Progressive Electrical 2020

June 2020

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GfK Insights

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elcome to our sixth annual edition of Progressive Electrical, coming out in unprecedented times – but at least with some optimism as the UK’s lockdown restrictions start to ease.

However nightmarish and surreal these recent times have been, there have also been some positives: including how the creation of food and drink at home has resulted in both sustenance and comfort.

There has been, of course, a big impact on online sales of certain small domestic appliances. For example, the rush to buy flour coincided with a surge in demand for bread makers (see comments on pages 6-7). Moreover, takeaway lattes and deli takeout lunches were replaced by home-created ‘fakeways,’ increasing demand for coffee machines and food prep appliances.

A report by Profitero (the leading global eCommerce performance analytics platform) called The Quarantined Consumer analysed Amazon’s keyword searches and bestseller rankings a few weeks into lockdowns. It used the term ‘‘Insourcing’ for the ‘do it yourself’ stage of the pandemic. Once consumers had got through an initial ‘survival’ stage - stocking up on essentials such as hand sanitiser and cleaning materials, as well as pasta and tinned tomatoes – ‘insourcing’ categories such as air fryers, bread makers, coffee makers, stand mixers, pizza ovens and pressure cookers were all receiving increased consumer interest.

In this issue, GfK’s Marco Salerno reveals some startling figures when discussing how lockdown has influenced consumers’ electrical buying patterns (pages 22-23), while various retailers provide some experiences of lockdown sales, along with ‘star performing’ SDAs (pages 6-7). Of course, there are hopes that the lockdown has ignited some lasting passions for making good food and drink that will continue to bring some positive influence on the industry.

There are also positives in the expectations of newness and looking ahead. For example, The Funky Appliance Company is providing invigorating doses of fresh design to everyday appliances, while two new entrants to the UK market Gastroback and ritterwerk - highlight how their products address current and longer-term trends (pages 8-13). There are also plenty of exciting developments in smart kitchen technology from exhibitors that were due to showcase innovation at The Inspired Home Show (pages 17-19).

And while we can’t tread the aisles of the Exclusively Show this year, we can explore new SDA launches and trends via Exclusively Digital (see News). We hope you enjoy the buzz of this edition of Progressive Electrical, and all of the team wishes you a healthy and brighter second half of the year.

Jo Howard, editor

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News Retailer viewpoints Electrical trends Focus on RKW Smart kitchen technology New products GfK’s market insights

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Above: Jo Howard, Progressive Electrical’s editor, pictured by KitchenAid’s giant Artisan Blender at Ambiente 2020.

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The Progressive Electricals team: Jo Howard (editor), Rob Willis (publishing director), John Barry (advertising manager), Emma Cain (product page editor), Mark Grayson (creative director), Jakki Brown (editor in chief) and Warren Lomax (director). www.max-publishing.co.uk, ISSN: 25157493

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Putting electricals on the world map Small electrical appliance stockists are among the gia retail (Global Innovation Award) Global Honorees and national Above: Food prep appliances including Smeg on display at Reina winners, providing examples of world class Batata’s flagship store in Buenos visual merchanding and innovative business Aires. The retailer has 25 other outlets across Argentina. practices. The gia programme is organised and sponsored by The Inspired Home Show (in Chicago) and The International Housewares Association.

Argentina’s Reina Batata (one of the six retailers winning the ultimate accolade of gia Global Honoree this year) prides itself on providing a unique setting for its products. Its flagship store in Buenos Aires is based on the “speakeasy concept,” where bars in American cities were hidden away in the 1920s and 1930s. Reina Batata’s Federico Baigun explains: “It is hidden behind a semi-open entry hall where we exhibit a classic car painted by a renowned local artist. Upon accessing the exclusive space, visitors are surprised by its immensity as they step into an old general store with origins in the early 20th century.”

Kitchen appliances, glassware, home décor, linen and gifts are among the discoveries to be found by shoppers in the spacious Above: The Rig-Tig Foodie Collection of store, which combines an industrial-style warehouse appliances, as featured on the gia award winning with exposed brick walls, old farmhouse furniture, ecommerce site, In&Out Cooking of Portugal. indoor hanging plants and industrial lighting for a bohemian effect.

The gia judges loved Reina Batata’s “local and global vibe.” They also praised the store for embracing its “authentic, eclectic marketplace style with dense merchandising in curated collections.”

To watch the 2020 gia presentation (which was live-streamed by the IHA at the end of April) and see all of this year’s national winners – including SDA stockists such as UK gia winner Jarrold of Norwich and Portugal’s In & Out Cooking, winner of the Digital Commerce Award – go to TheInspiredHomeShow.com/Explore/Awards/gia-Excellence-in-Retailing

Above: KitchenAid’s #MakeItTogether campaign has provided inspiration and encouragement for creative lockdown cooking, with consumers sharing their results on Instagram.

#MakeItTogether with KitchenAid A global social media campaign by KitchenAid is encouraging cooking skills for beginners and experienced home cooks alike.

The brand acknowledges that, during lockdown, the rise in home cooking has contributed to big increases in sales of ingredients and food preparation appliances.

Sharing of food news on social media has amplified significantly over the last few months with consumers demonstrating how they use their KitchenAid Stand Mixers to make - among many other things - bread, homemade pasta, pastry and biscuits.

“KitchenAid created the global #MakeItTogether campaign to inspire creativity in the kitchen and bring people together around the joy and comfort of making and sharing food,” acknowledges Simon Langley, marketing manager for KitchenAid UK and Ireland.

He continues: “The campaign's phenomenal success is down to several pillars of activity including the unique proposition of a personalised Stand Mixer and a partnership with leading website bakingmad.com.”

Competitions and third party brand partnerships “quickly seeded campaign news and a series of influencer activations, such as a Baking Bootcamp with TV cook Juliet Sear (who shared recipes and guidance on getting creative at home), has resulted in building a genuine community spirit among passionate bakers and makers,” reports Simon.

The #MakeItTogether campaign is described as ‘a global, socialfirst campaign, established to meet and give consumers of all ages the tools they need to discover the joy, simplicity and comfort of cooking’. KitchenAid acknowledged that home cooking can boost creativity, lower stress, be rewarding, and help people to be healthy and take care of themselves, and their loved ones. (See pages 8-13).

Funky teams up with RKW The Funky Appliance Company has agreed a three-year distribution deal (for the UK and Ireland) with leading European SDA distributor RKW. Founded in 2016 by husband and wife team Joe and Sadie Sillett, The Funky Appliance Company’s mission is to take household appliances and gives them a funky twist. Its debut product, the Funky Iron was a ‘Good Housekeeping Institute Approved 2019’ product.

Founder and ceo Joe Sillett stated that, despite approaches from many different distributors, “things developed quickly” after a meeting at Ambiente earlier this year. Besides the new partnership with RKW, Joe is busy creating new products which will launch in 2021, including a Funky Microwave.”

RKW md Rob Sutton sees an “exciting future” for the Funky brand, commenting: “Joe has arrived in the right place at the right time, when a number of brands are struggling to innovate and offer anything new.” (See pages 8-13).

What should win the next Plugged-In trophy?

Entries are open for the Plugged-In Award – one of the Excellence in Housewares Awards 2020, organised by Progressive Housewares.

The award criteria is for small appliances whose use is concerned with the processing of food or drink, or other household tasks, such as ironing (launched at retail between 21 June 2019 and 26 June 2020).

Entry is via an online portal where suppliers can submit imagery and product information summaries. A panel of retailers will judge the Award. See excellenceinhousewares.co.uk

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Above: Joe Sillett with his Funky Iron.

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The £68K Kenwood PhD Recent news that a student has been awarded £68,000 funding to study the success of Kenwood small kitchen appliances has resulted in tributes to the brand’s good design and durability.

A student based at the University of Portsmouth will be conducting research in partnership with the Science Museum, and will have access to Kenwood’s archives at its Havant offices. The title of the PhD project begins with a quotation from Kenwood’s founder, the late Ken Wood: ‘Eye appeal is buy appeal: The design, mediation and consumption of Kenwood’s kitchen appliances, 1947-2020’.

The Daily Mail recently featured an article by celebrity cook Prue Leith. Prue speaks passionately about her own use of her Kenwood Chef (past and present) and states: ‘I’m glad someone has noticed what a life-changing and important invention the food mixer, spearheaded by Kenwood, was.’

The celebrity reflects on how Kenwood’s food mixer changed lives for women in the kitchen (hitherto Above: A contemporary Kenwood Chef. ‘drudges’). In 1961, Prue bought her first Kenwood Chef Mixer A700 with the equivalent of a week’s wages. Her prize possession sat on the dressing table in her bedsit as she had no kitchen worktop. Nowadays she has one of Kenwood’s newest models with various attachments, but misses her original Chef’s potato peeler.

Prue also acknowledges that the Kenwood Chef was unrivalled until the arrival of KitchenAid from the US. She applauds her Kenwood Chef’s outstanding mixing and beating ability (even though she has now added both Magimix and Thermomix appliances to her busy kitchen).

Meanwhile The Times’ online coverage of the Kenwood PhD story applauds Kenwood’s longevity with its headline: ‘Kenwood Chef is a solid rebuke to our throwaway culture’.

Mark Welch, managing director of Kenwood (part of the De’Longhi Group) commented on the PhD announcement: “We’re delighted to be working with the University of Portsmouth on this exciting project.

The project will focus on design, marketing and consumer purchasing behaviours of Kenwood and how these activities have been influential in the success, consumer awareness and love for the Kenwood brand and its iconic products.”

The PhD student will also work with The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre in Havant, using research material from a recent Heritage Lottery Fund enabled exhibition and documentary film ‘Kenwood in Havant’. The project will also involve developing oral history skills to interview present and former Kenwood employees and consumers. * The Kenwood Chef is part of the Excellence in Housewares Awards’ Icon Gallery, having been a recipient of the Icon Award.

John Lewis’ NHS gifts As part of its support of the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic, John Lewis & Partners has donated 250 electrical products, such as coffee machines, kettles and toasters, to the staff rooms and wellbeing areas at 25 acute London hospitals, and the Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate.

The retailer’s support also included the design of two wellbeing areas and a multi-faith room for NHS staff at the Nightingale in Manchester.

A toast to the trendsetters Toasters from Dualit and Haden have been selected by trend forecaster Scarlet Opus to illustrate key buying trends for 2020/2021.

Phil Pond, director of Scarlet Opus will discuss ‘Soul Searching,’ ‘Earth Age’ and ‘Eco-living’ in webinars during Exclusively Digital Week (from July 6). Products matching each trend will be showcased on the Exclusively Digital website’s Trend Hub. Dualit’s colours ‘Desert’ and ‘Evergreen’ illustrate the Soul Searching and Earth Age trends respectively. Soul Searching is summed up by Phil as “a summer journey of self-discovery as consumers seek liberation from life’s problems”. Meanwhile, “Earth Age is about nurturing human qualities as we spin into the future, awed by the potential of artificial Intelligence and developments in space exploration.”

Haden’s Margate kettle and toaster are also illustrative of the Soul Searching trend. The appliances are the result of Haden’s distinctive collaboration with luxury lifestyle brand Poodle & Blonde.

Exclusively Digital (launched following the cancellation of the Exclusively Show 2020, due to the pandemic) also sees the revelation of a host of new electrical products.

See www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk Above: Dualit’s Desert and Evergreen coloured toasters will be in the Trend Hub. Below: Poodle & Blonde Margate kettle and toaster by Haden (from Sabichi).

Above: AO delivers small and large electricals, as well as other home goods for third party retailers.

AO expands during pandemic Online electricals retailer AO has expanded with a new distribution warehouse in Crewe, increasing its space by nearly 110,000 sq ft to just under 1m sq ft in the town. Besides its own sales, AO is fulfilling sales on behalf of third-party businesses, including Aldi and The Cotswold Company.

David Ashwell, md of AO Logistics said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic our amazing team has been delivering safely and efficiently, providing a lifeline for AO.com’s customers which in turn, third-party clients have benefitted from. As five years of channel shift from stores to online condensed into five weeks, I’m really proud of how the team has adapted to necessary changes without missing a single day of delivery with record net promoter scores over the last three months.”

The etailer expects to build its distribution service for other retailers due to the growth of online shopping as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new warehouse has been named in memory of the Alan Latchford (who died in March), a co-founder of DRL, which later became AO. His co-founder John Roberts – AO’s chief executive – reflects that on Christmas Eve 1999, Alan “bet me £1 that we couldn’t use the internet to transform how people buy white goods.

Twenty years on, the opening of our Latchford warehouse is a lasting tribute to Alan.”

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Right: An image from the launch of the Dolce & Gabbana Smeg collaboration in 2017. The full collection includes kettles, toasters, juicers and coffee machines. Both Harrods and Potters report an increase in interest in the designer patterned appliances.

Below right: Kenny and Nicola Mitchell outside The Scullery.

Star turns When it comes to picking out a ‘hero’ small electrical product for 2020, obviously selections are influenced by the heightened demand for certain appliances during lockdown. Several different retailers pick what is standing out and creating a buzz.

Catwalk kitchen

Below: One of Lakeland’s bread makers - an online bestseller during lockdown.

Joanne Wilson, buyer for Home at Harrods acknowledges the demand for the coffee shop experience in the home, and also observes how the department store’s customers have followed a passion for fashion during lockdown: “The hero product for 2020 we would select would be the bean to cup coffee machines. We can safely say that coffee machines have seen a vast increase in demand since the closure of the store. Bean to cup has seen the largest market share of the demand within Harrods, demonstrating how customers are becoming their own barista at home.

We have also had exciting uplift in the fashiondriven home appliances, such as the full Dolce & Gabbana Smeg collaboration. This was evident across all of product categories, customers bringing fashion to the home through appliances.”

Wonderful for whisking Kenny Mitchell opened the doors of independent kitchenware and gift shop The Scullery in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee last October and kept in touch with local customers via Facebook during lockdown, delivering orders to support the rise in home cooking. Kenny describes his customers’ favourite: “The Russell Hobbs Hand Mixer from EPE Group – with its two whisks, this simple classic for home baking has been a fantastic product during lockdown. We’re a small shop but we always want to help our customers when they request things, so EPE’s small minimum order level is really helpful for us.”

Loaf lines Carly Bullock, electrical buyer at Lakeland reveals the retailer’s lockdown superstar: “At the current time, it’s all about the bread makers!

We’ve seen a surge in sales as have other retailers as lockdown has meant more consumers are baking and cooking from scratch at home. It will be interesting to see how this category continues to develop and grow over the next year with the change in consumer habits.”

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GfK Insights

The “massive explosion” in home cooking

Food prep maestro Having had an “intense” period of online trading during lockdown, as well as fulfilling local deliveries and collections, Potters Cookshop director Tom Carter picks a product that he hopes will receive the recognition it deserves: “The stand mixer has seen a resurgence but our online sales of food processors have also been incredibly strong for home baking during lockdown.

So I would pick Magimix as a hero product and I hope that more people will appreciate the brand and realise how good these machines are when we have stock back in.

The Magimix Food Processor is underrated in my opinion – it does so many jobs and is of very high quality.

Smeg is another very strong brand for us for kettles and toasters. In various colours – including the very popular Rose Gold – the Smeg kettle is our number one bestselling kettle. They are well-designed and look beautiful in any kitchen. Who else does a gold kettle that looks classy? Plus, on a practical note, we don’t get returns.

The Dolce & Gabbana Smeg collection is also seeing some good sales. Consumers are using money they might have spent on holidays to go towards making their homes and gardens more attractive.”

The home juice bar Nick Ledger, director at well-established online juicer and blender specialist UK Juicers (and distributor for Kuvings) confirms that juicers and blender sales have been booming: “It’s hard to pick out a hero as, like many like many businesses in our sector we've been busy across the board. However, the Kuvings EVO820 has been selling particularly well. It sits at the top of the range as its premium offering, both in terms of its purposeful styling and the evolved technology, and we say this is the best wide mouth slow juicer ever to grace our website! We’re not alone in our verdict as last year the Independent newspaper gave it the accolade of 'Best Buy Juicer 2019' in the IndyBest Juicer Test. We’re also excited to be launching a new juicer, which will launch at the end of the summer.”

David Conduit, director at Harts of Stur reflects on the “manic” online trading period during lockdown, with soaring sales of electrical food preparation appliances, and hopes this marks a more permanent change: “The lockdown of course was not forecast by anyone, individual, retailer, distributor, or manufacturer. As with many businesses, when it hit we entered a period of caution. How would it affect business? Our stores would shut, and many people would be at home and with reduced income, it was felt that maintaining cashflow was the best chance to ride out the storm.

It quickly became apparent that for those retailers geared up to serve customers remotely, ie via an established website, business was suddenly shooting up. We at Harts carefully managed this opportunity. Effective management was the key, as with Amazon among other big retailers all but withdrawing from non-essential supplies, we could have been swamped with orders.

Home cooking enjoyed a massive explosion in focus and popularity, and why not? Millions of people stuck at home, perhaps with restless children, looking to fill their time and use that time to go back to basics. Anything to do with food prep was (and still is at the time of writing) hot property, and for SDA, this means food mixers, blenders, food processors, health grills, coffee machines, kettles and toasters. Harts of Stur is well positioned to capitalise here, and within the first few weeks, we were looking at Black Friday and Christmas levels of trading.

Fantastic as this is, it poses challenges. Towards Black Friday and Christmas, much forecasting and planning goes in to ensure we are fully prepared for the upsurge in trade; extra staff, packing areas and stock. Of course, we had made no such plans for this unforeseen period. We had shop floor and sales team members on furlough, but could not bring them into our warehouse safely due to social distancing. Our warehouse team not only had to adapt very quickly to the new operating restrictions, but also working long, hard hours in an extended heatwave. It has been draining for everyone, and it's a testament to their fortitude that we have still managed to respond and satisfy the increased demand.

Six or more months of SDA stock was quickly sold through. Stock was being pulled from everywhere and anywhere. Stock issues were compounded with both unforecasted demand, and manufacturers having to shut down. As I write, many key lines from key brands are now sold out. All national retailers and the vast majority of higher profile online retailers are in the same position.

I am not sure I can pick out a 'hero' product for 2020 yet, but food prep in general, in the SDA arena, has been a winner so far.

As we start getting back to normal, let’s hope that the consumer continues with the trend of preparing good food at home.”

Top left: The versatility of Magimix Food Processors are being recognised more widely in 2020, according to Tom. Left: Nick Ledger, director of UK Juicers, pictured with Emma Shepherd (Mettle Media) and Kuving’s Hand Il hwa (Andy) Song, European general director for NUC Electronics Group Europe.

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Putting some ‘hot’ SDAs into the spotlight, PE explores how short and long term lifestyle changes as well as advancement in technology and design are reflected in ‘plugged-in’ sales and product development.

Current affairs Right: Multifunctional appliance for a spotless and germ-free home: Beldray’s 12 in 1 Steam Cleaner from UPGS.

Steaming ahead

Below: Fresh approach to design: The Funky Toaster has joined the popular Funky Iron from The Funky Appliance Company.

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Busting bacteria and germs without the need for chemicals cleaners is an appealing proposition for many homes. Duncan Singleton, trading director at Beldray reports: “Cleaning became cool thanks to Mrs Hinch, but now it’s more important than ever. Not only are people more spending time at home, and so are more conscious that their space is clean and tidy, but we have the increased worry surrounding bacteria and germs. As Beldray delivers high performance at an affordable price point, across a wide range of cleaning and laundry products, it is the perfect brand for this growing corner of spending. From supermarket splurges and impulse buys to more considered online purchases, Beldray is a top choice for the cleaning market.

Proving particularly popular at the minute is Beldray’s steam cleaning range. When using steam, we are able to remove household germs and bacteria with ease without using any nasty chemicals.

Great for the environment, but also perfect for those with pets and young children at home; for whom little hands or paws may be coming into contact with harmful chemicals otherwise.

The 12 in 1 Flexi Steam Cleaner is a great all-in-one solution that can be used on carpets or hard floors and comes with lots of attachments for different surfaces; including car alloys, grouting, even mirrors.

The ergonomic flex-hinge easily cleans underneath furniture, and it can be used as a handheld unit too.

Popular on social media and a firm favourite with cleaning bloggers and influencers, the Beldray 10 in 1 Steam Cleaner is a handheld cleaner; a quick and simple way to use steam to remove nasty germs and bacteria, with lots of handy nozzles for different jobs.

There is a clear heightened demand for cleaning products, but specifically we’re seeing consumers searching for products that make cleaning easy, quick and still leaves them enough time to be able to enjoy their home.”

Glamorous gizmos Joe and Sadie Sillett, directors of the Funky Appliance Company set out to bring a new touch of glamour to linen care. The many rave reviews of their first product in consumer press include: ‘The Funky Iron is fabulously original’ (iNews, April 2019), and ‘The Funky Iron’s retro looks with its cream handle and three glossy body colours to choose from, are a gorgeous piece of design’ (FQ Magazine, The Best Steam Irons For 2019, July 2019).

Joe looks backs: “Sadie (my wife) and I felt that there wasn’t an iron in the marketplace which genuinely stood out from the crowd. We felt there was a gap in

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GfK Insights

the market for a company to launch something new.

Our journey to date has confirmed that we were right: we’ve had successful crowdfunding rounds, 361 investors in over 25 countries and interest from all over the world and major appliance brands.”

This year sees the new edition of the iron. Joe explains that the differences are technical: “We have altered the wattage and steam output and made some revisions to the internal workings. Aesthetically, the new Funky Iron is exactly the same as the first model with the exception of 16 extra holes on the soleplate.”

With a range that now includes the Funky Kettle and Funky Toaster, the brand will be in the consumer spotlight with television advertisements airing later this year.” We are confident that consumers will find the “Funky” brand very appealing; it’s fresh and different,” notes Joe. According to Joe, Funky SDAs appeal to a “mindset” rather than a demographic, ie: “Customers who really appreciate both style and function and are happy to pay for quality appliances at a price point which is within reach, offering the same functionality as brands which are twice the price.”

Investing in coffee Claudia Tomsits, Moccamaster’s international marketing manager recognises demand from coffee aficionados for a “perfect coffee brewer” that will “last a lifetime.”

She highlights the longevity and benefits of the brand’s latest addition, the KBG Select: “Handmade in the Netherlands, this auto-drip coffee maker has a brew time of under six minutes, ensuring your morning cup isn't too far away. The KBG Select is based on the iconic Moccamaster KBG. The biggest difference between the regular KBG and the KBG Select is the switch on the front. With the help of this new selector switch, it is possible to easily optimise the brewing time for a full or half jug. The throughput speed and extraction time will be extended when the half jug mode is chosen. The result is an aromatic cup of coffee with a full taste, regardless of the smaller quantity.”

Claudia points out the machine’s versatility: “The Moccamaster KBG Select is ECBC (European Coffee Brewing Centre) certified for both 10 and 6 cups of coffee, making it ideal for both small and large quantities.

Next to the switch, the outlet pipe has been renewed as well. It now has nine holes that ensure the water drips through all of the coffee grounds in the filter for an even better extraction of the coffee.”

From a sustainability perspective, Claudia concludes: “All of the plastic is BPA free, and if you ever do decide to part with it, every component is completely recyclable.”

Above: A colour for every kitchen: Moccamaster filter coffee machines are available in 21 colours.

Making a stand The iconic KitchenAid stand mixer has been in high demand during the recent months of lockdown, with sales of particular accessories also soaring. Simon Langley, marketing manager for KitchenAid UK & Ireland observes: "Lockdown has, without a doubt, spawned a new generation of home bakers, which is reflected in increased sales of the Artisan Stand Mixer. The culinary hub has definitely come into its own as more people are cooking from scratch and pushing the boundaries of their regular repertoire to include exciting and adventurous recipes requiring a new set of skills. Sales of the 3-Piece Pasta Attachment Set and the Food Slicer and Shredder in particular have risen dramatically."

Meanwhile, ‘Kyoto Glow’ is the latest addition to the existing 23 colours for KitchenAid Stand Mixers. The new hue (revealed in March) is described as a ‘vibrant, yet calming green.’ The new high performance KitchenAid Artisan K400 Blender is also available in Kyoto Glow. Its features include three pre-set recipe programmes (crushed ice, icy drinks and smoothie) and a five-speed variable speed dial.

Left: Kyoto Glow is the newest colour for the iconic KitchenAid Standmixer.

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GfK Insights

Taking a grilling Gastroback made its UK debut at Spring Fair earlier this year, with products that include its multi-award winning electric grill - a perfect solution for relaxed cooking to enjoy indoors and outdoors. Marcus Lux, Gastroback’s head of export and business development comments: “We expect a big increase in BBQ activities in the UK this summer as the population will largely stay at home. More and more casual barbecue hosts are discovering the advantages of the electrical contact grill. The Design BBQ Advanced Control from Gastroback has six pre-installed grilling programmes and the integrated grill thermometer. In addition, the low-fat function allows healthy contact-grilling without fat.

This versatile contact grill has received six awards already, including the PLUS X AWARDS for ‘Best Product of the Year 2020’, ‘Best Brand of the Year 2020’ and the ‘Red Dot Design Award 2020’, making it an undisputed BBQ champion.”

Sustainability and organisation

The power of frying

While consumers are increasingly looking for eco-credentials when choosing electrical products, ritterwerk has always embraced sustainability. The brand champions “longevity, reparability, and timeless design that is made in Germany.” Bianca Pokorny, the company’s marketing manager confirms; “All ritter products can be repaired – customers are able to buy spare parts for their devices decades after purchasing them or can have them overhauled at their nearest ritter workshop.” Besides using solar power for manufacturing its appliances, ritterwerk’s designs are mindful of eco-friendly choices. Bianca provides some examples: “Most ritter food slicers are equipped with 65 watt eco motors that use less energy than the motors used in conventional bread slicers. Our wireless handblenders are powered by particularly powerful, automatically charging batteries that can be replaced quickly and easily in the event of a defect.” She provides further insights into the brand’s food slicers: “It is a common misconception that high watt figures automatically mean high performance. When it comes to food slicer motors, high torque is much more important.

With our eco motor we have managed to develop a drive system that reduces friction losses significantly by employing high-quality ball bearings. Our developers made it possible to generate a higher torque at a lower wattage than the conventional motors in other devices on the market offer. The result: 20% less energy consumption at twice the power.”

Gary Sharp, group SDA sales director for RKW highlights that increased home cooking and cleaning during lockdown have increased demand for new innovations from Tower. He reports: “We always kick the year off with a host of innovation – whether, with our flagship own brand Tower, that’s in terms of style like our new Cavaletto or Empire co-ordinated SDA and housewares collections, or pure product innovation like our Digital Air Fryer Oven. The latter uses Vortex rapid air circulation technology, which not only reduces the time taken to fry but also the large family-sized oven means there is an extra 75% cooking capacity that allows you to healthily cook a variety of foods at the same time. This year, this drive to innovate has been enhanced by consumer demand – and in particular the special circumstances surrounding lockdown has seen that demand take an interesting turn. So we have been inundated with requests not only for air fryers but also bread makers and cleaning products. Tower has been a trusted brand in British homes for over 100 years and earlier this year we made the move into floorcare, with a strong collection of corded and cordless appliances, especially relevant for consumers looking for a hygienic deep clean throughout the home.

Top: Gastroback’s versatile electrical grill is the means to perfect steaks, sausages, spare ribs, fish, burgers, grilled vegetables, sandwiches or pancakes.

Above: Fast and healthy cooking on the countertop: Tower’s new Digital Air Fryer Oven from RKW.

Left: A built in toaster is one of several appliances from ritterwerk that can be cleverly stored away leaving worktops pristine and uncluttered.

Below: Breakfast set from ritterwerk.

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ALWAYS INSPIRED TO EXPLORE IN THE KITCHEN THAT’S THE MARK OF A MAKER

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FROM THE FRONTLINE

Holly Wilson’s

From The Frontline

Welcome back everyone! Blimey, it’s been a crazy three months hasn’t it? I hope that you have all managed to navigate your way through.

We’re back!

L

ockdown for us has been full of highs So I made the awful decision to and lows as I’m sure it has been for temporarily close down the business everyone. The kids have been in completely. It felt terrible and seeing other heaven mainly. Homeschool but with a businesses keeping their online going made huge amount of time spent in the garden in me feel like I wasn’t doing enough, but the the glorious weather has been pretty kids and an ill family member just became good for them. too much to do anything other than look Homeschool was a huge challenge to get after the family. our heads around to begin with and trying As reopening became a reality, I had major to teach a six and an eight year old at the anxiety. Prep is especially small and the same time was a real test of my patience upstairs is only 2m wide from the till to the and abilities! There has been a lot of shelving unit opposite. How could I possibly googling by me under the table while saying reopen safely? But I discussed it with things like: “Come on, you know what a Fatima and Janeta and we came up with a fronted adverbial is!” (*reads example that plan for each store. I bought distancing Google has provided). Sure, I can explain the signage and all the necessary hygiene associative property of multiplication law!

Inset: Holly’s social distancing guidelines in store, and highlighted on social media.

But we soon found our groove and it has given the days some structure and focus and, incredibly, my patience seems to have improved (and my knowledge!) We have also loved having this time together and will look back on it fondly. Except for the times all three of us sat at the table crying because we’d all just had enough. Ha! And then there were the businesses. We don’t have our own equipment and sanitiser and decided to websites for each shop so we sell online via trial opening four days a week. I have Trouva. As we closed I hoped that we would provided facemasks, gloves and visors for be able to keep our Trouva sales going, but the girls to wear as a till screen isn’t it soon became clear that I needed to practical for us as we spend most of out furlough all the staff and the amount that I time on the shop floor. was taking on Trouva versus the workload So we opened on Wednesday June 17 at didn’t warrant keeping someone on payroll. I Richard Dare and Friday 19 at Prep. Both also couldn’t do it myself as I couldn’t leave stores have had a steady flow of customers the kids home alone and I didn’t want to so thrilled to have us reopen. In Richard drag them to the shop every day.

Dare particularly our customers have been

exceptionally happy to see Fatima and said it feels like life has finally returned to the street with us reopening - how lovely! Sales have been above average but we are proceeding with caution. The novelty of shopping is drawing people out to shop and queuing in the sun is almost a pleasure.

Time will tell whether this will last and I feel sure that sales will start to reduce as the weeks go by.

Customers have on the whole been mindful of distancing and happy to use the hand sanitiser provided and to wait for their turn to enter the shop. We can only have two customers plus a staff member in the shop at any one time. However, there are a considerable number who barge their way in, don’t use sanitiser, get up close to everyone and seem to not realise what has been happening over the last there months.

One customer asked me why I had been closed. It makes you wonder.

With the kids still at home until September I am unable to work in the shop and I don’t currently have the staff to cover, so we are going to remain on four to five days a week for now while we see how the land lies.

Furlough has really been a godsend. I am currently negotiating the next rent quarter with my landlords - one is much more helpful than the other. And then maybe even it will be time to start ordering a bit of stock again!

Happy selling to you all - and may the good times continue.

Holly Wilson is the owner of two north London cookshops: Prep, Stoke Newington and Richard Dare, Primrose Hill, and is the Bira Cookshop & Housewares Retailer of the Year 2019.

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PROGRESSIVE ELECTRICALS

RKW ADVERTORIAL

RIGHT: Rob Sutton set up RKW with his wife Su in 1989 and the business is Europe’s No.1 SDA branded supplier with a pedigree in successfully developing and distributing top brands

Plan for growth with RKW – your trusted partner in brand distribution, drop-ship and NPI Progressive Electrical talks to Rob Sutton, founder of RKW, Europe’s No.1 SDA branded supplier about why now is the perfect time for brands and retailers to be partnering with his business.

RKW has a 30-plus year pedigree in successfully developing and distributing top brands and products with a group turnover of £100m+. It is Europe’s leading distributor of small domestic appliances (SDA) and housewares products, representing market leading brands as well as its own branded &

licensed portfolio including the likes of Tower, Black + Decker, Morphy Richards, Russell Hobbs, Swan, Numatic, Hoover and Breville.

The business is led by Rob and Su Sutton, who set up RKW in 1989, and their management team all of whom have long and significant experience in the SDA and housewares markets. As well as leading in the UK, the company’s reputation continues to develop internationally too, with recent participation in the Frankfurt Ambiente exhibition offering new opportunities for growth.

LEFT: Consumers are looking for retailers that best meet their changing shopping behaviour and to brands who can offer products that meet their new lifestyles like RKW flagship own-brand Tower.

Pictured is the Digital Air Fryer Over

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RIGHT: SMEG is one of the latest brands to sign up for exclusive distribution with RKW

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RKW ADVERTORIAL

ABOVE: RKW continues to invest in its infrastructure and now has a 750,000sq ft capacity across three distribution centres and a market-leading drop-ship function near its Stoke-on-Trent Head Office ABOVE RIGHT: Tower expands its style statements each season, including this stunning new range Cavaletto

PROGRESSIVE ELECTRICAL: You have a strong portfolio of own-brand and licensed product as well as representing marketing leading brands – the latest to sign up include The Funky Appliance Company, SMEG and Lavazza. What is the appeal of RKW for these top brands?

PE: Are there new ranges of SDA and Housewares products ready for launch in the second half of 2020?

RS: Yes, we have been working with our branded partners to create products designed to meet the needs of consumers. We understood early into lockdown that the market was going to be different and in times of change it is the brands that drive innovation that really succeed in the long run. That was central to our approach and I am proud of the team who have worked tirelessly to make sure our new product roadmap is truly exciting as we come into the second half of 2020.

PE: Tower is your own brand and an ROB SUTTON: It’s simple – we While other brands and innovation driver for you. Tell us more have continued to invest in our businesses have struggled about the NPI for Tower in particular. infrastructure. While other brands and in recent months, RKW has businesses have struggled in recent months, RKW has flourished. We now flourished... we offer unrivalled RS: With Tower, we have built a market leading position in air fryers have a 750,000sq ft capacity across opportunities for our branded through innovation, such as our three distribution centres, offices in partners and our 5,000 retailer Digital Air Fryer Oven with Vortx Hong Kong and Mainland China as well technology. But also co-ordinated as a market-leading drop-ship function partners alike kitchen collections across SDA and close to our Head Office in Stoke-onhousewares – we started with Rose Trent. That means we have been able Gold several seasons ago and we have expanded our style to adapt quickly to changing consumer behaviour and statements each season. For second half 2020 we have the growth of the On-line channel. As an example the some stunning new ranges including Cavaletto – soft muted drop-ship function processed 250% more parcels in April colours with striking rose gold accents. The SDA offering is than it did in the same month last year. When coupled a pyramid kettle and toaster, all fully featured. with a dedicated sales force, unrivalled customer care and a market-leading E-Commerce team, RKW offers excellent PE: The landscape for trade shows – the traditional opportunities for our branded partners route for retailers looking to identify new product and our 5,000 retailer partners opportunities – has completely changed this year. alike.

How is RKW adapting to that?

PE: Now is the time for both RS: It’s investment again – so in order for those brands and retailers to look retailers looking at second half 2020 and beyond ahead, as stores re-open to take full advantage of our comprehensive and consumers adapt to New Product Innovations, we have also invested a new way of life. How is in extensive digital product catalogues and RKW addressing this? expanded our Head Office on-site showroom, equipping it with the latest products as well as RS: Consumers will be space to respect social distancing and the needs looking for retailers that of visitors. We think retailers and owners of brands best meet their changing will find all this really productive. shopping behaviour and to brands who can offer products that meet their new lifestyles.

Whilst RKW has been flourishing during lockdown we have also remained NOW is the perfect time to talk to RKW to focused on “what next” by continuing to invest in our create plans for success. If you are new to distribution capability and new product roadmap.

RKW please email sales@rkwltd.com. Existing ABOVE: Pictured is a 4-slice toaster from relatively new SDA player The Funky Appliance Company who is working with RKW on distribution

customers looking to plan the remainder of the year and beyond, please contact your designated Account Manager.

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VIDEO DESIGN BBQ ADVANCED CONTROL

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Art.-Nr. 42539

THE PERFECT BBQ EXPERIENCE www.gastroback.co.uk

w w w.g as t ro b a c k.c o.u k

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GfK Insights

How smart is your kitchen?

t

Covid-19 meant it wasn’t possible this year to check out the latest innovations in person at the Inspired Home Show in Chicago, but there is certainly plenty of smart kitchen tech to talk about from the exhibitor line-up, says IHA’s Mark Chapman.

Above: Clever technology: the Aveine Smart Wine Aerator.

Below: A Townew bin – that seals and changes its own bag - by Knectek.

he Inspired Home Show has seen a continued increase in smart home innovation in recent years, and exhibitors once again have brought a variety of new gadgets to the fore in 2020. As the smart home becomes more and more part of our everyday lives, innovators are increasingly searching out their own niche to find a place in the homes of gadget lovers.

Looking through the product details for smart home exhibitors, it is clear straight away that a couple of key themes for the kitchen have led the way this year. The evolution of smart kitchen storage continues apace, with a variety of approaches to add a tech twist to containers.

Varna Tech has created the Halo+, described as a ‘feature-packed and high-tech upgrade for widemouth mason jars’. This device is a locking collar that is controlled by an app. Among other features it is childproof, you can track the use and movements of the jar, and unlock it remotely.

Another take on smart storage is from Mastrad. Its Stor’eat Boxes are made of glass, with a practical, but aesthetic look. Printed on the handles are QR codes that connect to an app, allowing you to store the expiry dates of food and which will then remind you to get cooking with that ingredient before it is wasted. The handles are removable if you find yourself tight for space, and the boxes are colour coded by size for easy identification in the fridge.

Meanwhile, Pantrychic is an ingredients storage and dispensing system, with SmartCanisters to store them. These canisters can then be placed into the dispenser which will provide the exact amount required.

Another trend this year is the growth of wireless thermometers for the perfect cooking of meat and fish. New products include Meatstick from Soma Labs, Meat It from Mastrad, and an upgrade for the Meater wireless thermometer from Apption Labs. It is a niche product area but interesting to see that it has appeal for several brands.

Convenience is always a strong driver for innovation in the kitchen, and Blix has created a new blender, the Xi, which requires no food preparation at all.

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PROGRESSIVE ELECTRICALS

visit www.funkyappliance.co to find out more

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GfK Insights

Programmed for perfect results The evolution in sous vide technology continues, this time with the introduction of Mellow, a smart sous vide machine that the makers claim takes 30 seconds to set up, and will produce perfectly cooked meals at the touch of a button. As with all these new smart devices, it is app-controlled and has pre-programmed recipes and parameters.

Mellow’s range of recipes is substantial, and the machine can be instructed to cook your chosen meal to be ready whenever you need. It even has a refrigerate function to keep food cool until the machine is ready to cook. To translate to the UK market, as with other brands and products, the makers will need to change recipe measurements from cups to ounces, but this is another example of the broadening offering in sous vide gadgets.

Pre-prepared meals are available in a smart cup, which fit into the blender. Even the blade itself is in the cup rather than the main unit, and the whole cup (blade included) is made of fully recyclable material. The recipes are very much of the ‘food-on-the-go’ variety, so this will not be used for main meals. However, with ‘healthy takes’ on breakfast, lunch and snacks available, there is plenty here to add to your daily menu.

Continuing another growth area in home gadgets is aspara from Growgreen, one of a number of home hydroponics machines for growing herbs, salad leaves and other small vegetable plants indoors, using a smart LED lighting system to maximise the yield of fresh produce.

Reinventing a stalwart kitchen appliance, Revolution Cooking highlights its R180, which it describes as “the world's first two-slice high-speed smart toaster”. This toaster comes with a digital touchscreen and intelligent sensor technology which allows it to heat and toast faster than conventional toasters, while adjusting time and temperature based on your personal preferences and the food you select.

It features five food settings for breads, bagels, English muffins, waffles and toaster pastries, plus three toasting modes (fresh, frozen and reheat) and seven browning levels. Revolution Cooking adds that “the R180 browns evenly and locks in moisture deliciously, even from frozen”.

Moving away from food, Aveine has a smart wine aerator, serving wine instantly and in ‘perfect condition’. The app that accompanies the aerator

has a database of wines from across the world. Scan the label of your chosen wine and the app will do the rest, calibrating the aerator to match its delivery of air to the wine that has been selected.

Finally, once all the cooking and eating has finished, there is still the cleaning up to do! Knectek has an innovative way to help, with Townew – a kitchen bin that seals and changes the bag itself. Refill rings (that are 100% recyclable) contain up to 25 bags and these rings are installed in the bin. As well as a sensor that detects an approach to the bin, opening it automatically, with one touch of a button the bag is automatically sealed and then replaced once the old bag is removed. It is another shining example of housewares technical innovations that make life a little easier.

Hungry for more?

This is just a snapshot of the smart innovation that was due to be shown at The Inspired Home Show 2020. You can see all of the products mentioned here, as well as general exhibitor and show information, at www.theinspiredhomeshow.com.

The Inspired Home Show (organised by The International Housewares Association – IHA) will be back from March 13-16 2021 with a new line-up of inspirational home innovations and smart technology to discover, alongside the show’s Wired +Well sector, which is dedicated to small domestic appliances.

To register or for more information visit https://www.theinspiredhomeshow.com/ or contact Mark Chapman at the IHA’s UK Office on 07915 063255 / ihauk@prdirect.net

Left: Clever food storage from Pantrychic.

Below:: Varna Tech Halo Plus – another example of smart food storage.

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PROGRESSIVE ELECTRICALS

ActiFry®

97%

**

PREFER ACTIFRY GENIUS TO THEIR PREVIOUS AIR FRYER

99%

LESS ADDED FAT THAI GREEN CURRY

***

FRYING, REIMAGINED CLEVER COOKING: the intelligent air fryers that not only stirs for you, but also adjusts the cooking time and temperature.

BREADED SNACKS

CUTTING EDGE AIR FRYING. CURRY

FREE ActiFry APP WITH OVER 300 RECIPES

DESSERTS

WOK

WORLD FOOD

ROLLS

DISCOVER MORE AT… www.tefal.co.uk/Actifry *Source: Independent Research Institute Full Year January To December 2019 - Value Sales Data - Total Fryers. ** Cooking of 1.5kg of fresh fries at 55% weight loss with 2cl of oil vs traditional deep frying with 2.2L of oil. ***Based on 111 respondents. May 2020. Home Tester Club

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With ritter, design lovers can rely completely on Bauhaus when it comes to kitchen equipment, both for appliances standing on the countertop and built-in systems. In 2010, probably the slimmest toaster in the world, merido 5/3, was launched. In the years that followed, the selected design was expanded to include other products as well: in 2012, the elegant kettle cavita 5 was introduced into the market, and in 2013 the first foldable food slicer, elexa 7, was launched. At the end of 2015, the breakfast set was completed with the ritter coffee machine pilona 5. ritterwerk GmbH T: +49 (8142) 440 16-0 E: info@ritterwerk.de W: www.ritterwerk.com

The Matcha Tea Whisk from Aerolatte is a must have for all matcha lovers out there. The special nylon whisk head and specific motor have been designed to work at the perfect speed for tea. The whisk is Ideal for mixing matcha with water and for making perfect matcha lattes - also ideal for mixing protein and other powdered drinks. Each whisk comes with a bamboo design handle, two AA batteries and a protective tube.

Eddingtons T: 01488 686572 E: sales@eddingtons.co.uk W: www.eddingtons.co.uk

The Moccamaster KBG Select is a filter coffee machine, handmade in the Netherlands.

It’s probably the best domestic coffee brewer on the market, considering build quality, brewing quality and functionality. This new model features an integrated switch, to adjust the water flow for the best tasting coffee in small and big amounts. Including five-years warranty and available in 21 colours.

Moccamaster Sales BV T: +31 343 45 00 01 E: info@moccamaster.eu W: www.moccamaster.eu

GASTROBACK fits in well with any environment and is able to compete with a normal oven. It operates at 1,500 watts, temperatures between 30°C and 230°C, top and bottom heat separately or combined, as well as hot air and even a rotisserie for crispy grilled chicken or gyros. Nine pre-set programs ensure perfect results. Simply select the requested program (thawing, baking, toasting, grilling) and start. The supplied pizza stone can be used to even make pizzas up to 30cm in size.

Gastroback Tel: 01670 704 968 E-mail: info@gastroback.co.uk Web: www.gastroback.co.uk

Given the growing trends in brewing various teas and coffee, Haden has developed Richmond, a variable temperature kettle.

Owing to the fact, that by using the correct temperature settings, you can brew a perfect herbal tea with an ease. The Richmond kettle is also perfect for the press or pour over coffee connoisseur – the ideal temperature is 90 degrees to avoid burning the coffee. The new Richmond is sophisticated as well as technically practical, with an easy clean glass body, sleek stainless-steel accents as well as a water light illuminator.

You can even keep the water at your desired temperature due to Keep Warm function.

Contact Details Haden Appliances T: 01909 544 570 E: info@hadenappliances.com W: www.haden.com

The SMART voice egg cooker is a must-have product. Whether you prefer your eggs hard, medium or soft boiled, this SMART steamer will cook them to perfection, every time. It has 3 different indicator lights giving signal results and spoken alerts (ideal for the vision impaired, Children and busy people in the morning who need a virtual butler!). A patented Swiss Design, it compliments the SMART Premium Range of products for 2020 and beyond. A Perfect gift for yourself and others.

Smart T: 08444 069 098 E: info@smartworldwidefun.com W: smaworldwide.com

PROGRESSIVE

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HOUSEWARES

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Marco Salerno

comfort cooking Kitchens have been a hub for home baking and cooking during Lockdown 2020, with online sales of food preparation SKAs soaring. In between mixing, blending and baking, it seems that home-focused Brits have sipped home-brewed coffees and put their ironing on hold. Marco Salerno, GfK’s client Insight manager looks at the shifting consumer demand for electrical goods during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Above: The creation of sweet treats during the UK’s lockdown has contributed to a 93% value increase in sales of hand mixers.

Pictured is the Beko New Line Hand mixer distributed by EPE Group.

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PROGRESSIVE ELECTRICALS

A

lot has changed in the last three months as the Covid-19 outbreak has affected our lives in different ways.

Given the political turmoil of recent years in the UK, 2020 perhaps surprisingly kicked-off with a slightly better scenario: consumers were feeling more optimistic after the latest Brexit negotiations with the EU as a low unemployment rate and stable inflation also gave positive signals; but, suddenly, all the world has been pulled into a global pandemic crisis, which will leave its traces for a long time. In the second half of May 2020, the GfK Consumer Confidence Index dropped to -36, just three points shy of the historic low of minus -39 in July 2008. Against a backdrop of falling house prices, soaring jobless claims, and with no sign of a rapid Vshaped bounce-back on the cards, consumers remain pessimistic about the state of their finances and the wider economic picture for the year to come.

As consumers are concerned about the Covid-19 effects on the UK economy, during the lockdown, with people confined in their homes, GfK has recorded significant market growth across different durable goods sectors as new consumer behaviour and needs have arisen.

The first outstanding trends appeared in the first week of March when the WHO labelled Covid-19 a global pandemic. With increasing concerns around Covid-19, consumers stockpiled food supplies in their homes and consequently, sales of freezers in Great Britain were up 90% in volume compared to the same week last year. This was mostly driven by chest

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GfK Insights

freezers, which shot up a staggering 202% in value.

When most of the offices all around the country started to shut down, the Information Technology sector recorded the highest growth, up 60% in March and 34% in April in value compared to the same periods last year. Consumers needed to turn their homes into their offices and sales for monitors, mice, keyboards and laptops skyrocketed.

With the country in lockdown and non-essential shops closed until the middle of June, the last three months (March - May 2020) have seen online sales accounting for 60% of sales within the total durable goods market, against a value pre-lockdown (JanuaryFebruary) figure of 38%. During the lockdown, physical stores lost 44% of turnover, while overall ecommerce sales grew by 82% shifting consumer demand even more rapidly from offline to online.

Another key lockdown trend has been within the small domestic appliances (SDA) market. Online sales were even higher here, contributing nearly 80% of category turnover in the last two months (April – May 2020). With money saved from not dining out, consumers invested in premium cooking equipment suggesting that people are turning into mini masterchefs – both to use up the in-home hours, and for the comfort of home-cooked meals.

Overall, consumer behaviour boosted the small kitchen appliances (SKA) sector to 12% value growth in the first part of the year (January to May 20) and up 22% in the last three months against the same period in 2019. Over that same period, it was food preparation models that led this growth, with sales up by 66% in value, as for the first time in several years the category finally experienced a positive growth rate. Value increases here were driven by kitchen machines (+167%), hand mixers (+93%) and food processors (+43%) in particular, yet blenders, hand blenders and choppers have all also seen double-digit growth.

Elsewhere in the small kitchen appliances market, electrical coffee machines grew by 45% showing that Britons still need their caffeine dose during their working from home days despite the coffee shop

closures. Fryers also then achieved 55% value growth, in this case, driven by the healthier low oil segment (+60%).

Moving away from our kitchens to the personal care area, hair clippers and male grooming products recorded value uplifts of 161% and 113% respectively in MarchMay, showing that British men spent on looking sharp during lockdown – although with different degrees of success when it comes to home hair cuts!

On the other side, there have also been a few categories where British people seem to have postponed their purchases to post-lockdown: for SDA this was mainly within the linen care sector, where irons and garment steamers declined by 32% and 36% respectively as a more limited social calendar and relaxed working from home situation meant ironing was not at the forefront of people’s minds.

At this point, it is hard to predict what to expect from the second half of the year, but we can try to make some considerations based on the market data we have seen so far. The product seasonality will be different and for some categories, it will be challenging to maintain a high volume of sales into the last quarter of the year (October – December 2020).

Covid-19 has accelerated ecommerce growth and the crisis recruited a high number of first time online buyers – this also means that physical retailers could expect a lower footfall once reopened again. Traditional retailers and smaller commercial vendors need to adapt to new customer health concepts as in the ‘new normal’ phase it will be crucial to offer more ‘contactless’ solutions, from digital payment systems to ‘click & collect’ and home delivery, to get customers spending again and drive revenue in the long-term.

Above: Coffee machines have seen a boost during lockdown as consumers swap to home brews. Pictured is the Purista bean to cup coffee machine by Melitta UK.

Left: With the majority of people at home and not socialising or going to workplaces, linen care has not been a top priority in lockdown, with sales slowing down during this period.

Pictured is Tefal’s ground-breaking IXEO all-in-one garment steamer, with intelligent space saving technology.

* Marco refers to data - including May 2020 - from GfK’s Point of Sales Tracking.

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PROGRESSIVE ELECTRICALS

INSPIRED BY THE PAST POWERED BY THE FUTURE

Highclere

AVAIL ABLE IN

INFO@HADENAPPLIANCES.COM

OBC_Electrical 2020.indd 1

STONE BLUE

WWW.HADEN.COM

CORNISH CREAM

01909 544 570

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