Wholesale News & Articles

Over three decades, Bob Schmeizer, joined later by his son, Scott, built CSB Commodities Inc. into a prosperous wholesaler of housewares. While CSB still carries traditional housewares, it has infused this category with a number of innovative product designs, beginning with the Ex, that lift CSB to a whole new level.

The elder Schmeizer started in his garage by buying from major manufacturers and importing goods, which CSB would repackage into its own sets, primarily for the premium industry. The company continues to do this and carries about 400 different products using 25 major brand names, with permission. They include some of the best known brands in the industry, including Anchor Hocking, Zak and many others.

More recently, however, CSB has launched its own brands, often with unique products that have literally taken the industry by storm. Among them is Juice Master, a small electric juicer. Next came the Ex. Inspired by Scott's own divorce, the Ex is a knife holder in the shape of a human form.

"The Ex is bigger and better than ever," says Scott Schmeizer, noting that it has been featured in Time magazine twice, used by Rachel Ray, and is a top seller on both Amazon.com and Overstock.com. Not surprisingly, CSB is introducing extensions to the Ex line, and it is also getting set to roll out a slew of additional exclusive products of its own. All, like the Ex, bring added sizzle to the housewares field.

Raffaele Iannello is the designer and creator of the Ex. On its heels, Iannello designed and CSB has introduced "The 5 Finger Fillet." This is also a knife holder. A hand, fingers extended, rests on top of a beef fillet, and the knives slide into slots between the fingers to resemble a knife thrower's art.

In January, a food tray based on the Ex concept is due, as is Ex Office. The tray comes equipped with stainless steel daggers, which serve as toothpicks piercing the tray figure. Ex Office reprises the original Ex, but comes pierced with pens, and it also has a magnet base to hold paper clips.

Like the Ex, these line extensions will be offered in a choice of colors. The most popular, according to Bob Schmeizer, are red, black and chrome. "The tray colors haven't been finalized yet," he adds, and says, "The colors may be softer."

Iannello has also designed the XXXitchen Collection, a line of six kitchen utensils in shapes based on selected body forms. Bob Schmeizer describes this as a, "contemporary art form," collection. It will make its debut in January, and Schmeizer says Iannello has, "another surprise due out in March."

Also new and available now is the "Butt Station," a desk accessory designed as a form sitting on a toilet, which holds paper clips. The unit also incorporates a tape dispenser and a pen and memo pad holder.

CSB holds the rights to the Hillary Nutcracker, which Schmeizer says continues to sell well, even though Senator Clinton is not on the Democratic ticket. The company has introduced Corkscrew Bill, a corkscrew in the form of former president Bill Clinton. The products are designed to be sold separately or as a package.

CSB has also introduced La Grande Coup, its own line of non stick cookware. "This January/February, we are adding a whole new line," Scott Schmeizer says.

The full line is under the, "New York Housewares," banner, and it will include New York flatware, New York cutlery, New York cookware and New York bakeware. If CSB remains true to form, there will be additional rollouts in the New York Housewares line over time. And the Schmeizers are no longer working from a garage, but from locations in New York and Florida.

CSB Commodities Inc.
14000 Military Trail Ste. 204 B
Delray Beach, FL 33484
Toll Free: 800-471-1367
Tel.: 561-381-3383
Fax: 561-381-3388
Website: www.csbcommodities.com

Article ID: 791