News
1/28/09 - In January, Rachel attended the 2009 Housewares Design Awards gala luncheon, presented by HomeWorld Business with educational support from the International Housewares Association at New York City’s Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The awards program recognizes design believed to differentiate a product with unique appearance and/or function. This year’s awards competition marked the debut of the “Green House” awards, honoring eco-responsive housewares design. We are happy to share the news that Cuisinart, our client, received a Green House award for the company’s CleanWater™ Countertop Filtration System.
Aside from our own client, there were many great products showcased at the event, representing categories ranging from home recycling to floor care electrics and from tabletop to personal care. Product innovation and design plays a more important role than ever in the housewares industry, as a growing number of programs and trend reports are being offered in 2009. This is evidenced not only through events like the Housewares Design Awards, but also through first-time research reports like HomeWorld Business’ recent Monitor design trend supplement. For more information, visit www.homeworldbusiness.com.
In other industry award news, Polder, another RLA client, has been awarded a 2008 GOOD DESIGN™ award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, for its Grocery Bag Trash Can . Products selected for the GOOD DESIGN™ award are based on aesthetic criteria that measures innovation, utility, appearance, quality, and function. GOOD DESIGN™ is an international awards program that recognizes designers and manufacturers for product innovation.
Congratulations to our clients and to the entire housewares industry for encouraging and producing outstanding product innovation in 2009!
12/18/08 - Participating in a wide variety of events is paramount to remaining at the forefront of any industry. That's why Rachel Litner and her team are continuously active online and in social media, regularly attend conferences and trade shows and involve themselves in as many aspects of the culinary and home industries as possible.
Recently, Rachel has launched her own blog, attended the Bulldog Reporter's Food Marketing & Publicity 2008 Summit and the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show. The 2009 list includes the International Home + Housewares Show, the 10th Annual Association for Consumer Trends Forum, Retail 2020 (hosted by Gourmet Retailer magazine) and the Gourmet Housewares Show.
Continue on for more information, and visit Rachel's blog for more industry news.
Recent Events
In November, Rachel and Sari ventured to Washington DC for The Metropolitan Cooking Show. The consumer show featured more than 200 companies, including specialty food manufacturers, kitchen designers and a host of cooking demos showcasing celebrity Food Network chefs.
Rachel and Sari at the Metropolitan Cooking Show, Washington, D.C., in November 2008.
While walking the show, one of the most prominent trends was a continued interest in functional food, especially in tea. The functional products are designed to assist in relieving headaches, encouraging weight loss and boosting energy.
Specialty items were among the most popular at the show: specialty sauces, ready to make oatmeal and soups; cheeses; and chocolates. Authenticity was the connecting theme among these products, many of which reflect traditional family recipes.
Highlights of the two-day show were the cooking demos with Food Network chefs Bobby Flay, Paula Deen and Giada De Laurentiis. As we all know, consumers are savvier then ever when it comes to cooking, and the questions from home chefs during the demos attested to this. A passion for finding new, inventive ways to cook gourmet meals with everyday ingredients is alive and well!
Giada De Laurentiis demonstrates a recipe with audience participants at the Metropolitan Cooking Show in Washington, D.C., in November 2008
Here is a sampling of some of the show highlights:
- Japonica Tafe
This is a tea company that describes their tea bags as "a new age tea sachet attractively composed of non-woven, nylon mesh fabric. With its tetrahedral design, the JT-Bag attacks the surface area of the tea allowing for a proper and efficient infusion between water and leaf. This eliminates the smell associated with paper tea bags, while preserving the taste and aroma of your specialty tea."
- Catalyst Tea
Catalyst Tea Enhancers™ are hand-crafted, hand-blended and created by grinding fresh whole spices and some pre-ground spices, all that have health and healing benefits, as well as being tasty enough to add to tea, as well as coffee and smoothies.
- Cugino's
Cugino's Gourmet Foods was established in 1995 and features award winning soup and dip mixes, spice rubs, garlic spread, pasta sauce and Italian dressings/Marinades.
- J.D. Gourmet
A family-owned business selling 18 year aged balsamic vinegar blends and olive oils.
- Sweet Margy
Hand dipped gourmet toffee without preservatives.
The Bulldog Reporter's Food Marketing & Publicity Summit in November played host to a veritable who's who of the culinary industry, including Sara Moulton (television chef, cookbook author, Gourmet executive Chef), Marion Nestle (NYU professor, author and food marketing/politics researcher) and editors from Saveur, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and other publications. These prominent industry professionals delivered outstanding lectures and led valuable workshops. One of the most noteworthy of these was given by Marion Nestle entitled "New Challenges and Responsibilities for Food Marketers."
This keynote lecture focused on the demands on food producers for new packaging, new recipes and additives, as well as processing techniques and even new labor practices. Nestle then examined how these demands challenge food marketers and publicists to increase message transparency and educational content, while striving to keep media reporting fair and balanced.
Upcoming 2009 Events
International Home + Housewares Show
March 22nd - 24th, Chicago - http://www.housewares.org/show/info/
The International Home + Housewares Show is the world's largest homegoods & housewares marketplace, showcasing thousands of new products and designs in four related product expos. Over 2,000 exhibitors from 30 countries participate annually, and over 60,000 industry professionals attend.
ACT's Consumer Trends Forum: 21st Century Trends
May 6th - 8th, San Francisco - http://www.consumerexpert.org/forum.php
As a member of the board and co-marketing chair of ACT, Rachel is a major proponent of this event. The Consumer Trends Forum is a two-day program packed with presentations by internationally-recognized experts, networking opportunities with marketing professionals, corporate trendologists, and research and development professionals. By examining the consumer through a broad range of perspectives, the Forum helps to give a big-picture understanding of what is influencing consumer purchasing behavior today. The keynote speaker for 2009 will be Jeremy Gutsche, the founder of trendhunter.com, the world's largest trend network.
Retail 2020
August 4th - 6th, San Francisco - http://www.gourmetretailer.com/gourmetretailer/retail2020.jsp
This new conference presented by Gourmet Retailer magazine made its debut in 2008, and invited Rachel as a panel member, discussing public relations tactics for specialty food retailers.
The 2009 San Francisco Retail 2020 Retreat Conference will connect vendors, retailers and entrepreneurs under one roof to establish multi-industry networks that advance collective new business opportunities. The conference provides specialty food and housewares professionals with the benefit of senior executive expertise through various forums, lectures and workshops, offering valuable resources and insider tips from those at the top of their industries.
Gourmet Housewares Show
August 8th - 10th, San Francisco - http://www.thegourmetshow.com/
Specifically designed for upscale housewares including gadgets, cookware, cutlery, bakeware, tabletop, small electrics, kitchen textiles and specialty foods, the Gourmet Housewares Show is an essential show for specialty retailers and their industry partners. It is the marquee event for everyone serious about making strides in the gourmet housewares category.
Visit us often to see what's new and exciting at Rachel Litner Associates!
"The preparation of good food is merely another expression of art, one of the joys of civilized living."
- Dione Lucas
