CES So Far...

It’s only Day Two of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, but Hinda’s merchandise team has already reported back with lots of great pictures and info about the cool new tech they’re seeing on the show floor. Here are just a few of the highlights – in no particular order – with more to come!

 Samsung®’s Galaxy Tab® S display featuring Marvel’s Avengers

Relatively new to the US market, TCL has been doing extremely well at Hinda. The company offers affordable price points and its line of Roku TV is hot. Here TCL is showcasing its Curved 4K TVs.

Load up your own beverages with the Chill personal soda machine from Hisense.

Not just a camera company anymore, Canon® showcases its Connected Home.

The Polaroid Fotobar offers “Instant Printification.”

Virtual Fitting Solutions from Toshiba

Headphones are big at Panasonic®!

Crosley®’s old-school booth proves vinyl is popular as ever.

Check out our Facebook  page for more images from the show floor at CES!

Merchandise Monday: 2014 Trends in Technology

The annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) took place from January 7-10 in Las Vegas, and Hinda’s merchandising team hit the show floor to seek out the latest and greatest from the world of consumer electronics. This year, it seems innovations are cropping up in every area of tech, from digital cameras and smart TVs to mobile and sports and fitness. While it’s a little too soon for us to tell which of the newest items we’ll be adding to our ever-growing assortment, we’re excited to share what we learned about what you can look forward to in 2014 and moving forward!

A shift is taking place in the world of digital cameras and camcorders. The rise of smart phones and their superior camera quality have decreased the need for separate digital cameras. Leave it to tech manufacturers like Canon® and Samsung® to offer the features you love about your smart phone, like Internet connectivity, social media sharing capability and rear-facing cameras, right on their latest models. Along these lines, companies like GoPro®, Garmin®, Sony® and Polaroid have all developed a line of action cams – a rapidly growing camera category all its own.

Recent advances in TV technology have turned passively watching into a full-blown lifestyle. In 2014, streaming technology is offered as an embedded feature on TVs. For example, Roku has partnered with select brands to offer Roku TV, which is built-in, eliminating the need for a separate streaming device. And what better way to enjoy all your favorite TV than on the latest 4K television? Companies like Sony and Samsung are now offering the ultra-crisp, life-like picture, which is becoming more mainstream and affordable. Look for massive displays and curved or bendable screens!

We’ve all been there - you’re out with friends or on a trip and forgot your charger. Now your phone’s dead and you can’t snap great pics or check-in via social media. What to do? Never fear, mobile charging is emerging as a category all its own, with companies like Mophie and Intel® offering devices strictly for keeping your favorite gadgets fully operational, making the concept of a dead battery obsolete. In fact, CES predicts that by 2017, the market will reach $7.16 billion, making wireless charging one of the most important categories in consumer electronics. 

Have you seen the new movie “Her” starring Joaquin Phoenix and the voice of Scarlett Johansson? Did you think it was a little futuristic and far-fetched? Well, we may not be too far away from our homes talking to us. The “Internet of Things” category is starting to catch on, with companies like Nest®, Belkin, LG and Samsung jumping on the connected-home bandwagon. This year, stand-out items included a smart toothbrush and sleep monitor that can be controlled via apps, cloud-connected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and plans for 4G-connected car models from Audi, BMW and Chevrolet.

One of the newest technologies on display this year was 3D printing. While it’s still a little too pricey for personal use, it’s becoming a bit more mainstream as businesses are finding various uses for the technology. For example, 3D printing is great for creating physical samples of products and 3D scale models of buildings and designs. Another example of using 3D printing for business? Food! CES exhibitor ChefJet showcased its ability to print using sugar and chocolate to create 3D-printed cake toppers and pastry decorations. What will they think of next?

Another up-and-coming category is wearable technology. By now everyone has seen Google Glass, the wearable computer concept worn on the face like a pair of glasses. It seems the wearable tech trend is only getting stronger with the idea that anything we can put on our bodies can have a wired version. From smart watches and contact lenses to smart onesies for babies, IMS Research expects the wearables market to ship out 171 million units by 2016, up from just 14 million in 2011, according to CES.

Last but not least, sports and fitness are two categories where technology is really starting to make waves. Devices like swing monitors for golf, tennis and baseball and GPS systems for cyclist are being manufactured by Sony, Reebok, Schwinn and other companies to help improve performance and maintain safety. In the fitness realm, heart rate and activity tracker wrist bands from companies like Garmin, Fitbit® and Polar® and sweat-friendly earbuds from Sol Republic and other brands are just two of the recent developments in fitness that are making it easier and more fun to be fit!

There’s nothing like fresh, new technology to kick off the New Year! Of course, this is just a sample of the many brands and exhibitors present at this year’s CES. And as we mentioned, we’re not sure yet which of these new gadgets we’ll add to our assortment in the coming months. However, we can say with confidence that we’re just as excited as you to see what new technology 2014 brings. So be sure to stay tuned to Hinda Blog for all the latest updates and merchandise news!

Merchandising Minute Newsletter - August 2013

Welcome to the August edition of Hinda's Merchandising Minute!

Merchandising Minute brings you the latest news and information from our team of merchandising experts. In this issue learn more about some of our recent product line introductions, review trends with our top redeemers list and meet April Stewart, the newest member of our merchandising team. Click here to download the current issue! 

Merchandise Monday: There’s No Place like Home

The 2013 International Home and Housewares show took place March 2-5 right here in Chicago, and Hinda was on the showroom floor checking out the latest and greatest of what the industry has to offer!

A lot is happening this year in the realms of Kitchen, Home Décor, Floor Care and Outdoor Living. Let’s start with everyone’s favorite room – the kitchen. Eye-popping color is all the rage this year, so why not replace your black, white and stainless steel with bright orange, fuchsia and blue! Everything from stand mixers to pots and pans to servingware is available in brights – and why not?

The Kitchen Chic category is also trending toward the more economical side, with an increased interest appearing in healthy living, bringing your lunch to work, making your own baby food and brewing your coffee at home. Travel beverage and food containers are popular for saving and freezing leftovers and byo-ing your meals – a great way to save a few bucks!

Top emerging trends in the Home Décor category include recycling and refurbishing instead of going out and buying new – and Pantone®’s fabulous palettes are making it easy to match colors and create new looks for items you already have in your home! This year, Pantone is throwing pops of bright color into its earthy-toned palettes to help you spruce up a room or your whole house without spending hours searching for and testing paint.

Texture is also a big factor in the latest Home Décor trends. For example, wicker and shiny white ceramic add another dimension to a brightly painted kitchen hutch; bright throw pillows make a splash on your old comfy couch or easy chair; and waffle-weave crystal for serving or as decorative pieces are hot! Also, look for reflective materials, green and recycled items and simple, bright white lighting.

While we’re on the subject of revamping your home, why not go the extra mile with a little spring cleaning? Floor care is trending right now, with bare floor steam cleaning still a popular way to get the job done. The latest floor cleaners are appearing lightweight, cordless and compact, which makes them easy to use and carry around the house for all your floors. Robotic floor and window cleaners are also emerging in this category, as well as air purifiers and humidifiers. Breathe easy in your newly redecorated home this spring!

And now that spring is on its way, we can finally talk about hanging out outside! Outdoor Living was another emerging trend at the show this year. Look for ways to create beautiful, useful spaces that extend your home living space, perhaps with the addition of a deck, patio, hot tub, pool or outdoor kitchen. Bringing the indoors outside is popular as people are spending more time entertaining at home. Patio furniture and outdoor lighting are becoming more aesthetically pleasing as opposed to just functional.

Stay tuned to Hinda Blog for more tradeshow, trends and merch updates via our weekly column, Merchandise Monday!

Merchandising Minute Newsletter - February 2013

 

Welcome to the latest edition of Hinda's "Merchandising Minute" newsletter!

"Merchandising Minute" brings you the latest news on merchandise and award trends.

This issue includes:

• Emerging Trends from the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show
• Handy Tips to Organize Your Jewelry
• Recap of the PPAI Expo

If you know someone who would benefit from receiving communications like this from Hinda, have them e-mail Alisa Schafer (aschafer@hinda.com) and ask to be added to the distribution list.

Also be sure to check out and subscribe to the Hinda Blog. 

Click here for the current issue of Merchandising Minute.