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Kitchenware News & Housewares Review Show Daily Sunday, March 19, 2017 3 2 PRODUCTS FOR NATURAL LIVING For 40 years, Down To Earth Distributors, Inc. has been your source for practical products for natural living. From its beginnings as a small, specialty store in Eugene, Oregon, it has grown to become a national distributor of farm-to- table products, and has a leadership posi- tion in the organic fertilizer formulator business. Its goal has been to serve the independent retailer with quality prod- ucts and service. The founders started the company because they were dismayed by mass- produced, disposable products and the pollution it created. The company contin- ues the original mission today. It strives to offer products that will hold up to the test of use, and with proper care, can last for many years, if not generations. As a stocking wholesale distributor, it has never stopped searching for both the timeless choices that it has always carried and finding exciting new offerings from the growing nat- ural and sustainable movement. Down to Earth Distributors, Inc. has carefully curated its catalog of more than 2,000 choices made from materials like wood, ceramic, glass, stainless steel, cast iron, bamboo and wool. Though its offerings may be classic, it provides 21st-century service, with a complete web-based cata- log and online ordering options, as well as con- sumer websites with a growing library of videos, photography and extended content for featured prod- ucts. For more information, call 800.234.5932, visit www.downtoearthdistributors.com, www.downtoearthnaturalliving.com and www.downtoearthfertilizer.com or stop by booth #S2280. BERATEK INDUSTRIES TURNS IDEAS INTO PROFITS An interview with Gerald Beranek, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BeraTek Industries. KNSD: Tell our readers about your com- pany. GB: BeraTek Industries is a product design and manufacturing company based in the Midwest. We design and manufacture our own products, as well as offer our services to other business own- ers and entrepreneurs. Our company mis- sion is simple: turn ideas into sellable products quickly and cost-effectively. KNSD: What would you say makes your company unique? GB: Our team's dedication to customer service and our ability to adapt to our customer's needs is what makes BeraTek unique and sets us apart from our compe- tition. Additionally, the company is 100 percent vertically integrated, which pro- vides internal efficiencies, ultimately saving our customer money and time. Our customers have the freedom to man- ufacture at low volumes and/or high vol- umes so they can grow and scale their business as needed without having to sit on too much inventory – a value they can't get from working with overseas manufacturers. KNSD: Tell our readers about your back- ground. GB: My background is mechanical engi- neering with experience in consumer product design and manufactur- ing. They also call me an ideas man – I like to solve problems I encounter and develop solutions. The high cost and long lead time of getting a physical product to the market is what led me to open the doors of BeraTek. KNSD: What is product design and why is it important to business owners? GB: Product design can range from a consumer product design all the way to a process design. It is the way a product looks, feels, functions and provides value to a customer. Innovative product design should be important to business owners because it is what will separate them from the competition. KNSD: You have successfully launched several BeraTek products. What distin- guishes BeraTek products in the market- place? GB: BeraTek products are made in the USA. Iowa, to be specific. When I opened the doors of BeraTek, my vision included producing and launching multiple products with a reduced time to market and low man- ufacturing costs. I've made the invest- ment in high-tech manufacturing equipment and an educated team with the goal of keeping manufacturing in the USA. KNSD: What is best the advice for turn- ing an idea into profit? GB: If you have an idea you want to turn into a product, the biggest thing you can do is to take action. I recommend getting your idea out there quickly without over- thinking your product or brand. Just get going. You will learn along the way. If you have questions, give us a call and we can help guide the way. For more information, visit www.beratekindustries.com. LOVE COOKING COMPANY TRANSFORMS THE HOUSEWARES BUSINESS When Harry & David and Mrs. Fields – two powerhouse brands with world- renowned reputations – wanted to expand into the housewares market, they chose Love Cooking Company as their partner. The reasons for doing so were simple on the surface, but deeply impor- tant: they wanted to do business with people who shared their passion for results, who had a track record of inno- vative bakeware products and who could handle all of the services they needed in a one-stop-shop kind of setting. "Love Cooking's main reputation may be as a bakeware company," said company President Scott Nicholson, "but our skills go well beyond the proverbial drawing board. We are able to help our partners build their brands with kitchen- ware and all of the ancillary products that go along with it: aprons, towels, dishes – even picnic baskets and tote bags. At Love Cooking, we handle the design, manufacturing, distribution and brand building – all while being responsive and agile to our partners' needs." In the past, companies that were famous in one area of business, such as Mrs. Fields in cookie baking and Harry & David in the gourmet gift foods, would have to seek out multiple partners if they hoped to expand the scope of their operations. If a celebrity chef or food company wanted branded bake- ware, they went one place for product design, another for manufacturing and another for retail distribution. If they wanted to expand beyond bake- ware into other housewares, they would be forced to seek out a whole other set of part- ners. But that is not the case for brands that partner with Love Cooking Company. Love Cooking Company produces the product designs, handles the manufacturing – whether it requires metals, ceramics, melamine, textiles or anything else – sees to warehousing and delivers the products to market through big box and specialty retailers. For more information, stop by booth #S2103-07, visit www.lovecooking brands.com or call 855.358.2665. EXPRESS TALENT & CREATIVITY WITH JANOME The DIY sphere has prospered amongst the Millennial generation over the past few years. People ranging from ages 18 to 35 are constantly exposed to new con- tent and are capturing inspiring ideas from thriving image-sharing social media outlets. Keeping up with the lat- est trends is instilled within a Millennial mindset. When it comes to the latest fashion styles, young adults are the first to showcase them. As the average annu- al income for a Millennial is below $50,000, the Janome MODs, Artistic Edge 15 and tote bags are the perfect, budget-friendly products for aspiring DIY professionals to create their own wardrobes and living spaces, all with power and convenience. The complete MOD line has seven sewing machines, all with different fea- tures and number of built-in stitches. The line is made up of machines with built-in stitches ranging from 11 to 200 and includes a powerful serger. The MODs are the perfect tool for creative enthusi- asts who want to get a fresh start on sewing garments, home décor and even quilting. All of these machines ensure that developing fashion enthusiasts' proj- ects are conquered with power, precision and confidence. The Artistic Edge 15 is a powerful digital cutter that will take handmade projects to a whole new level. Now, crafting enthusiasts can create their next project using the included Artistic SimpleCut software, which includes 3,500 built-in designs, or simply create or import their own images to cut from their favorite materials. The LED lighting and placemat laser make every cut from paper to vinyl much more precise, and the adjustable power eases the process of creating intricate pieces with a wide array of textile options. These features will help crafters embel- lish clothing and accessories, design greeting cards and create templates for glass etching. The Janome Sewing Machine Totes are stylish sewing machine travel bags that come in a vari- ety of fun colors and patterns to match anyone's personal taste. These great bags have all the sturdy features a traveling sewist needs: strong handles, accessory pockets and tons of space. Whether a sewist or designer is going to a class or if they are traveling across the country, they deserve a bag that fits their style. Quality products will help Millennials and everyone else produce their best work while expressing their tal- ents and creativity. The Janome MODs, Artistic Edge 15 and tote bags are the perfect tools and accessories to start with. For more information, go to www.janome .com or stop by booth #L12549.