Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2019 22 research and insights, and drew on that research to create the Elevate program. "Our designs, branding, merchandising, and marketing all reflect our careful and comprehensive understanding of our consumer segments," said Cody. "With Elevate we make it easy for our retail customers to benefit from what we've learned and turn the insights into action. Consumers' individual styles may differ, but they are all looking for quality, performance, inspiration and support. Elevate helps our retail partners direct that conversation in a whole new way." Twin Star Home is recognized for its trusted national brands: ClassicFlame ® , Duraflame, Bell'O, Tresanti and ChimneyFree. Visit www.twinstarhome.com to find out more. WPC REVEALS NAME AND LOGO FOR ITS CORDLESS KITCHEN STANDARD The global standard will enable proliferation of interoperable, safe wirelessly powered kitchen appliances The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) revealed the name and logo of its wireless power standard for kitchen appliances. The Ki (pronounced "key") Cordless Kitchen standard is represented by a logo that will distinguish standard-compliant products such as rice cookers, toasters, blenders, coffee makers, air fryers and more. The Ki Cordless Kitchen logo and mark represent safety and interoperability for wireless power for cordless kitchen devices, much like the Qi logo does for mobile devices. Live demonstrations of appliances based on the draft Ki Cordless Kitchen standard were on display at IFA Next in Berlin. With the new Ki Cordless Kitchen standard, power transmitters can be neatly hidden beneath countertops, allowing cordless appliances to be simply and intuitively placed on the counter to safely and efficiently receive up to 2.2kW of power. New induction cooktops can also incorporate the cordless kitchen technology. In addition to normal induction cooking, such cooktops can also power Ki Cordless Kitchen appliances. To ensure safe operation, the Ki Cordless Kitchen standard prevents power from being transferred when other items, such as keys, phones, bank cards, or other objects are placed on the transmitter spot. This not only prevents items from being damaged or heated, but also allows for flexible use of kitchen space, as the same counter space can be used for food preparation, cooking, eating or even reading the newspaper. Without the hassle of the power cord, appliances can be easily stored when not in use, creating a clean, modern and uncluttered look and feel to the kitchen. "Ultimately, the Ki Cordless Kitchen standard will change the way we interact with our kitchens," said Hans Kablau, chair of the WPC's Kitchen Work Group. "Not only will the standard allow everything from chopping vegetables to cooking to reading the newspaper to take place all on the same surface, it enables a whole new category of smart cookware. These smart pans can simply be placed on a power transmitter spot to allow the consumer to cook on their counters just as they would on their stove. With Ki Cordless Kitchen, consumers will experience an unprecedented convenience in their kitchens that they won't want to live without." The Ki Cordless Kitchen standard works with any non-metal countertop or table surface, including marble, slate, granite, laminates, wood and many others. Enabled appliances communicate with the transmitter through near-field communication (NFC), a safe, inexpensive and pervasive technology currently used around the world in bankcards, door locks, passports, transport tickets, and more. To drive the adoption of the Ki Cordless Kitchen standard, I N D U S T R Y [ N E W S ]

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