IHA catches up with Whitford Corporation’s Fran Groesbeck, Worldwide Retail Marketing Manager, and Suzie Eberhardt, Associate Retail Marketing Manager to preview their presentation at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days covering topics ranging from new product design to the smart home.
Founded in 1965 as Whitford Chemicals, the coatings company became Whitford Corporation in 1969. Whitford manufactures the largest and most complete line of high-performance fluoropolymer and sol-gel “ceramic” nonstick coatings in the world. The company manufactures and maintains sales offices in many countries and has agents in more than 25. Whitford covers products in four main market categories: consumer, industrial, flexible substrates and medical.
Fran and Suzie work with retailers and importers to develop, buy or source nonstick-coated products. They aim to provide the detailed knowledge that helps their customers determine which of many coating (and other) options best suit their specifications for price, performance and market level from opening-piece-point to high-end.
Fran and Suzie, what is the most exciting or rewarding part of your work? What fuels your inspiration?
The most exciting and rewarding part of our jobs is working with our customers. They all have great ideas and they fuel our inspiration to be the best company we can be.
Can you name a pivotal event or project that impacted your career or company?
We continue to break into new markets. We started with a focus on U.S. customers. With the addition of our teams and worldwide expansion as a company, our focus has grown into international markets.
In the past few years, what has changed most in your business? How has your company met these challenges in the way you do your work?
Global Regulations—there are new regulations being presented almost daily. Whitford is a worldwide company and we must comply with these regulations. We have a global regulatory team at the home office and specific members in our worldwide locations to keep up with this demand.
Why did you choose to speak at the International Home + Housewares Show?
We believe that knowledge is power. The International Home + Housewares Show is a great venue to share the knowledge we have so that we can help educate the audience on a variety of topics that impact the housewares industry.
Tell us what you will be speaking about and how and this topic is important for Show audiences.
We will be speaking about Trends in Coatings for Cookware, Bakeware and Small Electrics. This is an important topic for makers and sellers of products in those categories. Trends influence and set the pace for our industry.
2017 Trends in Coatings for Cookware, Bakeware and Small Electrics
March 21, Tuesday, 9:30 – 10:20 am
Innovation Theater, Lakeside Center, Room E350
You’ve presented in the Innovation Theater before. What are you looking forward to most from speaking at the Innovation Theater?
Our company has presented at the Innovation Theater before. We are looking forward to questions from the audience and their response to the current trends we are seeing.
What do you see as consumers’ biggest concerns regarding housewares products?
The biggest concern is always the safety and quality of the products. The products must be deemed safe for consumer use and the quality must be represented by the price point; especially for higher-priced items. Consumers tend to expect the more expensive items to last longer.
What are some of today’s trends or issues that new product development professionals and/or retailers face in the housewares market?
Keeping up with colors trends can be difficult. A trending color in textiles may not be as popular, or even appropriate, in cookware, bakeware and/or small electrics. Take pink for instance, it’s huge in textiles, but does the homeowner really want a pink oven?
For further information, contact the The Nonstick Chicks, Fran Groesbeck at 732-361-3710, or Suzie Eberhardt at 610-286-3564.
Innovation propels the housewares industry. Learn from experts about how to invigorate your new products and services by enhancing your innovation efforts. Critical issues such as global design trends, licensing, the emerging Smart Home category, branding, the needs of distinct consumer age and gender groups, the future of food and parenting – all impact the home goods market. Be sure to attend the free executive-level educational sessions at the Innovation Theater. These programs will give you a fresh perspective as you walk the Show and will inspire, inform and improve your business.
The four days of the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show will be packed with events and education. To help you plan your valuable time at the Show, we introduce you to the speakers and the 21 exciting presentations that will take place in the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center. Gain cutting-edge insights that you can apply to your work. All programs are audio-recorded and will be available at www.housewares.org after the Show.
