BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Haggen is using a broader selection of colors to trigger impulse sales in housewares.
The retailer has incorporated housewares in blue and green to create a more appealing presentation of plasticware, upscale gadgets, cooking implements and kitchen soft goods.
"We hope to have new color changes in place at all stores this month as we cut in the newer choices in all segments in bath and kitchen accessories and food storage devices," said Joe Sinkula, former director of general merchandise and health and beauty care. Sinkula resigned from Haggen last week.
Sinkula's successor has not been named, and Haggen officials had no further comment on the housewares program.
Before he resigned, Sinkula told SN that, as Haggen revamps product colors in the housewares, the retailer will reduce the number of items it carries in pastel shades to make room for other colors that are gaining favor. One color growing in popularity, he said, is forest green.
To create a striking presentation in plastics, Haggen will display products to take advantage of their colors. The retailer also plans to weave the newer colors into selections of plates, bowls, mugs and teakettles.
Overall housewares and bath accessories departmental spacing, product styling and price points will remain pretty much unchanged as Haggen implements the new color scheme, Sinkula said. In broadening its housewares color selection, Haggen was guided by color trends seen in other consumer product categories.
According to Sinkula, Haggen had noted the emergence of popular colors not only at the Housewares Show, but also in automobile sales, where blue and green have become strong color preferences. For kitchen color trends, Sinkula said design magazines provided the best clues.
Haggen is also making a move into smaller carded gadgets and other peggable general merchandise. According to Sinkula, Haggen has found that manufacturers are starting to make their cards suit the needs for better space management. Merchandise that does so includes both regular in-line and J-hooked gadgets, he said.
