden box with six dinner table settings. Blue Pheasant presents several of its accessories in giftfriendly packaging. Each napkin ring and salt and pepper set, for example, comes in a small blue box, perfect for gifting, as do the Percy Pinch Bowls, pictured above. Meanwhile, renowned luxury French company Forge de Laguiole also presents its products in gift-ready packaging – the Bras Cheese Knife, for example, with its attractive blonde stamina handle and stainless-steel blade comes gift packaged with a certificate of authenticity. With the benefit of clever packaging, tapping into the gift market is a sure-fire means to reach an eager buying audience.

Wedgwood

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Column BHETA

The results are in… BHETA recently surveyed its members, Will Jones, chief operating officer, explores the outcome

HETA has just carried out one of its periodic member surveys testing the temperature of the homewares marketplace following these last few extraordinary months. Maybe surprisingly for some, the headline findings are overwhelmingly positive – 83 per cent of members report sales during lockdown as being better than expected, while 63 per cent go as far as to say, much better. Remarkably more than three quarters of survey respondents said they expected to hit or exceed budget for 2020, despite the pandemic and the effects of a resulting recession. Clearly the impact of the surge in home cooking and home baking has translated into sales. Predictions are that these positives will continue as newfound skills and enjoyment, plus a continued reluctance to venture far from home combine to keep food preparation on the nation’s agenda. While that is a huge bonus for the industry, it begs the question of where, and how, did all these sales take place – especially when many traditional outlets were closed for at least some of the time under consideration. The BHETA survey again sheds light on the experience of the membership. The tableware, cookware and bakeware suppliers who did best were the ones who could sell direct to the end consumer though their own websites, through local retailers who stayed open, or quickly re-opened, or through retailers with good e-commerce sites. Moreover, when asked about the lockdown’s impact

60 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

on business structure, strategy and future planning, a significant majority of respondents said that they were actively reconsidering their best routes to market. Equally, they were relooking at their marketing and communications activities in terms of how best to engage the consumer and persuade them to purchase. A look at the latest performance figures from the retailer perspective confirms just how crucial making changes has become. To quote the chair of the John Lewis Partnership, Dame Sharon White: “Shops will always be crucial… but they will be in support of online. Over the next five years, we expect to rebalance our shop estate so that we have the right space in the right locations where people want to shop.” Other department stores like Debenhams, which is seeking new owners, and Fenwick’s, which is anticipating significant losses when it announces its results, will simply not be the same. Key to survival and success for the housewares industry is positive change. While sales are down at Dunelm, online sales were up 85 per cent in the 17 weeks to June 27 and home delivery up 106 per cent. Asda has seen online delivery sales more than double and online click-and-collect orders quadruple due to the changes in consumer behaviour bought on by the pandemic. It plans to increase its delivery slots still further, having already upped delivery capacity by 65 per cent. In illustrating the point still further, it is perhaps almost superfluous to comment on how fullscale e-tailers have fared during the last few months. Figures from the period up to the end of June show Amazon

About BHETA The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) is the voice of authority on everything home improvement and home enhancement, including DIY, housewares, garden, small domestic appliances and home decor. It represents £5 billion at retail and 9,000 employees and brings together manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and opinion formers to drive growth at home and abroad. For more information about retailer and supplier co-operation, contact BHETA on 0121 237 1130, or email wj@bheta.co.uk, or visit the website at www.bheta.co.uk

“

The tableware… suppliers who did best were the ones who could sell direct to the end consumer though their own websites, through local retailers who stayed open, or quickly re-opened, or through retailers with good e-commerce sites

sales up 40 per cent, Wayfair over 80 per cent and Very up nearly 30 per cent. eBay too has experienced a remarkable rise in its numbers of customers – customers which it now expects to keep. This not to write off brick and mortar. As Sharon White said this is all about the right space in the right locations where consumers now want to shop. One of the other retail winners – apart from online – is the quality small independent fuelled by the Shop Local campaign. Consumers do not want to venture far and if local gives a feeling of safety and security and combines with specialism, service and exciting product and experiential sales, then tills continue to ring. As Bira has recently reported, basket size for many independents may be down, but the value of goods purchased in cookshops and hardware stores is up. Investment in digital alongside the sheer pleasure of shopping in these locations must be the way forward. So to return to the BHETA supplier membership, the economic

”

experience has been seismic in terms of the need for agility and the embracing of change, but it has been very far from the disaster that some anticipated at the onset of lockdown. There is a great opportunity here – Google’s fascinating data on the phenomenal increase in the number of people researching how to bake a cake, tells us that. So, BHETA is busy helping members maximise the possibilities of online platforms, the upcoming role of the independent retailer and the need to develop digital and ecommerce capabilities themselves. In September, we resume our series of webinars enabling ecommerce set up, the creation of commercially sound digital strategies and the driving of sales with social media. I urge all housewares members to take part if they have not already done so. Continued success means continued change. To register for BHETA webinars, including the opportunity to pose questions, contact Nicola Adams in BHETA Member Services on na@ bheta.co.uk or on 07946 078566.

lizz pub tableware.pdf 1 02/09/2020 11:04:52

CMY

Trend Dark Colours

Artel

This is not your everyday, run-of-the-mill dinner plate. This is a mouthblown Artel dinner plate. The Saturn plate in ruby red with its orbital rings, reminiscent of the planet, is a joyful thing to behold. The graphic design is a definite talking point at the table which the red colour is a perfect accompaniment to any table.

www.artel.com

Villeroy & Boch

Colour check

If it is maximum impact you are looking for, Villeroy & Boch’s Manufacture Rock in black will fit the bill. Incredibly striking, the dramatic collection – which boasts an array of extensions such as Manufacture Rock Blanc and Manufacture Rock Glow – is made for entertaining.

www.villeroy-boch.com

Rosenthal Cappello from Rosenthal is definite conversation starter. Cleverly mimicking a black bowler hat, the two-piece object turns out to be a cup and saucer, in a combination of matte and shiny porcelain. In addition to the classic version in porcelain dyed black throughout, Cappello (which means hat in Italian) is also available in white.

From rich reds to onyx, tableware in darker shades is increasingly in demand as we approach winter. We take a look at pieces boasting delicious, deep colours…

www.rosenthal.de

Pip Studio Red takes centre stage with Pip Studio’s Blushing Birds collection. There is a nod to both east and west with influences from each culture create exciting new contrasts and wonderful blends in this design. Tropical birds and other exotic species are combined with classic and Pip’s fantasy flowers. Available in multiple colour groups; blue, white, khaki, yellow and red.

www.pipstudio.com

Over and Back The Matrix collection from Over and Back is a celebration of the rich depth of black. Making for a stunning table setting, the collection is a mix of rustic and artisanal glazing, bringing style to the table.

www.overback.com 62 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL

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