Signature Housewares

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Might explain why their independent retail base is growing at a 15% clip annually despite a product with little brand name recognition. "In terms of customer recognition, it’s true our brand isn’t a household name," Ploesch says, "but we do have a brand name in the industry and it’s a name that means something." Morrison assents, "We’re a great company to do business with and we get positive reviews all-around. We’re more than fair without giving away the farm."

E-I-E-I-O. Signature’s barnyard of assortments are weighted to dinnerware collections, 60% of SKUs. There currently are three core collections, Sorrento, Campagna, and Olivia. Sorrento is the largest of the three, in items and in sales. The mix-and-match solid-color collection, launched in 2001 and now sporting seven colors — wheat, burgundy, green, ivory, blue, plum, and terra cotta — is still trending up. Extensions are continually layered and retails range from $4.99 to $29.99. Olivia was introduced a year later. "We wanted a hand-painted accessory that would complement Sorrento and ended up with a great dinnerware and accessory line," Morrison says. (L.A.-based Segura Designs created both collections.) And since that went so well they came back to Sorrento and designed Campagna, a more stylized shape with a more elegant feel. It has expanded to five colors — ivory, straw, burgundy, plum, and salmon, the latest. There are a growing number of accessories (like oil dipping sets, a stellar seller) in each color. And then if one revisit wasn’t enough, the Signature folks came back to Sorrento...again...with Bella. "We’re particularly proud how this collection was executed," Morrison says. (Lucia is to Bella as Olivia is to Sorrento.) The collections have hotter color palettes than their predecessors. "We understand our tableware niche," Morrison says, "and we’ve found the perfect way not to cannibalize our own business when adding new collections. We’re simply adding more retailers."

Entertaining serveware and pet merchandise almost evenly split the rest of the offerings. There are seven serving collections, $9.99 to $29.99. "Here," Morrison says, "product is specifically designed for the fall and winter entertaining season. We go in and out of trends quickly." As noted previously, handblown colored glassware, $7.99 to $14.99, has just launched to coordinate with existing collections. "A number of major suppliers have abandoned the independent," Ploesch acknowledges. "We’re here to fill the void. We’re not close-minded to any product that’s consistent with the company’s image." The company’s image is getting a marketing nudge in the guise of Signature’s first trade ad campaign keyed to independents. "We want them to know what we’re doing and that we’re here to service them," says Morrison. "We’re very optimistic and enthusiastic about the future."

There’s an easy manner and rhythm to the longtime partners, with a fair share of good-natured ribbing. Each is queried about their partner’s greatest asset to the group. Morrison on Aoyama: "A guy great in finance, but also with a tremendous eye for fashion and trends." Aoyama on Ploesch: "He listens to customers, really listens, and turns that feedback into great product." And Ploesch on Morrison: "Keith’s got great leadership qualities and a real understanding of the business."

Morrison, Ploesch, and Aoyama have every reason to revel in a little back patting. They took a company on the verge of extinction and brought it around (a few times) until they found their special purpose. Ploesch volunteers the secret to their success in a nutshell. "The secret of any longtime relationship," Ploesch says, "is trust and respect and that’s something we have and something we give."

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