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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.

Informing Innovation: Designers Get Social

By Vicki Matranga Design Programs Coordinator Social media has changed business and culture rapidly in just a few years. Makers and sellers of new products and services spot trends and track consumers’ preferences via numerous social platforms. Today we are speaking with four designers who are influenced by the same developments. They give us their views on how social media…

Informing Innovation: Meet Tom Boettcher, HumanLabs

By Vicki Matranga Design Programs Coordinator The connected world faces new and complex questions for society and personal life. Tom Boettcher, the opening speaker of the Innovation Theater’s four-day schedule, is uniquely positioned to outline some answers about the Internet of Things. Tom is a Mensan, electrical engineer and founding CEO of HumanLabs, Inc. Not only a…

Discovering Design: Meet Larch Wood Enterprises Inc.

Tucked in the forest of scenic Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, a small crew of skilled artisans respectfully cut and finish locally sourced Canadian larch wood lumber. With a combined 100 years+ of woodworking experience, the talented crew at Larch Wood Enterprises manages the humming saws and presses to fashion distinctive “end grain” cutting boards, each a one-of-a-kind…

Informing Innovation: Meet Jerry Bowman, Institute of Food Technologists

By Vicki Matranga Design Programs Coordinator Jerry Bowman brings more than 25 years of experience to his current position as vice president of communications with the Chicago-based Institute of Food Technologists, a scientific society with more than 17,000 food scientists and technologists as members. He oversees all aspects of marketing communications, media relations,…

Home Retail Group shares soar as Steinhoff beats Sainsbury’s offer

The Guardian reported today that the parent of Argos, Home Retail Group found another bidder. As the Guardian reported, “Shares in Argos owner Home Retail group jumped 12% on Monday after the emergence of a £1.4bn rival offer from the South African retail group, Steinhoff.” For more information, click here.…

Retail Profile: Biggest Little Kitchen Store

Retailer: Biggest Little Kitchen Store Owner: Janie Williams Location: Jackson, Calif. Founded: 1975 Square feet: 2,600 sq. ft. Website: biggestlittlekitchenstore.com In the heart of California gold country, the Biggest Little Kitchen Store finds its riches in family. Just as owner Janie Williams took over the helm from her parents, she now prepares to turn over the…

Retail Wishlist

(A quick look at what independent retailers want from their vendor partners) Janie Williams runs The Biggest Little Kitchen Store with her two sons, a full time staffer and a couple of part timers. She stocks more than 5,000 skus in her bustling, 2,600 sq. ft. store, and in addition to day-to-day customers, she also orders product for bi-monthly store demonstration…

Discovering Design: Meet Corkcicle

By Vicki Matranga Design Programs Coordinator A cork on top of an icicle? In 2011, inventor Ben Hewitt and entrepreneurs Eric Miller and Stephen Bruner created Corkcicle, an icicle inserted into a wine bottle to chill the contents from the inside. Simple in design, yet high in functionality, this market-disrupting idea changed adult beverage drink cooling. The original…

Lost in translation – Wal-Mart stumbles hard in Brazil

Reuters reported today that Wal-Mart’s challenges in Brazil continue to grow. The story says that “Some securities analysts have speculated Wal-Mart could exit Brazil, as well as other markets in Latin America where it is already closing an additional 55 stores.” For more information, please click here. …