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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.

Culinary Crusader: Jumbo

Michelle Hespe catches up with the manager of Jumbo — a Turkish retail chain specializing in kitchenware and cookware that was chosen as one of five Global Honorees at the 2015 IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia). Function has always been crucial when it comes to cookware and dinnerware, but today, form and function are more tightly entwined than ever, with products designed to…

IHA members ‘inspire’ the UK homes press in London

Members of the International Housewares Association (IHA), organizers of the annual International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, recently had the chance to meet UK consumer press at an event in London’s West End. The Inspired Home event, which saw 25 companies exhibit at The Icetank in the heart of London’s Theatreland, drew interest from some of the country’s top consumer…

Global Retail Stars of 2015

The IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) is the brainchild of the International Housewares Association, and having launched in 2000, it is now in its 15th year. The annual awards are considered the Oscars® of the retail world, attracting entries from across the globe. This year, 25 national 2015 gia winners from 24 countries were chosen to represent their countries in Chicago,…

Introducing the 2015 gia Global Honorees

In Chicago last March, five stores from around the world were voted as the most innovative, outstanding retailers on the planet and mentioned as 2015 gia Global Honorees. We check out what makes them so unique and outstanding. The top five stores declared gia Global Honorees in 2015 were: Koskela from Australia, Presentes Rodriquez from Brazil, Hudson’s Bay from Canada,…

2015 IBC Global Forum: Daniela Romero, HEB Mexico

The concluding presenter at the 2015 IBC Global Forum was Daniela Romero, Buyer for a leading Mexican supermarket and general merchandise retailer, HEB Mexico. Affiliated with the US based HEB, HEB Mexico sources product independently. Ms. Romero’s presentation included these stats on HEB Mexico: -HEB has 52 stores in Mexico & Ma Tienda has 9 stores in Mexico -HEB in the…

2015 IBC Global Forum: Jackson Liang, Genesis Household Products

The burgeoning China market holds tremendous promise form makers of well-designed and functional products for the home. Our next speaker, Jackson Liang, Managing Director of Genesis Household Products, a company which imports and places products in the China market. Mr. Liang offered these insights on his market: - China's population is 19% of total world population -…

2015 IBC Global Forum, James Ryan, Living Merchandise for Canadian Tire

The second speaker to address today’s session of the 2015 IBC Global Forum was James Ryan, Vice President of Living Merchandise for Canadian Tire, a 490 store chain of store throughout Canada. Housewares is a key component of Canadian Tire’s business. Mr. Ryan offered his observations on the Canadian market and the strategic direction at Canadian Tire. Key info about Canadian…

2015 IBC Global Forum: Miguel Mesinas, ICONO Comercial

Kicking off day two at this year’s IBC Global Forum here in Mexico City, the audience of global business professionals heard from Miguel Mesinas, General Director of ICONO Comercial who discussed the positioning of brands in the Mexican market. Among his observations regarding the Mexico market were: -Big changes are afoot -Crate & Barrel is in Mexico City but results…

2015 IBC Global Forum: Ben Phillips, Steamer Trading

Following Dr. Ettenson’s presentation to the Global Forum, Ben Phillips, Managing Director of Steamer Trading, a leading retailer for housewares and home products in the United Kingdom offered the group his insights on the UK market and his strategic vision for Steamer Trading. His key points included: - Steamer Trading currently has 34 stores in the UK (although none in…