What's New Isn't Necessarily What's New

At market, generally the first question a buyer asks is, "What’s new?" And in this industry, that is the one thing on which we are primarily focused — that and the hot trends. We tend to forget about or overlook what is or has been successful, things that are the tried and true. The tried and true just doesn’t get our antenna tingling with excitement, until maybe we rediscover it and look at it in a fresh new way. But sometimes what’s old can be new again.

Even this concept is nothing new. Tabletop companies especially look back into their archives and reintroduce old patterns — sometimes updated; sometimes not. But other types of companies with some product history behind them can also do this. Items that were once best sellers but are no longer in the line may provide fresh fodder for the perpetual quest for "what’s new?" A recent item in the NRF’s STORES magazine brought this to mind as it highlighted the Body Shop’s reintroduction of best sellers from its early days.  

So, manufacturers, are you stymied to come up with your next latest, greatest "what’s new" line? Take a look back. 

And retailers, do you think that all your customers want is what’s new? What lines do you no longer carry that were strong sellers for you? Maybe its time to take a look at them again.