The beginning of a new year is a great time to look at what trends will be dominating and which new products you should be adding to your store shelves.
In our January print issue, which is now digital, we look at colour trends for 2018 with Dulux colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr. It’s all about the ‘80s this year with a retro vibe that brings a touch of luxury and glamour. Read more on page 28.
Our cover story features Aussie artist Lisa Pollock. Starting out in her garage, Lisa Pollock has come from humble beginnings to turn her brand into a local success. On page 24 we catch up with the woman who lives by her daily mantra of believing in your dreams and never, ever giving up.
Don’t miss our feature on JOCO Cups on page 32, which is founder Matt Colegate’s sustainable answer to the growing global epidemic of disposable coffee cup waste and plastics in the ocean. Launched in 2011, JOCO is a reusable glass coffee cup and an innovative eco solution for experiencing life’s luxuries without the harmful impact on our environment and our health.
Colegate’s passion for the environment inspired him to launch JOCO Cups and this same passion for the earth also inspired Ainsley Schumacher to start her own business.
After spotting a gap in the market for a one-stop-shop ethical marketplace, she decided, after two years of research, to launch Known Effects. The online platform is application based and product assessed so they have control over the brands and products listed on the website. Find out more about this exciting initiative on page 48.
While sustainability and taking care of our environment is high on people’s agenda, on the other side of the spectrum there is technology and how it has basically infiltrated every aspect of our lives and homes. On page 40 we catch up with leading US expert on the Internet of Things and the evolution of the smart home, Mike Wolf, who talks about what the future holds and what is happening in the smart world right now.
This issue also features some great profiles. On page 42 Koh Living’s Tui Cordemans talks about a new wave in retailing and how she, as a wholesaler, believes it is all about connecting people to be successful. We also caught up with Andrea McCormick, group merchandise and creative manager at the Homewares Group about the relaunch of the Toorak Minimax flagship store for its 50th birthday on page 44.
After a brief retirement, the founder of Melbourne store Homing Instincts, Jennie Lane, went from selling camping equipment to quirky gifts. Read her story on page 56, while on page 60 you can read about online stationery retailer NoteMaker, which after 10 years in business has ventured offline with its first bricks-and-mortar store, a new name, and a fresh new vision.
Check out our trade fair reports in this edition with wrap-ups on the HK Mega Show, India’s IHGF Delhi Fair, NY NOW Summer Market and M&O Paris held in September last year, as well as a preview of Ambiente (Frankfurt).
Congratulations to Chris Tourgelis and his store, Sydney-based Opus Design, which has been chosen as this year’s gia Australia winner and will be representing Australia at the global awards in Chicago this March. Find out more about the store and the gia awards on page 62.
Don’t miss our product selections starting on page 68, with the seasonal feature this issue being Mother’s Day.
