| The glass and crystal stemware industry | | | | designs. It would seem that the general |
| continues to experience respectable growth even | | | | perception of crystal's timeless quality makes the |
| amidst a growing budget-conscious mentality | | | | issue of design secondary, if at all. |
| among consumers. There are some notable | | | | To sustain growth, crystal manufacturers are |
| trends affecting the industry which may influence | | | | pursuing a strategy of design and technical |
| its future direction. | | | | innovation. Industry insiders recognize that the |
| The Tabletop Report of 2009 informed that sales | | | | market for glass stemware is fast mimicking the |
| for crystal glasses remained strong from the | | | | fashion industry's. The sector's sustained growth is |
| years covering 2006 to 2008 with sales | | | | dependent on its ability to come up with new |
| registering a 7% growth. In addition, the following | | | | designs and uses. These initiatives need to be |
| changes were noted: | | | | undertaken not just to ride the prevalent |
| * Sales of cocktail or martini glasses is on an | | | | aesthetic style of the time but to introduce radical |
| uptrend. Martini and such similar drinks are growing | | | | technical improvements in stemware design as |
| in popularity in bars and clubs, hence, the uptake in | | | | well. To cite an example, the ever popular O |
| these kinds of glassware. Martini is fast becoming | | | | series of the Riedel brand is a radical innovation in |
| a status symbol among the hip clubbing crowd. | | | | design catering to the casual wine drinking market. |
| * There is diminishing popularity in using large wine | | | | The O series is a collection of beautifully designed |
| glasses. With people becoming more conscious of | | | | wine glasses without stems. Introducing these |
| their alcohol consumption, people are opting for | | | | kinds of innovation renews interest in crystal |
| smaller wine glasses. At the same time, large wine | | | | glasses and opens up new, untapped markets. |
| glasses mean expensive wines will be consumed | | | | Manufacturers will need to consistently come up |
| faster or fewer people being able to share. | | | | with new ways of reinventing crystal stemware |
| * Cut-crystal glasses circa 1930's are experiencing | | | | to address changing lifestyles and tastes. And |
| a resurgence in interest by collectors. As they are | | | | while crystal stemware will assuredly remain a |
| not as steeply priced as antique crystal, these | | | | must-have among formal dining paraphernalia, |
| glasses are deemed more practical purchases. | | | | industry insiders need to continuously be on the |
| * People are becoming more open to the idea of | | | | lookout for opportunities to renew interest and |
| mixing old crystal with crystal with more modern | | | | expand the market for crystal stemware. |