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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.

Loews Chicago Hotel – A Legendary City Has Some Great New Stories

A low, introductory rate of $169 + tax for the 2016 International Home + Housewares Show. Take advantage of 10% off all hotel food and beverage charges. Guests of the International Home + Housewares Show will enjoy complimentary WiFi in their guest rooms and the hotel lobby. Book Your Discounted Room at Loews Chicago! Breaking into the Chicago skyline is not for the…

Trisha Yearwood, Rick Bayless, Ming Tsai Headline Cooking Theater Line-up at 2016 Show

Country singer Trisha Yearwood, Top Chef Masters champion Rick Bayless and James Beard Award winner Ming Tsai will be will be part of the line-up of celebrity chefs appearing in the Cooking Theater at the 2016 International Home + Housewares Show, March 5-8 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Also appearing will be Rose Levy Beranbaum, cookbook author, blogger and James Beard…

Retail Profile: Compleat Lifestyles

Retailer: Compleat Lifestyles Owner: Connie Stevinson Location: Centennial, Colorado Founded: 1984 (changed hands in 2011) Square footage: 5,000 sq. ft. (kitchenware store) The full name of her business says much about the way owner Connie Stevinson views the gourmet market: Compleat Lifestyles/Gourmet & Gifts and Home Accents. This umbrella concept is where shoppers…

THE LANGHAM, CHICAGO – Number One Hotel on Trip Advisor

Book now and enjoy these additional incentives: Book Early and enjoy a special low rate of $275 per night. Offer will expire on December 31st. Complimentary WiFi/Wired internet in guest rooms. Complimentary access to Chuan Spa & Health Club. Book Your Discounted Room at the Langham Chicago As an International Home + Housewares Show attendee, experience the timeless…

Cooking Up Atmosphere

In Hayden, Idaho, residents don’t have many options for fancy restaurant food. But they do have Tiffani Roesler and her store, Gourmet Way, which hosts cooking classes in the retailer’s big commercial kitchen. “You can’t just go and get Moroccan food here,” Roesler notes. “There aren’t that many places to eat out. So if you offer a Moroccan cooking clas,s you get a lot of…

Inspiring the Path to Purchase: Social Media Influencers

Meet Melissa Maker, the woman behind the Clean My Space YouTube channel, and Beth Le Manach, the woman at the helm of YouTube’s Entertaining with Beth. Millions of people view these clever cleaning and cooking queens online, making them some of today’s top social media influencers and YouTube stars. There is one obvious thing that Melissa Maker and Beth Le Manach have in…

The Westin Michigan Avenue: Enjoy the Comforts of Home and Technology

Take advantage of the early bird discounted rate with complimentary WiFi during your time in Chicago for the International Home + Housewares Show. Book now and enjoy these additional incentives: Early-Bird Rate starting at $179, limited time offer Complimentary WiFi/Wired internet in guest rooms Complimentary access to WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio Reserve a Discount…

Trends: More Men Shop for Groceries

Though women remain the primary influence on how family consumer dollars are spent, more and more men are taking on responsibility for food shopping for their households. Chicago-based Midan Marketing surveyed men across the country to find out what their shopping habits were like, coming up with a group profile called “Manfluencer.” A manfluencer steps up to help with…

Stats: Grilling Fires up Year Round

A survey from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association reported 2016 could be a banner year for gilling. The move to cook outdoors is fueled by the same passion consumers have to cook indoors, according to HPBA president and CEO Jack Goldman, “We think this trend owes a lot of peoples’ continued passion for culinary adventure and bringing out the flavor of their…