The International Home + Housewares Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA) are the primary sponsors of the prestigious Global Innovator Award (gia) program, recognizing innovation and merchandising excellence in housewares retailing around the globe. Since 1999, gia has grown in prestige and distinction, and is now recognized as the leading global award program for Housewares retailers in more than 20 countries on five continents. A special global jury, consisting of four retailing/visual merchandising experts and six editors and publishers of co-sponsoring housewares trade publications from around the world, selected the five Global gia Honorees from the winners previously chosen in their respective countries by the publication-sponsors.
- La Botique Palacio – Mexico
- Loviisan Aitta – Finland
- Marli Trentin – Brazil
- Kookhuys Mafrans – Belgium
- Francfranc – Japan
In addition, the Martin M. Pegler Award for Excellence in Visual Merchandising, which honors the best window display of the year, was bestowed Loviisan Aitta of Finland.
At the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show the Discover Design expo was introduced to recognize designers that have shaped the home and housewares industry, on the cutting edge of the design spectrum. Top design professionals from around the world were selected for the Discover Design expo for meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Inspired Product Design
- Outstanding Craftsmanship
- New or Unique Products
- Brand Positioning
- Exclusive Market Focus
- Design Focused Sustainable Products
Those selected for the Discover Design expo were also eligible to compete for Global Innovator Awards. These designers competed for either Best Collection Design or Best Product Design award categories. This is the first time that manufacturers have been invited to take part in the celebrated gia awards process. Announced Sunday night at the invitation-only gia dinner, the following Discover Design exhibitors were named:
Best Collection Design:
Global Honoree –
Joseph Joseph Ltd.
Elevate
Finalists –
AdHoc Entwicklung und Vertrieb GmbH
TASTE THE WORLD Gravity Mills
Stelton Inc.
Pure Black
Honorable Mentions –
KOR Water
Black Collection
Vipp
Vipp Kitchen Tools
Best Product Design:
Global Honorees –
Black + Blum
Lunch Pot
Blomus – SKS USA Corp
Callista
StoreBound LLC
The Laundry POD
Finalists –
BottlesUp
BottlesUp Glass Water Bottle
Royal VKB represented by Wabnitz Editions Ltd.
Citrange
slice, Inc.
Box Cutter
Honorable Mentions –
Born in Sweden represented by Urban Butik
Bird Feeder
Legnoart
BQ-10 TOUR Foldable BBQ Set
Magisso Ltd.
Cake Server
Zebag
Zebag
For more information about the gia awards program, the co-sponsors, or participating in 2012 programs, email ahemmesch@housewares.org. Visit www.housewares.org/gia for additional information about the Global Innovator Award program.
