By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs + Services
Learn how to develop and launch the right products for the right customer—with the right methods!
The four days of the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show will be packed with events as well as educational sessions. In these final weeks before the Show, we preview programs that will take place in the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center.
Today we are speaking with Joanne Domeniconi of The Grommet, an electronic retailer based in Somerville, Mass. The Grommet seeks out and supports fledging entrepreneurs and first-time inventors to build a community that connects the people behind the products with purchasers. Be sure to mark this presentation about a new form of retailing on your Show schedule.
Launching a Product: Tips and Tools for Success
Monday, March 17, 1:30 – 2:20 pm
Innovation Theater, Lakeside Center, E350
Joanne Domeniconi is co-founder and chief discovery officer of the media-rich product launch platform The Grommet. The Grommet gives product creators a place tell their story and meet up with people who believe in supporting innovation through their own consumer purchases. The Grommet calls this movement – Citizen Commerce™. Joanne has extensive experience creating and launching consumer products after spending more than 20 years at Stride Rite Corporation, where she served in many roles including vice president of product development at Keds. Joanne loves building things in a team setting and thrives in fast-paced, creative environments. She has a degree in retail merchandising and business from Simmons College.
Joanne, what is the most exciting or rewarding part of your job? What inspires your passion in your work?
I draw a lot of energy from witnessing and supporting product innovation and the process of bringing good product ideas to market. At The Grommet we see hundreds of product submissions every week; arriving from all over the world, covering 20 different product categories. Our vision is to level the playing field and create momentum and success for Makers (inventors, product creators, designers) as they launch their business. I’ve spent my entire career in retail and product development; The Grommet is a contemporary and disruptive business that has a lot of heart and purpose. This is important work and I’m proud to be associated with it.
In the past few years, what has changed most in your business? How has your company met these challenges in the way you do your work?
Where to start? Our business is just five years old and in the last 18 months we’ve seen enormous change. Last winter, we solidified a strategic partnership with Rakuten, a global e-commerce company, headquartered in Japan. This partnership has allowed us to invest in and grow the business dramatically.
We are seeing many positive consumer trends that support our vision and insight around contemporary consumer purchase behaviors. Informed consumers will increasingly use information and technology to discover and vet their purchases. They care how their own values align with the companies and products they support. Consumers today are asking: Is the product responsibly manufactured? Are the materials or ingredients good for me? Is the company socially responsible? Is the product manufactured domestically? How did this product come to be?
After five years of laying the groundwork to disrupt the way new products make it to consumers we are seeing lots momentum for the Makers we support.
Why did you choose to speak at the International Home + Housewares Show?
It’s a great opportunity to meet people and make connections. We want to meet Makers and introduce them to our platform. We have learned how to build a defensible and sustainable business during a period of rapidly evolving technology. Our journey has not been easy but it was enlightening. If we can support the industry, community or an individual by sharing our story and some of the things we have learned along the way, we are happy to do it.
Tell us what you will be speaking about and how and this topic is important for Show audiences.
The focus of my talk, Launching a Product: Tips and Tools for Success, will be on sharing stories and insights for launching a successful product today. We’ve worked with thousands of Makers on The Grommet platform and we see many common challenges that are worth sharing.
What do you see as consumers’ biggest concerns regarding housewares products?
We believe that consumers expect honest, transparent communication around responsible manufacturing, material or ingredient origins and accessibility and responsiveness when there is a problem or concern.
In our business we see consumers embracing smart, well-made products that solve real problems in innovative ways. The Grommet platform seeks to help create understanding via digital media and video in particular. It’s our job to make sure that we embrace advanced, disruptive ideas and give them a chance to succeed. Sometimes the most innovative ideas have the hardest time getting noticed simply because they are so unexpected. Creating stories about new products that create this product understanding and connect consumers to it—in a really human way is key.
What are some of today’s trends or issues that new product development professionals and/or retailers face in the housewares market?
It’s very important that our industry recognizes that consumers have information and choices. This is basic stuff these days, but not everyone gets it. Consumers are vigorously engaging with brands on social platforms, review boards and chat rooms. It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage and connect directly. The objective of this is to build trust, loyalty and perhaps even develop evangelists. Just monitoring doesn’t cut it anymore. And if you don’t show up at all, your business will suffer – or fail. It’s that important!
The dynamic is shifting. Consumers are more powerful. Product success is more democratic and many industry professionals and retailers are asleep. The rules are changing, the issues are provocative and the future looks bright but very different than today. I hope you join us for a good discussion about important topics in our business and industry.
Thank you, Joanne, for sharing your perspective on what today’s consumers are looking for in products and in relationships with makers and sellers. Your presentation is sure to engage audiences in a lively conversation about exciting ways to debut new products.
Don’t miss Joanne Domeniconi at the Innovation Theater, Monday at 1:30 – 2:20 pm. Experience The Grommet here.
For marketing inquiries: marketing@thegrommet.com
For selling inquiries: ideas@thegrommet.com
