Sexy, chic products debut at Gourmet Housewares Show

LAS VEGAS The Gourmet Housewares Show, which concludes today at the Sands Convention Center, certainly has more relevance for small retailers than for large, as many of the major vendors do their product introductions at the Home and Housewares Show held earlier in the year, but that doesn't mean there aren't new and interesting things around.

In fact, one retail attendee, from Cappel's Ace Hardware, cited as the example of what he found new and interesting at the show a vendor called Sexy Savvy. Developed by president Helen Pham, the idea behind the Sexy Savvy line of aprons is, according to the company's mission statement, "design to enhance the quality of life for women by promoting elegance, class and sexiness in their every day work and life experiences." The line includes contemporary and traditional looks in form fitting cuts. Of course, most of those companies promoting new products took a more conventional tack.

Trudeau, for example, introduced six fondu sets, ranging in retail price from $12.99 to $49.99 and ranging in style from traditional to contemporary to whimsical, with a September ship. The company also introduced a new bar tool line dubbed Fusion, which featured bright colors on corkscrews and related products, for a $8.99 to $29.99 retail, and Balencia, six cooking tools composed of silicone and nylon crafted to hang on pot lids, each for a $9.99 retail.

Both of the latter products, like the fondu sets, ship in September.