The July 20 issue of HOMEWORLD BUSINESS® features the 16th annual Impact Merchants special report. Housewares suppliers, representing the categories that HomeWorld covers, once again were asked to nominate buyers and merchandisers believed to have made a significant impact during the past year.
The selection of the 20 Impact Merchant winners is not intended as a definitive list of the best merchants in housewares retailing. Votes went to several more merchandisers than those featured. This year’s honorees represent buyers in given categories that received the majority of votes by vendors polled.
Voters were asked to give added weight to merchandising creativity, trend and marketing astuteness, attention to detail, openness to risk, flexibility, relationship building and the ability to deliver a profitable program for both the vendors and retailer while providing value to consumers. One thing this year’s Impact Merchants share is a vote of respect by their vendors. In today’s unpredictable retail environment, that vote really counts.
The 2015 HomeWorld Business Impact Merchants are as follows:
- Shannon Axthelm, Costco
- Matthew Baur, Dillard’s
- Brad Beach, Walmart
- Steve Benoff, HomeGoods
- Shannon Curtin, Walgreens
- Sherry Hanson, Bed Bath & Beyond
- Darlene Humphrey, Home Depot
- Haley Jag, Belk
- Alycia Johnson, Sur La Table
- Lindsay Kekua, Kroger
- Ron, Rick & Bob Kratchman, Kitchen Kapers
- Kevin McGhee, J.C. Penney
- Chad Melnick, Kohl’s
- Patty Middleton, Wegmans
- Nick Orum, Target
- Alex Piligian, P.C. Richard
- Katie Rapport, HSN
- Mary Beth Rodriguez, Groupon
- Derrick Shaffer, Rite Aid
- Barry Ward, Lamps Plus
For a profile of each 2015 Impact Merchant, see the July 20 issue of HomeWorld Business.
