IHA spoke with Eugene Khayman, president of New York-based Epare, a young specialty manufacturer of kitchen accessories and lifestyle goods with a focus on functional design.  Epare will exhibit alongside other design-focused companies at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design.

Attracted to entrepreneurship at a young age, Eugene Khayman began buying and selling various products online when he was 14 years old. When he wasn’t packing boxes for shipment, he enjoyed trying his hand at cooking. While in college, he began to blend these hobbies and started to sell kitchen accessories, aiming to find products he could improve and market. His first product was a non-stick baking mat to which he added a ruler and guidelines to help a beginner gauge the expansion of baked goods in the oven. He found a factory in China to produce these and began selling online from his garage. He followed with a spring-operated spice mill and, after finding a reliable manufacturing partner, expanded his product offerings.

He founded Epare in 2012 at the age of 21. Eparé was born from the combination of two words and aesthetic brand principles: preparation and easy, with a European accent. Now his company, focused on branding, quality and value, includes nearly 30 products for the enjoyment of food preparation.

Eugene, where do you find inspiration when designing new products?
I often find inspiration in products when at new restaurants and bars, I am very observant and take notice to what kind of products are being used for certain tasks. We primarily target the home user, but I can often spot trends when visiting new establishments and finding out what excites the staff.

Are there any specific designers, places or eras that influence you?
Our company focuses on reinventing common products and providing value through offering multiple scenarios for functionality. We strive for modern styling and target the millennial culture. 

How do you choose which idea to develop?
When I have an idea I often speak about it to a few people that work in the food and beverage industry, both trusted friends and new people I meet and find to be knowledgeable in the area. I don’t often get into details about a product, but ask if the issues we are trying to solve are seen as problems and what they typically do to solve them.

How do you identify the key user audience for your products?
We know who the end user of a product would be based on the problems that we intend for it to solve so we try to design a product with that user in mind.

Is there an approach or look that joins the functionality, form or emotional appeal of your product line?
Every product in our line is meant to bring out a similar reaction of, “Wow, why haven’t I thought of that.” They all have a characteristic that should bring out that emotion. We like to choose unique colors to identify each product in our line and incorporate that color into the product or packaging. 

How do new technologies influence your product design?  How do you use social media?
3D printing has definitely helped us bring down the costs of prototyping. It also allows us to make changes to a design based on the prototypes much faster due to the reduced turnaround times. We are actively working on building out a loyal following and interacting with our customers through social media. I feel that this is a very important tool and should be utilized by all companies.

How do you see design’s importance in our industry as it moves forward?
I think that it will become extremely important to have design focus on functionality because more than anything else, we are entering a time where the trend is toward full utilization of resources. Products should be simple, not over-designed, and should provide function and the most possible benefits to the user.

Can you give us a preview of what you will be showing in your booth in Discover Design?
We intend on expanding our double wall glassware line, primarily focusing on styles that can be used in restaurant/bar settings and we are adding products to our bar/lifestyle category. There are many fun trends in the bar industry now and we are very excited for the products we have coming out to satisfy those trends.

Tell us about your Discover Design appearance in the 2016 Show.
I think the Discover Design section is becoming the place to see at the Show. It’s the hub of innovation and it’s great to be surrounded by so many like-minded companies. We appreciate the spotlight that the IHA has shined on Discover Design and are excited to see how the Show will be this year as the buzz grows.

Thank you, Eugene. We look forward to seeing your latest exciting new products in your booth N8133.

For more information on Epare products, see www.epare.com.

Discover Design is the premier destination at the International Home + Housewares Show for trend spotters who make design their priority. Nearly 200 design leaders will present their products in all Show categories to delight retailers looking for the unique at the Discover Design Expo located at the front of the North Building.

Anchored by renowned brands such as Alessi, Nambe and Joseph Joseph, Discover Design welcomes new exhibitors, such as 3 Sprouts, Stelton, Sophistiplate and Victoria Lekach, and introduces 10 emerging companies at the Design Debut incubator. Additional fresh offerings from veteran design-focused exhibitors such as Dreamfarm, Koziol and Three by Three will also inspire your choices for the coming year. Learn more about Discover Design exhibitors.