Bobby Griggs, Hammer Stahl - HomeWorld Business

The August 14 edition of HOMEWORLD BUSINESS® revealed the 12th annual “Players,” people to watch in housewares during the next 12 months.

Selected by HomeWorld Business editors, the Players represent a cross section of a diverse housewares business— from established to newly installed company leaders; from large to small operations, from big-box to specialty retailers; from trade show managers to celebrity endorsers.

The HomeWorld Players are in the spotlight not only for how they might impact their respective organizations in the coming months, but also for how they might impact the overall housewares business.

Bobby Griggs, Hammer Stahl, Vice President

PLAYER’S CREDENTIALS: After years as a direct order cookware and cutlery manufacturer, Bobby Griggs, vp/Hammer Stahl, decided it was time to bring the brand to a new venue, the independent gourmet channel, and ramped up the company’s marketing efforts at the beginning of 2015.

WHAT TO WATCH: Griggs and his team are bringing new initiatives to the market in order to provide retail outlets opportunities for sales growth. After establishing Hammer Stahl as a dedicated vendor partner, Griggs relaunched Hammer Stahl cookware as American Clad by Hammer Stahl in March 2017, enhancing the cookware assortment and inviting the retail community to embrace its American-made craftsmanship.

While the company is bringing new cookware to the market, such as a new 316Ti 7-ply stainless steel cookware line, Hammer Stahl is also debuting a full marketing strategy around the official brand launch that focuses on its American manufacturing roots.

Griggs is also leading the company’s development of the cutlery segment by creating ways for gourmet housewares retailers to offer customers a solution-based experience. For example, the company recently introduced a five-piece cutlery set with a knife block that can be customized based on a consumer’s cutlery preferences and budget.

In addition, Griggs has become a vendor partner for independent housewares retailers. He hosts in-store demonstrations for consumers, trainings for staff members and has worked closely with the industry when developing new products and point-of-purchase displays. Griggs has also given presentations focused on several industry trends, such as Millennial shoppers and bridal registry, at buying group conferences.

PERSPECTIVE: “Millennials have a hunger for unique products and a lot of Millennials are foodies. They value locally-sourced materials. They not only eat out but they cook. They enjoy experimenting with recipes and cooking at home. And, they are willing to spend more money for quality products to use with their new recipes,” said Griggs.

2018 HomeWorld Business Players (click on name for profile):