by Vicki Matranga
Design Programs + Services
The 2014 International Home + Housewares Show will feature the winners of the 3rd annual IHA Innovation Awards. From thousands of new products on view at the Show, 13 products are named the Best in their categories. Products selected as winners can be entered by large companies or startups. The innovation and design is what matters!
We tracked down some of the 2013 Best in Category winners to learn how the award affected their products’ launch. Exhibitors reported that relationships with major retailers and valuable media coverage developed within the first months after the Show.
Magnetic Glass Vessel Cleaner Attracts Attention
From bud vases to baby bottles, consumers encounter a variety of narrow-necked vessels that are nearly impossible to clean with a typical sponge or scrub brush. Recognizing the need for consumers to better clean those hard-to -reach places, Cuisipro® introduced a completely new idea: Magnetic Spot Scrubbers. Named Best in the Cleaning category, the scrubbers are perfect for long, narrow spaces, such as wine decanters, pitchers and vases. The design consists of two pieces: a spot scrubbing knob and a silicone-scrubbing disc. The two pieces are magnetized. To use, simply drop the silicone-scrubbing disc into a dirty vase or other vessel and pour in warm soapy water. Align the magnetic spot scrubber knob on the outside wall of the vessel to the silicone-scrubbing disc until the two pieces lock. Glide the knob over hard-to-reach areas of the vessel and the silicone-scrubbing disc will clean as it moves. When finished, pull the knob away to release the bond with the scrubbing disc. The soft nubs of the silicone scrubber will not scratch glass and, when finished the Magnetic Spot Scrubber easily rinses clean.
See it in action to best understand its uniqueness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RtpOxlp3ks
“Winning the Innovation Award definitely attracted media to our booth,” said Elizabeth Burns, Senior Marketing Manager, Browne & Co. “As a result of the attention the Magnetic Spot Scrubber received there, it was featured on NBC’s Today Show shortly after the Show and on WGN radio, in The Houston Chronicle and several other national publications.
“The Cuisipro Magnetic Spot Scrubber became available in stores starting in May 2013,” she continued, “and then appeared in Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine and the DIY Network’s I Want That show. It will be featured in an upcoming issue of Real Simple magazine as well.”
What’s New for 2014 Show
“Cuisipro will offer four new colors for the Magnetic Spot Scrubber in March,” Burns explains. “We will also unveil several new products at the Show: the Garlic Peel and Press — an innovative mess-free, all-in-one solution for peeling and pressing garlic; Cut Resistant Glove — a flexible, durable and comfortable way to shield fingers from potential harm when using knives, graters and rasps; Patterned Foam Pumps, which are elegant hand soap dispensers; and Easter Themed Cookie Cutters, which expand our popular nested cookie cutter collection.”
In addition to Cuisipro, Berard, KitchenGrips and Nogent, Browne will introduce the newest member of its brand family: AdHoc. “The product categories designed by AdHoc—spice mills, tea and wine accessories—supplement our current brand offerings and their overall commitment to design, innovation and quality and complement our existing consumer motivation strategy,” stated Peter Braley, COO of Browne & Co. Retail Division. “AdHoc allows Browne to expand our assortment of well-designed, affordable tools.”
Award-Winning Commitment to Design
“The Cuisipro Magnetic Spot Scrubber is a perfect example of the overall commitment to design and quality in all of our products from the patented SGT technology used in our graters and rasps to the exclusive locking mechanism featured on all of our kitchen tongs,” said Braley. “The Magnetic Spot Scrubber is the embodiment of a growing trend toward innovation in housewares products. Consumers are always looking for well-designed, efficient products that serve a specific, unmet need in their home.”
See more Cuisipro products at www.cuisipro.com and visit Browne & Co. at Booth S3428 at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show.
Get Recognized for Your Company’s Ingenuity
Look for the Innovation Awards guidelines and entry form in the Exhibitor Marketing Kit.
http://www.housewares.org/marketing/newproductshowcase/
Winners receive a dramatic award trophy to display in their booths and the right to feature the IHA Innovation Awards logo on their packaging. But the greatest benefit is the attention from media and buyers at the Show. You have to enter to win!
Enter the 3rd Annual IHA Innovation Awards! Deadline – February 7.
