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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.

Product Design – The Thrill of Owning an Original

As a store owner, it is a joy to see more people seeking out original product design. They want to know more about a product’s designer and where the product was made. Customers now want the story of the product’s origin and want products of higher value, not necessarily at a higher price. This new trend includes scrutinizing a product’s originality, material, manufacturing…

Innovation Insights: An Interview with Ken Harris, Fred Sparks Design

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Learn how to develop and launch the right products for the right customer—with the right methods! The four days of the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show will be packed with events as well as educational sessions. In these final weeks before the Show, we preview presentations that will take place in the Innovation Theater…

Design Debut: Discovering the Newest Companies Meet Materious

“What’s New?” is the big question at each International Home + Housewares Show. Retailers, media and exhibitors hunt for the latest products, trends and ideas. In 2014, the Show offers an exclusive, one-time opportunity to a select group of young companies whose products demonstrate high design and innovation. These budding entrepreneurs appear in Design Debut, a unique…

Celeb Chefs Headline Cooking Theater Line-up at 2014 International Home + Housewares Show

Grant Achatz, Rick Bayless, Chris Cosentino, Curtis Stone, Buddy Valastro, Fabio Viviani Among Celeb Chefs Celebrity chefs including Top Chef Masters host Curtis Stone and Cake Boss Buddy Valastro will top the line-up of stars appearing in the Cooking Theater at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show, March 15-18 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The Cooking Theater is the…

Innovation Insights: An Interview with Jon Lindholm, Steve Cozzolino and Samantha Rose

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs + Services Learn how to develop and launch the right products for the right customer—with the right methods! The four days of the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show will be packed with events as well as educational sessions. In these final weeks before the Show, we preview presentations that will take place in the Innovation…

Innovation Insights: An Interview with Jessica Blue, Advanstar Licensing, Steven Ekstract, License! Global Magazine and Lia Buffa, Food Network

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Learn how to develop and launch the right products for the right customer—with the right methods! At the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show, the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center will present 20 educational programs, beginning Saturday morning and running through Tuesday morning. In these final weeks before the…

Housewares Charity Foundation to Honor Three Industry Leaders

Tony Mantuano, James Beard Chefs to Create Dinner, Culinary Tastings The Housewares Charity Foundation has announced its third honoree for 2014. David Ortiz, vice president/divisional merchandise manager for cooking/dining at Walmart U.S., will receive the Lifetime Humanitarian Award during the 17th Annual Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) Gala on Monday evening, March 17,…

Show Seminar Speakers To Share Insights on Color, Consumers and The Path to Purchase

Experts whose ideas influence what consumers see on store shelves months and even years later will take center stage at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show as part of the educational sessions that inform attendees where the leading edge lies. Presenting these sessions, which are held in the Grand Ballroom/S100 of the South Building and are free to all Show attendees,…

Today’s Need for Integrated Multi-channel Marketing

By Larry Stopa, President of E-Power Marketing The world, including technology, marketing and consumer behavior, has changed rapidly through the years. Television grew from four networks into hundreds. Then countless websites further fractured mass communications channels. Users are flocking to Social communities, which are rapidly proliferating on the Internet. How are you…