All Posts

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 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:…

Discovering Design: Meet Sagaform

Get to know the people behind the stylish products that will appear at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design.Ourconversations with exhibitors give you a glimpse of the inspirations, influences and ideas that go into creating the exciting products that you’ll see very soon at McCormick Place. Today we’re speaking with Ingerid Mohn, president, Sagaform…

IHA Announces 3rd Annual Innovation Awards Finalists

The names of the 65 finalists in the second annual IHA Innovations Awards have been released by the International Housewares Association. Winners in each of 13 categories will be announced in a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March15 in the Innovation Theater, Room E350, Lakeside Center, followed by a reception at the Innovation Awards display in the Hall of Global Innovation…

Discovering Design: Meet Siliconezone

Get to know the people behind the stylish products that will appear at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design. Ourconversations with exhibitors give you a glimpse of the inspirations, influences and ideas that go into creating the exciting products that you’ll see very soon at McCormick Place. Today we’re speaking with Ken Yeung, president,…

Inventors Corner, Inventors Revue Highlight Innovation at International Home + Housewares Show

Ron Popeil, famed American inventor, pitchman, television star and creator of the television “infomercial,” will headline four days of events in the Inventors Revue during the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show, March 15-18 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The events include inventor education presentations and product evaluation through “Pitch to the Pros” panels. Popeil,…

Innovation Insights: An Interview with Bill Fienup and Mike Vasquez

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator The four days of the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show will be packed with events as well as educational sessions. In these final days before the Show, we preview presentations that will take place in the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center. Today we are speaking with Chicagoans Bill Fienup and Mike Vasquez. These…

Design Is More Than A Buzzword at Discover Design & Design Debut

Winners of the Global Innovation Awards (gia) for product innovation and booth design will be announced at11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 17 at a special event in the Discover Design Lounge during the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. Now in its fourth year, Discover Design, a Show destination and an oasis for design-savvy buyers, features more than 100…