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

Merchandising to the Future of Cooking: It Starts Now!

IHA checked in with Steve Katz, creator of Man the Kitchen, about his latest research on the behavior of male cooks in the kitchen and their preferences for products and environments at retail that he will discuss at the at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will…

New Carrier Environment and Uncertainty Emerges for 2018

IHSA will begin ocean contract negotiations in February. Industry analysts have differing opinions on which side, shippers or carriers, will have the upper hand during the 2018 negotiations. There are some analysts that believe excess capacity will again be a major deterrent preventing carriers from securing any sustained rate increases during 2018. On the contrary, other…

Stats: Shopping Makes Consumers Anxious

Retail therapy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. A new survey shows that shopping, especially around the holidays, makes Americans anxious. The survey gives specialty retailers a glimpse into the minds of their customers during the busiest business time of the year, but also holds up after the tinsel and decorations are put away. Even though they enjoyed the holidays and…

Styles, Colors and Consumers: How to Create On-Trend, Retailer-Specific New Products

IHA caught up with Richard Babick, president of Design Research, LLC, to learn how brands can differentiate their product assortments for specific retailers. Rick and Janine Michalek, vice president of market intelligence at Design Research, will present their latest findings at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21…

Keep Up with the Smart Home at the Chicago Show

Consumers’ increasing embrace of the smart home and the automation that is transforming the way they live offers the housewares industry opportunities to expand its implementation of smart technology to new categories and products. From Millennials to Gen Xers to Baby Boomers, consumers are looking to fill their spaces with connected products for every room in the home and…

The Myths of E-Commerce Design

IHA speaks with Bryce G. Rutter Ph.D, founder and CEO Metaphase Design Group, Inc., to learn about his upcoming presentation at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show about how to design products and experiences for omni-channel shoppers and how to advise retailers challenged by the merging of physical and digital spaces. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature…

UPS Releases Pulse of the Online Shopper Survey

UPS has released the 2017 UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper survey, the sixth annual study conducted by UPS and fielded by comScore, Inc., revealing a changing retail landscape where online shoppers purchase more from international retailers, shop more on mobile devices and rely more on marketplaces. The survey is presented as a five-volume series covering consumer profiles,…

Smart Home Mass-Market Adoption: Are We There Yet?

IHA connected with designer Lou Lenzi, a professor who prepares future managers for the Internet of Things market, to talk about consumer acceptance of smart home products that he will discuss at the at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will include smart home,…

IHA Members Explore the Southeast Asia Home and Housewares Markets

In November, five IHA members interested in learning more about the home and housewares markets in Indonesia and the Philippines participated in the Southeast Asia Trade Mission in Jakarta and Manila. During the Trade Mission, suppliers with products in categories spanning kitchenware, kitchen tools and gadgets, home organization, storage, laundry care, bar ware, glassware,…