by Michelle Hespe Katrina Markoff is a highly-creative chocolatier and the founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, a Chicago-based chocolate maker that inspires people to open their minds and travel the world through chocolate. As is the case with most successful business ventures, there was a defining moment that created the seed from which Vosges Haut-Chocolat would grow…
CONTINUE READINGArchives for February 2018
2018 Global Powers of Retail Report Released
In the 2018 Global Powers of Retail Report, newly produced by Deloitte as a collaboration with STORES magazine, authors explore the transformative environment that is enabling consumers to shop however, wherever, whenever and for whatever they want. This disruption of traditional business models has resulted in significant change in retail markets, while delivering rapid growth…
CONTINUE READINGTrends: Looking Inside America’s Kitchen
Consumers, time strapped as they are, still want to make fresh meals at home. In fact, U.S. consumers have a renewed interest in cooking freshly prepared meals, according to a recent survey by the NPD Group, which also found that those same consumers don’t want to spend more time at the stove. It is a conundrum that NPD says influences how people set up their home kitchens…
CONTINUE READINGFebruary Currency Outlook
In their February 2018 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief The USD was at its lowest since 2011 The Euro surged by 3.3%, reaching its best level in 3 years The Bank of Canada increased Interest Rates and the Canadian Dollar had a four-month…
CONTINUE READINGIHA’s 2018 Student Design Competition Winners Announced
Innovative Product Concepts Solve Social Problems, Tie into Home, Health and Hydration Trends in 2018 IHA Student Design Competition Winners to be Showcased at 2018 International Home + Housewares Show, March 10-13, Chicago Health, safety and hydration were key themes of winning entries in the 2018 International Housewares Association’s 25th Annual Student Design…
CONTINUE READINGLooks Matter: Protecting & Enforcing IP in Product & Packaging Design
IHA caught up with Christopher Carani, noted intellectual property attorney, to learn about latest developments in patent and appearance IP protection – a topic of critical importance in our industry, which he will discuss at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will…
CONTINUE READINGGlobal Retail Intelligence – February
To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: February 28 – Amazon Japan Asks Suppliers to Share Shipping Costs Amazon Japan has set a flat rate for food suppliers of 2% and 1-5% for other suppliers. These “cooperation payments” are said to help defray the cost of sales system upgrades as well as other expenses. From Nikki Asian Review February 27 –…
CONTINUE READINGReimagined Stores: Why We Need Display
by Martin M. Pegler I recently received a copy of a popular trade magazine, Chain Store Age, that had these words blazoned across the cover: “REIMAGINED STORES.” Though I am not really that active in my chosen field—I am like the proverbial old-time fire horse, let out to pasture, who still responds to the fire alarm sound though the horse has been replaced by trucks—my…
CONTINUE READINGDiscover Design: Meet Grand Fusion Housewares
We spent time with Brendan Bauer, co-president and co-founder, to hear about how Grand Fusion Housewares was established. This first-time exhibitor will premier its varied product lines at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show in booth N8533 in Discover Design. Brendan, tell us about how/year your company was founded. Grand Fusion Housewares, Inc. was founded in…
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