kbb 2020 | Meet the Experts - Jashdip Kaur
In this instalment of Meet the Expert, we meet Jashdip Kaur, Product Group Manager at Häfele. Jas is responsible for all things decorative handles and accessories, which means she has her finger on the pulse of the latest design trends.
Tell us about your experience and how long you’ve been at Häfele?
“I started at Häfele in April 2019, which makes me one of the newer members of the category team. Before this role, I worked at Howdens – so a related industry – where I was a product manager for the joinery category.”
What does your role at Häfele involve?
“I’m responsible for the decorative handles category, which is a high-profile area with a lot of product lines. We have over 2,000 products.
"We have so many different options available because the category is so trend-driven. We want to refresh the items we have available every three to six months to make sure our customers can offer their own customers the latest in design trends.
"A big part of my role is being on top of what's happening in interiors. I do this by looking online, in magazines, speaking to our suppliers and I also work closely with my equivalent in our Germany head office. The UK does tend to borrow trends from continental Europe quite regularly – and vice versa – so we work closely to cherry-pick what's likely to be popular over here before homeowners even know they want them."
What trends can we expect to see in the coming months?
"Textures are really making waves in decorative handles at the moment. We're getting requests for soft-touch especially in children's rooms.
“Champagne, rose gold, antique bronzes and metallics are also being requested.
“In terms of handle design – it’s all about the detail. Customers want more definition and shape for these important finishing touches.”
What can we expect to see at kbb 2020 in terms of decorative handles?
“We’re going to explore the trends in more detail at the show, displaying the styles, colours and design. We’re also going to share innovative ways to display handles to our customers, which will help them market these finishing touches to their buyers more effectively too.”
What’s planned for your category for the rest of 2020?
“Because it’s so trend-led, for the rest of 2020, I’ll focus on making sure we’ve got the latest products and styles, and review the older, less popular products in our range that we no longer need to offer.
“As always, I’ll also make sure our lines are competitively priced and there’s strong product availability. Having lots of readily available stock is important in decorative handles so that’s another huge part to look at.”
Come and find out more about the latest trends, decorative handles and accessories at kbb 2020. Click here to register for tickets.
