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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.

Sweet Dreams Are Made of These

Baking makes a home feel cozy and safe, producing a caring atmosphere full of love and nurturing. Because baking makes those who bake happy and those around them grateful, Manuela Kjeilen started baking more. It was her life’s passion, although at first she didn’t know it. Manuela baked because she wanted to give something – everything – to her family. And when that family…

2015 CHESS Conference Highlights – The Future of Retail: Implications for the Housewares Industry

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Dana Telsey, Retail Analyst, CEO and Chief Research Officer, Telsey Advisory Group (TAG) Joe Feldman, Senior Managing Director, Telsey Advisory Group (TAG) The second day of CHESS kicked off with a bird’s eye view of the retail environment, guided by Dana Telsey and Joe Feldman of the Telsey Advisory Group (TAG). Based in New…

Retail Profile: Gourmet Way

Retailer: Gourmet Way Location: Hayden, Idaho Founded: 1998 Square footage: 2,800 sq. ft. Tiffani Roesler went shopping for a commercial kitchen and ended up with a kitchenware store. A personal trainer and avid cook and caterer, Roesler found her store, Gourmet Way, when a catering client tipped her off to the store’s kitchen space. “I was looking for a big kitchen and…

2015 CHESS Highlights – China Rising: How to Prepare for What’s Ahead

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator John Manzella is a world-recognized speaker on global business, competitive strategies and the latest economic trends. His op-eds have been nationally syndicated and his views have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other major media. He is president of Manzella Trade Communications, a strategic…

Grilling When the Snow Flies

Consumers’ passion for grilling is boosting sales of grills and grilling tools all year round. And that was is expected to continue in 2016, according to the latest State of the Barbecue Industry Report from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, which was released in late 2015. The report shows that even though half of grill owners already have basic grilling…

2015 CHESS Conference Highlights – Brand Shift: The Future of Brands and Marketing

Chief Housewares Executives Gather at Annual Strategic Senior-Level Conference Concept to Consumer: Innovative Strategies for Reaching Your Market By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator CHESS facilitator Dan Raftery introduced futurist David Houle for the Day One keynote presentation. Houle, who has advised more than 3000 business owners, is the co-author, with Owen…

Brazil / Colombia Trade Mission September 2015

A motivated group of International Housewares Association supplier members gathered in September in São Paulo to begin a six day mission that would involve tours of leading retail stores in São Paulo and Bogotá and preset one-to-one meetings with important retailers of housewares and home retailers in both markets. On Sunday, September 13, our intrepid group boarded a bus in…

2015 CHESS Conference Highlights – Concept to Consumer: Innovative Strategies for Reaching Your Market

Chief housewares executives eager to hear the latest from the front lines of the industry learned from experts who addressed IHA’s 2015 CHESS conference on October 6 and 7. The two-day conference, held at the Loews Chicago O’Hare hotel, attracts top executives at IHA-member companies who look forward to the varied and fast-paced program. Seven presentations and panel…

Mexico: Online Retail

Article from: morningnewsbeat.com Bloomberg reports on how Mexico is becoming a hot market for online retailers. "In June," the story says, "Amazon.com Inc. began operating in Latin America’s second-largest economy -- where online retail sales, excluding travel and event tickets, are seen growing 30 percent to $5.7 billion this year, according to eMarketer. While Web-based…