All Posts

IHA’s blog features informative posts written to keep the housewares industry educated and informed about key strategic issues and IHA member services.

Don’t be a Greenwasher! Make your products sustainable the right way!

By Jeffrey Rosenholtz Vice President, Sustainability Solutions for NextLife Sustainability is a phrase that is widely used, yet rarely understood. Sustainability is about the capacity to endure; to continue with the model you are doing, not just for a long period of time, but essentially, ideally, "forever". A symbiotic relationship where the waste that is generated becomes…

Student Designers Impress the Judges Year after Year

The Student Design Competition, sponsored by the International Housewares Association (IHA), began in 1993 and is recognized by design practitioners and professors as a valuable contribution to industrial design education. This rigorous competition is judged by 10 design professionals and managers at housewares companies. Each entry receives two written evaluations and top…

2011 Housewares Design “Best of the Best” to be Announced at Feb. Luncheon

The 65 finalists are set for the 2011 Housewares Design Awards. The five finalists in each of 13 awards categories were selected from a field of more than 320 entries. "Best in Category" winners for each of the 13 awards categories will be announced during a special Housewares Design Awards presentation ceremony and luncheon. A trio of "Best of the Best" winners— gold,…

Housewares Connect 365 Tip: Visually Appealing

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development Get noticed - Add catalogs and product images As part of your Housewares Connect 365 listing companies can add catalogs and/or product images FREE of charge. Show the media and housewares buyers what you have to offer by adding product photos or catalog sheets to your listing. In 2010, listings with images were…

Housewares History: White or Wheat? We’re Talking Toast

Toast may not seem like an intergral part of any meal, but people sure do eat a lot of it. Breakfast wouldn't be the same without a side of toast, sandwiches are that much better on toasted bread and where would we be without made-for-the-toaster items like frozen waffles? Then & Now Early toasters, like this 1929 model pictured below, were very small and compact with…

InventionHome Product Spotlight: The Amazing Folding Table

Invention Home allows anyone to have their dream realized by making it simple and affordable for people to turn their thoughts and ideas into reality. Here on the IHA blog we'll be getting the word out on some of these housewares products through our Invention Spotlight series. These items could soon become a fixture in your home and your everyday life! The Amazing Folding…

Introducing Housewares Connect 365: The Only Tool You Need to Plan Your Show

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development E: mkulik@housewares.org P: 1.847.692.0139 With the International Home + Housewares Show featuring 2,000 exhibitors annually, including over 500 new companies at the 2010 Show, exhibitors need a good "game-plan" to generate interest with buyers, media + consumers. The Housewares Show has developed housewares…

Out & About in Chicago: Your Guide to Entertainment in the Windy City-Museums

Ready.Set.Chicago Ready Set Chicago has taken the time to outline some of the greatest options the city offers up for entertainment while visiting our fine city. This is the first in a series of posts showing all you can do when you're not hustling around McCormick Place. Whether you're a history buff, sucker for a live performance, avid shopper or creature of the night,…

Join us for a crash course in sustainability!

You're Invited, please join Nextlife and IHA for a: A Webinar Event: DEMYSTIFYING SUSTAINABILITY: How to Make Your Business "Green" Webinar Date and Time: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 1:00 pm -2:00pm CT Snapshot of Information Covered in the Webinar: Corporate sustainability is here to stay. But the true meaning of sustainability, reasons why it is a good idea and…