Marketing Home Products

The Disney-like event for designers and architects this year has come and gone, but the trends will live on… at least until next year. With no office chair unturned and no textile untouched, the 2011 trends include: Gray, Green, Groovy & Gather.

Hot Neutral: Gray

Any self-respecting design enthusiast has noticed an abundance of gray in consumer fashion and design. Commercial design went chic with the color popping up everywhere at NeoCon. Combined with texture, white and yellow, gray was the standout neutral of the show.

• Before making it up the elevator (if you were lucky), a gorgeous gray and white textured fabric adorned a waiting-room style chair from David Sutherland.
• The debut of LG Hausys’ new line of vinyl wallcoverings designed by Anya Larkin didn’t disappoint. From patterns to a shimmering, gray texture (featured at Tiffany’s) it stood out for showcasing the color in a new way.
• Another Tiffany’s sighting featured blingy glass tile at Joel Berman.
• At every turn, a textile line featured the new neutral with pops of color like yellow, pink and green. Check out Luna, Momentum, Knoll and DesignTex for the color in action.
• Arcadia’s new Encore collection featured a fun, spacey desk chair in a shimmering silver fabric.

Green Isn’t Going Anywhere

Being “green” isn’t so hard anymore. Every showroom or line featured at least one environmentally friendly claim. Inhabitat has a lovely write-up with all things green at the show, but below is our take.

• With inherent green qualities, such as utilizing a remarkably renewable resource, recycling and avoiding chemicals, Expanko cork and rubber floors showcased style while keeping Mother Nature in mind.
• The Mohawk Group introduced a dazzling new carpet line utilizing SmartStrand, a fiber technology for the commercial market made from renewable resources like corn syrup. The entire showroom was homage to sustainability. Two thumbs up!
• Besides offering beautiful design solutions, 3form upped the ante with its green offerings. ReMix uses slices from the edges of panels and recycles them into one-of-a-kind works of art for commercial spaces.
• Coatings also entered the discussion. Wolf Gordon’s Wink, a first-of-its-kind finish that can turn a surface into a white-board, touts a low-VOC, water-based formula.
• Lighting enthusiasts could check out everything LED on the seventh floor and compare and contrast the effectiveness of different brands, including Acuity Lighting and Currey & Company.
• With about 20 seminars available, attendees could get their fair share of information on the subject. Plus, “green” products are becoming super-stylish, so designers don’t have to make the tough choice between aesthetics and the right-thing-to-do.

Getting Groovy

Maybe Mad Men influenced the bright colors and retro details seen from floor-to-floor, or maybe we’re just biding our time before 80s design details become en vogue. Either way, groovy colors and textures were all the rage.

• Edelman Leather was perhaps the brightest spot with lime, tangerine, fuchsia and lemon chairs beckoning from its showroom.
• The orange and green task chairs were inescapable. Chromcraft, Tayco, BBF, Gautier and Smith Systems were just a handful of companies offering up fun chairs with a nod to colors from the past.
• Wood paneling made its mark at Ki in a new lounge chairs. Abet Laminati highlighted an updated wood-like finish while utilizing new, digital technology.

Gather ‘Round

Collaborative design was key in office and lounge design. Work pods, public seating and easy online sharing options make working together (or apart) a fashionable experience.

• The Hon Company’s workstations were easy-on-the-eyes and the kind of desks you wouldn’t mind being handcuffed to.
• AirShare’s seamless technology allows co-workers to instantly share their just-completed presentations sans wires and plugs.
• DesignerPages.com unleashed its army of citizen bloggers on the show floor to report the latest trends and products. Utilizing smart phones, Twitter and hash tags, the 30+-person team let all of NeoCon know where to be. Planar broadcast the Twitter feeds on flat screens scattered across the mart, making the show one of the most collaborative, digitally-savvy events yet.
• Sparkeology, one of the most fun booths around, allowed worker bees to stay connected with integrated docking stations into tables and seating.

Just eight short days from now, San Francisco will host one of the nation’s largest regional builders’ shows. PCBC brings together builders, developers, building scientists, architects, environmental engineers, landscape companies, and manufacturers to focus on delivering industry trends, innovations, and environmental building practices. Here are several brands that I’m excited about seeing at the show:

• DANVER: The well-known stainless steel cabinetry manufacturer will showcase its newest outdoor kitchen products, including the Glastender Home line of commercial-grade cocktail stations. DANVER has recently teamed up with Glastender Home to provide a state-of-the-art bartending station that is easy to use and install. With its high durability and low maintenance, stainless steel is the perfect material for all outdoor kitchen needs. (Booth #5110)
• Andersen Windows: The two-year winner of the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award named by the EPA, Andersen windows manufactures high-quality energy efficient windows while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At PCBC, Andersen will showcase its wide variety of environmentally friendly windows and doors. (Booth #6335)
• Boral Roofing: Boral, one of the most extensive providers of sustainable clay and concrete roofing, is partnering with Green Builder Media to present the Sustainable Speaker Series. PCBC attendees PCBC can join the series at Boral’s booth, #5111.
• Carriage House Door Co.: Carriage House provides custom handcrafted garage doors, each meticulously designed to embellish the beauty and value of your home. The company will display a variety of its doors at PCBC, booth #6420.
• Nichiha: Nichiha, a leading manufacturer of fiber cement siding, will debut its newest siding product, NichiFrontier at PCBC. NichiFrontier is similar to Nichiha’s popular Sierra Premium Shake Product, but is offered at a lower price point. It will be available this summer, in four different colors: Terra, Hazelnut, Shadow and Prairie. (Booth #6317)
• Cooper Lighting: A leading provider of high-quality light fixtures, Cooper Lighting is sure to impress with its extensive and innovative line of residential, commercial, industrial, and utility lighting. (Booth #5611)
• Gerber: A leader in high performance vitreous china plumbing fixtures, faucets, and fittings, Gerber will have its comprehensive line of products on display, ideal for water-conservation in both residential and commercial use. (Booth #6120)
• Isokern by Earthcore: Isokern by Earthcore is a superior brand of fireplaces, ovens and chimneys made of energy efficient volcanic stone. Volcanic stone has high insulating values, way beyond that of clay or stone. Visit Booth #5121 to see their exceptional fireplaces that are perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.

The National Hardware Show marked its 66^th year with new categories, exhibitors and the unveiling of about 700 new products – all of which contributed to a highly successful event at the Las Vegas Convention Center. There was something for everyone at this year’s show – from the hardcore professional, to the weekend warrior, to the do-it-yourself homeowner. And the appeal of the show has gone well beyond the traditional hardware and tool industry with the addition of categories like tailgating, outdoor recreation, energy efficient products and pet-related goods, attracting buyers not only from traditional retail and wholesale outlets but channels like grocery, mass, drug, catalog and the Internet. Below are some examples of the most interesting and relevant new products found at this year’s event:

• Tailgating is steadily increasing its presence in the hardware channel, and after a 10-year absence from the National Hardware Show, Coleman celebrated its return by launching the TLGA brand of licensed NFL, MLB and NCAA products in such categories as canopies, quad chairs, coolers and stadium seats. “Sports fans find any reason to get together with family and friends to eat, drink, and watch the game,” said Jeff Diamond, director of product development & brand marketing for Jarden Sports Licensing. “There is an opportunity for retailers to tap into this passionate consumer and provide another outlet for fans to buy products and complete their ultimate tailgate collection.”

• Butler Home Products introduced a brand-new, never-before-seen line of Black & Decker cleaning products, including push brooms, angle brooms, scrub brushes, mops, floor squeegees, and accessories. Lightweight handles made primarily of fiberglass and soft grips set them apart from similar products. “We felt the National Hardware Show was the perfect place for the launch,” said Michael Silverman, senior vice president of marketing for Butler, which acquired the Black & Decker license in January. “That’s where hardware buyers come to shop.”

• Also introduced for the first time was Costco’s Flip Clip line of bike racks, multipurpose racks and ladder rack clips that fit easily onto beams in your garage, shed or barn. “It’s instant tool-free storage, easily customizable and you can quickly change it or add to it,” said Troy Franks, EVP-GM of Cosco.

• For those looking to save time, Craftsman introduced a quick charging system for its NEXTEC line of tools. Throw the 12-volt battery from your hammer or impact driver on the QuickBoost Charging System, wait three minutes and you’re back up to 25% power – perfect for finishing a job without the wait.

• No doubt pet products are growing in the hardware channel. Taking the gold in this year’s Homewares Awards was the Pet Top portable drinking device, a bottle top that fits most standard water bottles and allows your pet to take a swig during long walks or car rides.

• Among the standout eco-friendly products at the show were the Helix EcoMower with heat-treated carbon steel blades, adjustment posts for simple blade tuning and ergonomic handle positioning; and PD Worx’s new dsolv® compostable lawn bag, which holds 50% more leaves, grass and yard waste than standard paper bags. Plus, a portion of the profits go toward the development and maintenance of park lands in the communities where dsolv is sold.

• Capitalizing on the continuing popularity of the outdoor room, Jordan Manufacturing Company introduced its new Eco Friendly Wood Furniture line, as well as the new outdoor furniture line and cushion program done in partnership with HGTV personality Lisa LaPorta. The Eco Friendly line is made from Mid-Western hardwood and stainless steel hardware to prevent rust.

• Sporting the National Hardware Show’s new Energy Efficiency designation was Sylvania’s indoor and outdoor digital timers, which limit the amount of electricity a household uses – thus shrinking the monthly utility bill. “This is an expanding market that needs to be fed quality products,” says Billy Thea, a spokesman for Hardware Innovations, a leading supplier of  timers under the Sylvania brand. “The more you control lighting or other electrical circuits, the more energy you save.”
• The trend toward urban farming is reflected by Nature’s Footprint’s UrBin Gower, a flexible raised bed/organic growing system made for small spaces such as backyards, balconies or indoor spaces. The fact that it conserves water is a definite plus for the green conscious as well.