RENEWED INTEREST IN COOKING

​By Moe Lastfogel
Director of Sales and Marketing for The Retail Observer

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Moe Lastfogel

Trend creates more educated appliance and housewares buyers

Over the last few decades, the popularity of cooking shows have reached an all-time high. Cooking is no longer hidden in weekend PBS or local cable shows. It has become mainstream and even a part of primetime TV. Movies about chefs and restaurateurs have been met by great reviews and they just keep coming. But what does that mean to you as a Retailer in today’s Epicurean craze? My feeling is that it creates more opportunity.

Gone are the “I just need any old stove to replace the one I have” days. Today, consumers want more—more power, more options and more colors. They are asking about BTU’s, steam, speed cooking, induction, convection, smart technologies and even sous vide and blast chilling.

These phrases are new to many of your customers’ vocabularies. You have the opportunity to educate them about these options, and most of all, upgrade the kitchen packages that you sell.

I recently returned from the International Home and Housewares show in Chicago and I was blown away by all the new toys available to these up-and- coming Chopped Champions. I saw new induction pan and burner sets that spoke to each other via bluetooth, blenders that weighed the food and made sure your recipes were on spot with an app and even a food caviar maker that created small food filled balls to make flavored and colorful garnishes.

This creates another opportunity in your stores and that’s housewares as an add on sale. If they can spend $20,000 on new appliances, what’s another $1,000 for some new pots and pans and countertop appliances?

Give consumers what they want by following these cooking trends. For you, it’s extra profit and for them it’s the next step up to becoming a culinary genius.

Happy Retailing,
Moe Lastfogel
​moe@retailobserver.com

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