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 2014 Examines the “Consumer Path to Purchase”

The consumer’s path to purchase has grown from simply shopping at brick and mortar stores to surfing online retailers, buying direct from manufacturer websites or visiting a store to see a product then finding the best deal online. Industry experts and senior housewares executives will explore what navigating this omni-channel retailing means to housewares suppliers during the…

CHESS Speaker Profile: Marshal Cohen

3D RETAILING: Retail Opportunities for Today & Tomorrow In this insightful session, Marshal Cohen will share his perspectives on winning in the real-time retailing game of thrones. In this era of “more,” the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction and you need to be prepared with information and insights to create a winning game plan. How do you keep your customer…

CHESS Speaker Profile: Brian Zueg

KEYNOTE: RETHINKING THE SHOPPER’S PATH TO PURCHASE Technology has dramatically changed shoppers’ path to purchase—and your opportunity to reach them. Google data can help you better understand how consumers research, compare and shop for housewares. In this keynote presentation, Brian Zeug will feature Google search data and new custom consumer housewares research that will…

CHESS Speaker Profile: Ryan Beach

A MULTI-CHANNEL RETAILER’S PERSPECTIVE In this session, learn more about Target’s focus on the changing needs of the Multi-Channel guest and what they are doing to respond to this evolution. Ryan Beach has spent 15 years in Merchandising at Target, including roles in Toys, Domestics, Decorative Home, School and Office and, most recently, Electronics and…

CHESS 2013 Keynote Session Puts Industry Decision Makers In Housewares Hot Seat!

Oct. 9 Panel Features Financial Experts Discussing Why You Should Sell Your Business at Least Once The impact of digital commerce is undeniable. What strategies are housewares execs using to optimize and control business in the vast digital marketplace without undermining a brick-and-mortar foundation? A panel of top industry leaders will address this issue and other hot topics…

Veteran of “Blackhawk Down” highlights CHESS 2012

Keni Thomas, U.S. Army Ranger veteran of the “Blackhawk Down” mission and award-winning country music artist, will give a motivational keynote address, titled “Train as You Fight, Fight as You Train,” at the 2012 Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS) Oct. 16 - 17 in Rosemont, Ill. The two-day strategic and networking event for industry leaders will be held at The…

2011 CHESS Final Update!

By Judy Colitz, Special Events & Executive Services Manager TOP 10 REASONS to Say YES to CHESS in 2011… 1. Powerful and Relevant Keynotes—Kip Tindell, The Container Store…ORGANIZATION WITH HEART; Peter Sims, Best-Selling Author…LITTLE BETS—Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Design 2. Hot Industry Topics—Global Market Overview…Social Media: Myth or…

CHESS 2011 KEYNOTE: Peter Sims

By Judy Colitz, Manager of Special Events & Executive Services LITTLE BETS—INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, CREATIVITY & DESIGN What do Apple CEO Steve Jobs, comedian Chris Rock, prize-winning architect Frank Gehry and the story developers at Pixar films all have in common? Best-selling author Peter Sims found that they all have achieved remarkable results using a…

CHESS 2011 Keynote Profile: Kip Tindell

By Judy Colitz, IHA Special Events & Exhibitor Services Container Store CEO Tindell will address Organization with Heart Kip Tindell has been at the helm of The Container Store since it first opened its doors in Dallas in 1978—creating the first-ever store devoted solely to storage and organization products. The company has locations from coast to coast, a thriving…