Executive Networking

Learn from IHA’s annual CHESS conference, which provides insight and education from political, business and industry experts on a variety of topics to help members build their business!

CHESS 2015 Examines Innovative Strategies for Reaching the Consumer

From launching a product via crowd-funding to partnering with Amazon, the innovative strategies available to help housewares suppliers reach their target market will be explored during the 2015 Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS), Oct. 6-7 in Rosemont, Ill. Addressing the theme of “Concept to Consumer: Innovative Strategies for Reaching Your Market,” the program’s…

2014 CHESS Conference Highlights: Ken Harris

Day Two: Session Four The New Retail Landscape: Reaching the Omni-Channel Shopper Ken Harris, Managing Partner, Cadent Consulting Group As manufacturers and conventional retailers turn their attention and resources toward digital commerce, a critical question needs to be asked: What is the best path for your company if 95-99% of your business is through conventional…

2014 CHESS Conference Highlights: Linda Graebner, Katie Fitzgerald, Ted Koenig, Bruce Lubin, and Jon Lucas

Day Two: Session Three So You Don’t Want to Sell Your Business...How Do You Get the Capital to Grow It? Moderated by Linda Graebner, Executive Chairman, Chef’n Corporation Panelists: Katie Fitzgerald, CircleUp Network, Inc.; Ted Koenig, Monroe Capital LLC; Bruce Lubin, The Private Bank and Jon Lucas, President, CIT Last year’s panel suggested “Everyone Should Sell Their…

2014 CHESS Conference Highlights: Katy Lynch, Oren Katzeff, and Kathleen Henson

Day Two: Session Two SOCIAL MEDIA: Influencing the Consumer Path to Purchase Katy Lynch, SocialKaty/Manifest Digital Engaging the Consumer through Social Media Marketing You’ve heard the term “social media marketing” a million times. Your business probably already uses Twitter and Facebook. But how do you really use these sites, as well as other outlets, to their…

2014 CHESS Conference Highlights: Eric Greitens

Day Two: Session One Inspired Leadership Through Challenging Times Eric Greitens Day Two of the 2014 CHESS conference opened with the keynote address by Eric Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, founder of The Mission Continues and an award-winning author of The Heart and the Fist. Named to TIME magazine’s 2013 list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” and Fortune’s…

2014 CHESS Conference Highlights: Helaine Suval

Day One: Session Four The Secret Sauce of Modern Retail: It’s Physical WITH Digital Helaine Suval, President, Suval Consultants; Board of Directors, Lenox; Former EVP/GMM, Macys.com What draws you into a store? If there’s a sense of excitement and entertainment and electricity, you want to be there! Did you know that 90% of all retail sales are still transacted in stores,…

2014 CHESS Conference Highlights: Walter Herbst, Paul Rowan, and Joanne Domeniconi

Day One: Session Three Design/Innovation: Leveraging the Maker Movement We are in a period of rapid transformation fueled by technology. Technology platforms are shaping the way ideas become designs, designs become prototypes, prototypes become products, projects get funded, projects become businesses and the way that businesses find customers. The Designer’s…

2014 CHESS Conference Highlights: Tony Chapman

Day One: Session Two Path to Purchase – The Big Picture Tony Chapman, Founder/CEO, Capital C A wave of disruptive change is rendering conventional marketing strategy obsolete: retail is saturated, media is fragmented, clicks are overrunning the bricks and working dollars have to work harder. Chapman sees an unprecedented opportunity for entrepreneurs who have the courage to…

2014 CHESS Conference Highlights: AJ Khubani, Brian Melzer, Jay Zilinskas, Peter Giannetti, and Richard Boynton

Chief Housewares Executives Gather at Annual Strategic Senior-Level Conference Tuesday, October 7, 2014 By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Chief housewares executives eager to hear the latest from the front lines of the industry learned from experts who addressed IHA’s annual CHESS conference October 7 and 8. The two-day conference, held at the Loews Chicago…