Magazines Archives - 2009 December

Growing interest in ‘green’ products ... ... to spur retail sales in coming year
Story 3 - Special Feature

At a time when consumers remain tentative in their spending for discretionary products, retail offerings
that carry an eco-conscious promise are increasingly capturing consumer attention, and influencing
purchase decisions.

“There is a significant shift happening in the green movement right now,” says Tom Mirabile, senior vice-president of global trend and design at Lifetime Brands. “The overarching message for
eco-conscious products among consumers today is not only an increasing desire for value — but also an increasing sense of responsibility to go out and hunt for green products that are better for the
environment. They’re determined on a personal level to take corrective action to environmental issues themselves.”

“Offering products with green qualities is not only responsible, it’s a lucrative endeavour that is resonating more and more with consumers,” adds Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the Shelton Group.

At the epicentre of the most demanding consumer market in the world, the 2010 International Home + Housewares Show, set for March 14-16, in Chicago, USA, will be a launching pad for the most promising eco-conscious innovations of tomorrow for retailers.

From chemical-free cleaning and natural air purification solutions to truly revolutionary vegetable-based products, just a few of the new innovations that promise to capture consumer attention in the coming year are highlighted below.

Multi-function bamboo entertaining

Already widely popular in the cuttingboard category, renewable bamboo will go multi-functional with Anchor Hocking’s launch of its Anchor Home Collection in Bamboo.

Featuring 10 attractive, multipurpose items that meet virtually all home entertaining needs, the collection includes a lazy-susan server, a chip and dip server with four removable sections, a cheese cutting set complete with cutting board, knife, fork and acrylic dome, as well as toothpick holder.

“We developed this new collection with the consumer in mind,” says Matt Kutner, director of marketing,
Anchor Home Collection. “In today’s economy, consumers are entertaining more at home — and
presentation lends itself to whole experience. It’s everything really.”

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