By Vicki Matranga
Design Programs +Services
Get to know the people behind the stylish products that will appear at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design. We’ll be posting conversations with exhibitors to give you a glimpse of the inspirations, influences and ideas that go into creating the exciting products that you’ll see in March at McCormick Place.
Today we get acquainted with Tweet Tweet Home, LLC, based in Minneapolis, Minn. The company’s magnet line, which premiered 18 years ago, encourages learning and creative play. The Tweet Tweet Homes bring “affordable housing to backyards and wild woods around the world, from Australia to Canada, Italy to Mexico, West Hollywood to Key West.” Various Audubon Society chapters have determined that at least 22 different types of birds can nest 
inside the Tweet Tweet Home. Although designed to be durable enough to be used outdoors, they can also be used for interior accents, candy totes and party centerpieces. They can be hung in the backyard as lanterns to glow with battery operated tea lights. The company’s products, made of 100 percent recyclable materials, respect and enhance nature.
We’re speaking with Greg Sargent, President and Owner.
Greg, where do you find inspiration when designing new products?
Most of our inspiration comes from shopping small independent retailers from around the world, seeing what they’re selling in their shops, and hopefully talking to those shop owners about trends that they are noticing in their community.
Are there any specific designers, places or eras that influence you?
London is one of my favorite cities to spot trends, from the high end independent retailers to the weekend flea markets. If I want to see where craft trends are headed and who is really producing smaller unique items, I’ll plan a trip to some out of the ordinary place like Istanbul or South America.
How do you choose which idea to take to the next step — to product development?
Once mock-ups are made and we’re happy with the outcome, we meet with our best customers for whom we think the new product would complement their product selection and get their input about actual product design, packaging, and display ideas, so that we can further utilize their space with the best return for all.
How do you identify the key user audience for your products?
We ask our best customers about what they are seeing and the demographic they tend to see the most.
Is there an approach or look that joins the functionality, form or emotional appeal of your product line?
We tend to stay with one theme. For us it is birding and we have expanded from there. For example, the Stainless Steel Tweet Houses that we’ll be showing at our booth in March.
The mini Tweet Houses are made from mirror finish stainless steel and are perfect for bringing an outdoor feel to interior decorating. They are packaged flat so you can have fun with the do-it-yourself craft project to fold and construct them. They can hold a battery-operated tea light (not included) or can be hung from the flip-up tab on the roof.
Where are your products manufactured?
Most of our products are made in China, but we’re expanding to South America with other product introductions.
How do you see design’s importance in our industry as it moves forward?
Design is very important. As a trained industrial designer, I see that we are bombarded with poorly functioning design everyday. When we design a product, we make sure that the form and function go hand and hand and that the materials used complement our products: economically, functionally and visually.
Tell us about your experience with Discover Design.
The Discover Design section and the Show introduced Tweet Tweet Home to new outlets for our product and have helped build our brand, both domestically and internationally. We got to talk with buyers who we did not meet in other “gift show” markets. I’m very happy to be part of Discover Design.
Thank you, Greg, for giving us a peek into your approach to creating charming and appealing products for the homes of birds and people! Visit Tweet Tweet Home’s inviting nest in Discover Design Booth S4377.
Contact Greg Sargent directly at
Greg Sargent
612-824-1009
Greg@tweettweethome.com
And learn more about their products at www.tweettweethome.com
