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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.

Five Minute Interview with Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless

Rick Bayless has made a career out of Mexican food. From owning restaurants, to TV appearances, shows of his own and award-winning books and cooking lessons that inspire and educate, his world revolves around Mexican culinary offerings. IHA catches up with Chef Bayless at the Show. You were one of the first celebrity chefs to engage with media and you've stayed on top of that.…

The Internet of Things at Your Door

As the Internet of Things becomes more tangible for consumers and more household products become “smart,” there is huge potential for the housewares industry, said a panel of manufacturers, consumer editors and technology experts. But housewares manufacturers will need to be smart, as well, about introducing those “smart” housewares products to consumers, the panelists said.…

Rethinking the Shopper’s Path to Purchase

Because our digital world of smartphones, tablets, laptops/PCs, and connected/streaming TV activity has dramatically changed how consumers shop for housewares, it is imperative that housewares executives reach shoppers before products hit the shelves. In addition, research from Google shows that people are increasingly looking to reflect their own style in the brands they…

Design Your Business and Brand for Higher Values and Profits

Howard Lim, founder of How Creative, wants to know how housewares companies define success. Is it higher profits, more customers, being recognized as an industry leader, more time with your loved ones and less time at the office or making a difference in humanity? Whatever the goals, Kim says companies can accomplish them with a holistic branding plan that is built into the…

License to Thrill: Wowing Consumers With Brands That They Know And Love

Consumers once were largely unaware of brands and their strength as pillars of self identify, but today they consciously want branded products that make them feel good about their purchases for that reason. That affinity is responsible for billions of dollars in sales every year through licensing and brand extension, a panel of licensing experts said. Consumers buy licensed…

The American Living Survey: Kitchen Life

The kitchen, long a bastion of uniformity with few product choices and a narrow use has turned into a prime living and entertainment space full of color and new devices, according to the American Living Survey conducted by Design Research. “Where once you had a very simple kitchen, where the tiles were all the same, the floor was one material and the countertop was all one…

Five Minute Interview with Ming Tsai

Ming Tsai entertained a large crowd of excited people in the Cooking Theater at the Show’s opening on Saturday. IHA caught up with the busy chef between appearances. Tell us about your presentation today and the dish you prepared. Chef: I always have a few goals when it comes to cooking demonstrations in Chicago. One is to teach people how to cook, but also, how to use…

Recap: Quantifying Design’s ROI: Determining Design’s Impact on Housewares Brand Success and How to Optimize It

All too often design is considered the “last decoration station” rather than the first five minutes of branding because traditional subjective measures fail to indicate the truest value of product design, return on investment (ROI). But, hard outcomes such as increased sales, profits, market share growth and market valuation can be used to quantify it, according to Rob Wallace,…

Thirteen Companies Honored with 3rd Annual IHA Innovation Awards

Thirteen housewares suppliers ranging from name brands to small entrepreneurs were honored as winners of the third annual IHA Innovation Awards today. The winners in each of 13 categories were announced on the first day of the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show, now taking place through Tuesday, March 18 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Winners are: Bath + Personal Care:…