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Drew Barrymore, Shae Hong to Keynote at NRF Big Show

Collaborators Drew Barrymore and Shae Hong will deliver the closing keynote at NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show, reflecting on the launch of the Beautiful line of high-performance appliances and cookware and the company’s success in omnichannel retail.

“Drew Barrymore has an extensive career in film and television, and in recent years, she has capitalized on her creativity by expanding into retail,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Highlighting her collaboration with notable entrepreneur and home cook Shae Hong, the pair will close Retail’s Big Show, sharing how they combine elegant design with premium products that are accessible and affordable for consumers.” 

The closing session on Jan. 16 will feature a conversation between Barrymore and Hong, who worked together on the Beautiful line. The two will discuss their respective companies, how they leverage the intersection of innovation and design, and their mission of fostering human connection in the kitchen and home.

Along with Beautiful, Barrymore also established cosmetics company FLOWER Beauty, and has beauty, eyewear and hair tools in her portfolio. She created her own production company, Flower Films, in 1995. Barrymore is an award-winning actor, appearing in “Never Been Kissed,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “50 First Dates” and other feature films. She is also a published author, releasing “Rebel Homemaker: Food, Family, Life” in 2021.

Hong is a wellness-focused home cook who revolutionized the kitchenware category at age 25 when he founded Made by Gather kitchenware brands. Known for being in tune with the modern consumer, he is credited with bringing fashion to the countertop, capitalizing on contemporary trends, and growing the company on the belief that kitchen essentials can inspire creativity.

In addition to Barrymore and Hong, speakers at NRF 2024 include basketball legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson, FedEx Corporation President and CEO Raj Subramaniam, Walmart U.S. President and CEO John Furner, Levi Strauss & Co. President Michelle Gass and Under Armour President and CEO Stephanie Linnartz, among others.

The annual convention will be held in New York City Jan. 14-16 and is expected to bring together more than 6,200 brands and approximately 40,000 attendees from nearly 100 countries.

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Zevo Seeks to Calm Holiday ‘Bugxiety’

‘Tis the season to deck the halls, dusting off the holiday boxes from the garage or basement in order to get your home ready for the most wonderful time of the year. With the vast majority (87 percent) of Americans hosting more in their homes during the holidays than any other time of year, the fear of unwanted house guests is at an all-time high (77 percent).

Procter & Gamble’s Zevo, developed by P&G Ventures, where new brands in new spaces are created to help consumers live life better, recently conducted a 2023 survey. The survey aimed to learn more about consumers’ fear of bugs, aka Bugxiety, ahead of holiday hosting. Want to read some interesting findings?

  • 72 percent of Americans are concerned about finding bugs hiding among their holiday decorations
  • People are especially concerned about finding bugs in wreaths (63 percent), holiday lights (60 percent), trees (52 percent), garlands (51 percent), and ornaments (40 percent)
  • Surprisingly, residents in the Northeast (85 percent) experience more bugs in their home during the holidays than other regions due to the harsh change in weather and certain bugs finding warmth inside

Zevo brand ambassador Rebel Wilson used to suffer from a similar level of Bugxiety during the holiday season.

“My jam-packed holiday calendar leaves me hardly any time to prep my home for holiday guests and hosting, but making the holidays special for my family is an absolute must for me. Thanks to my favorite Zevo Flying Insect Traps and its 24/7 continuous catch, I can plug them in with peace of mind knowing the pesky flying bugs won’t be crashing our fun! I’ve even started gifting the Traps to some of my best friends and their reactions to seeing how many bugs they catch are priceless.”

During this busy time of year, Zevo’s go-to entomologist, Daniel Perry, has all the tips you need to keep bugs from “bugging” you and your house guests this holiday season.

“Flies and crawling bugs tend to follow the food – and we know that holiday parties involve fresh decor and spreads that often sit out for hours, unintentionally luring pests into your home,” said Perry. “Once plugged in, Zevo’s best-selling Flying Insect Trap does all the work for you, continuously attracting and trapping a variety of flying insects without any extra holiday-prep woes.”

“Having the Zevo Multi-Insect Killer Spray on-hand as well can help ensure you’re equipped to quickly handle any unwanted pests that may appear,” Perry continued.

Homes decked in festive foliage, with holiday fruit bowls, and cookie crumbs sprinkled around the floor can create an inviting space for those creepy crawlers to wander in. While some people (39 percent) would call an exterminator upon first sight, almost a third (32 percent) would look to kill bugs immediately. Luckily, Zevo can help bring a sense of clean and calm to the holiday chaos – just plug or spray, then walk away.

So how can Zevo help Americans keep the critters from crashing their holiday festivities?

  • Flying Insect Trap: Zevo’s Flying Insect Trap – the #1 powered insect trap in the category – uses a special blue & UV light system to attract and trap flying insects (e.g. house flies, fruit flies and gnats that love to buzz around an appetizer tray or fruit display) on a strong adhesive pad, which can be easily removed and disposed of via a pull tab. The traps even make a perfect holiday gift for the friend or family member who loves to entertain, values a clean home, or who already has everything else!
  • Multi-Insect Killer Spray: For those who freak out when they see creepy-crawly pests, Zevo Insect Killer Spray offers complete protection against spiders, roaches, ants and more. Simply spray directly on unwanted bugs and watch while Zevo targets and shuts down biological pathways found in insects, not in people or pets. Wipe away with a clean cloth or paper towel with no residue left behind…and that’s it.

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AURA Technologies Launches Ion Bar

The Ion Bar is the only system in the world that creates a germ-destroying barrier across any two spaces safely using Negative Air Ions.

AURA Technologies, an innovative provider of technology solutions for health, safety, security, and national defense, has launched the AURA Ion Bar, a groundbreaking new product category in the indoor air quality space. The Ion Bar is the only system in the world that creates a germ-destroying barrier across any two spaces safely using Negative Air Ions.

This first-of-its-kind product addresses a critical flaw in current indoor air quality systems by targeting the contamination that occurs in areas where you feel most vulnerable to germs and contaminants – such as conference rooms, elevators, bathrooms, classrooms and public transport. The AURA Ion Bar creates a line of defense – essentially a “force field” of air – that is infused with NAIs, is ozone free and eliminates at least 99.95% of airborne and surface pathogens while keeping , pollen, smoke and germs out of clean spaces.

“The AURA Ion Bar represents a significant leap in air safety technology,” said Anna Bennett, Co-CEO of AURA Technologies. “This game-changing product is a result of our commitment to providing innovative solutions that promote health and well-being in the post-COVID era. By harnessing the power of negative air ions, the Ion Bar ensures clean air without the need for constant filter replacements, making it a more sustainable and cost-effective choice for maintaining superior indoor air quality.”

Designed to create a protective sheet of air enriched with a high concentration of NAIs, Ion Bar acts as an invisible barrier by blocking contaminants before they enter a space, and by removing contaminants from the breathing zone. NAIs are a powerful disinfectant and completely harmless to humans, pets and furnishings. Ion Bar utilizes its patented design to inject high concentrations of germicidal NAIs at the point of entry, effectively sanitizing the air before it has an opportunity to enter or leave the room.

With the AURA Ion Bar, you can now navigate high-traffic areas such as airports, lavatories and elevators with newfound confidence, which solves a problem that no other product on the market has addressed. Now, you can enjoy the protection created by the Ion Bar “force field,” protecting you from germs and viruses with a greater sense of confidence, and ensuring your space remains clean. Independent lab results have shown the Ion Bar to reduce SARS-CoV-2 by at least 99.95 percent. In comparison, a properly-fitted N-95 mask only blocks 95 percent of pathogens or about 1/100th of the stopping power of AURA Ion Bar, meaning for the first time since COVID-19, people can move through their world with greater peace of mind.

The AURA Ion Bar requires no filtration, making it both an economical and environmentally friendly choice. Additionally, it has been rigorously tested for ozone emissions, producing no measurable ozone (down to 0.001 ppm of ozone). As such, Ion Bar is intrinsically ozone-safe and has no measurable ozone output, setting it apart from the many other electrostatically based air purifiers that rely on carbon filters to maintain safe ozone output levels.

The reality is that every time someone steps into a home, office, hotel, classroom or retail store, they are unknowingly followed by a cloud of potentially harmful contaminants. This product changes this paradigm by instantly deactivating pathogens, ensuring cleaner, healthier air upon entry. Its powerful airflow and ozone-free ion technology not only eliminates airborne and surface pathogens but also tackles dust, pollen, smoke and germs.

Operating at the sound of a whisper, AURA’s patent-pending Ion Bar is a vital component of any clean air system, offering the most effective solution at entry and exit points, including doorways, windows, and portals. To learn more, please visit here.

At AURA Technologies, we bring a new way of thinking to advanced technology R&D. Using the highest caliber talent and the latest advancements in computer science, we are actively innovating to make the world a better place through the use of Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Science, Physics, and Engineering combined with the latest emerging technologies. From our cutting-edge solutions created for the Department of Defense to our revolutionary products designed in response to COVID, we develop real innovations for health, safety, security and national defense.

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InSinkErator Introduces Next Generation of Garbage Disposals

InSinkErator has introduced the next generation of disposals for today’s modern kitchen.

InSinkErator, the world’s leading brand of garbage disposals, has introduced the next generation of disposals for today’s modern kitchen. Completely redesigned to grind more types of food waste and do so quietly, the new Power and Advance Series disposals feature the company’s re-engineered MultiGrind and SoundSeal technology. InSinkErator has also simplified installation on these units with the new EZ Connect technology.

Invented, designed, and assembled in America, this next generation of disposals demonstrates the commitment InSinkErator makes to innovation in today’s modern kitchen, providing an environmentally friendly solution for managing food waste. Over 85 years ago, InSinkErator revolutionized the way food waste was discarded in the kitchen, and it continues to be a category leader.

“Providing products for cleaner, fresher, more sustainable kitchens has been our focus for more than 85 years,” said Joe Dillion, president. “Now, we’re proud to take the next step in combining our easiest installation technologies with our quietest and most advanced grinding technologies that will make disposing of food waste and leftovers quicker and easier than ever.”

According to the EPA, every year, food waste contributes to 18% of total U.S. methane emissions that come from landfills. An average family of four produces over 600 pounds of food waste each year. Using an InSinkErator garbage disposal helps divert food waste from landfills – benefiting the community and slowing the acceleration of climate change. The new and improved garbage disposals from InSinkErator have been designed to grind food waste into finer particles that easily flow through household pipes, giving homeowners more confidence to use their disposal without fear of plumbing issues.

“Most homeowners have a real desire to maintain a more sustainable kitchen but truly don’t understand the impact of food waste on the environment and how a garbage disposal can help.” said Mark Cammarota, vice president of marketing. “We have exciting educational programs for both professionals and homeowners on why you shouldn’t throw food waste in the trash and how our new InSinkErator disposals help you better manage your food waste.”

The educational programs include working with influential plumbing professionals, like master plumbers Roger Wakefield and Eric Aune, both of whom are highly influential with plumbing pros on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.  InSinkErator is also launching a clever marketing campaign featuring the comedic voice of Wanda Sykes that will focus on educating homeowners on why it’s important to not throw food waste in the trash and how the new InSinkErator disposals have the power to grind most of your food waste.

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Blend On the Go With magic bullet’s Portable Blender

magic bullet Portable Blender Collection

Get ready to embark on a flavor-filled adventure with the all-new magic bullet Portable Blender. This innovative and versatile appliance is designed to empower the creation of delicious blends anywhere, any time.

“magic bullet as a brand is all about developing fun, versatile, affordable, and time-saving appliances for customers, and we’re excited to introduce the latest product in our long line of innovation,” says magic bullet performance marketing manager Trevor Kaufman.

The magic bullet Portable Blender redefines the blending experience by delivering durability, efficiency, and affordability in a compact, portable package.

  1. The compact blender delivers over 15 blending cycles per 90-minute charge, all from a USB-C power source and two 2000mAh batteries.
  2. It contains a six-pointed, turbo-charged, stainless steel blade designed to handle harder-to-blend ingredients like frozen fruit and small amounts of ice.
  3. With two blending modes for maximum efficiency — a 20-second blend cycle and a pulse mode — consumers can use the magic bullet® Portable Blender to create a variety of textures.
  4. Designed to blend wherever and whenever consumers desire, the blender features a flip-and-sip lid with an easy-to-carry handle, plus a flavor infuser that slips directly into the unit to double as a water bottle.
    • Made from lightweight, durable Tritan plastic, the magic bullet Portable’s 16oz blending cup holds its own without weighing anything down; plus, its blending cup, lid, and infuser are all top-rack dishwasher safe.

This new blender aligns with the vibrant, on-the-go lifestyle of the brand’s main consumer demographic – young adults looking for simple ways to make food prep dynamic and exciting. “The new magic bullet® Portable Blender was specifically designed to equip consumers with cordless, on-the-go technology that can keep up with their busy, mobile lifestyles,” said William Gutkowksi, senior product manager at magic bullet®.

In honor of the brand’s ongoing commitment to vibrant self-expression and National Roller Skating Month in October, magic bullet is releasing one custom pair of Roller Skates to show just how portable the new magic bullet Portable Blender truly is. For more information and to enter for a chance to win, visit http://www.themagicbullet.com/ or follow @themagicbullet on Instagram and @themagicbulletofficial on TikTok.

The magic bullet Portable Blender comes in four colors and retails for $39.99. Customers can purchase the magic bullet Portable Blender at themagicbullet.com, Target, Amazon.com, and other favorite retailer websites.

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