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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.

Innovation Awards: Winning with a Clean Lunchbox and a Clean Tabletop

by Vicki Matranga Design Programs + Services The 2014 International Home + Housewares Show will feature the winners of the 3rd annual IHA Innovation Awards. From thousands of new products on view at the Show, 13 products are named the Best in their categories. Products selected as winners can be entered by large companies or startups. The innovation and design is what…

Innovation Insights: An Interview with David Spann, Memphis U.S. Export Assistance Center

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 and activities, as well as educational sessions. To help you plan your time at the Show, we’ll give you a preview of the presentations…

Innovation Insights: An Interview with Udo Jansen, GfK Retail and Technology GmbH, Germany

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs + Services 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 the coming months, we’ll introduce…

John Lewis Report: How We Shop, Live & Look

British retailer John Lewis has just released detailed information on their customers' shopping habits in a new reported titled, "How We Shop, Live & Look." Be sure to read chapters three and four for informative segments on “How We Live: Home and Cook”. Andy Street, Managing Director, John Lewis, introduced the report, "Next year marks the 150th anniversary of John Lewis…

IHA Innovation Awards – Trash-Ease Contains Trash Easily

By Vicki Matranga, H/IDSA, Design Programs + Services While exhibitors are busy preparing the products they will introduce at the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show they also are considering the many promotional opportunities IHA offers. Entering the 3rd Annual IHA Innovation Awards, which celebrate the importance of design and innovation in our industry, should…

Hardware on the Rise in Australia

The hardware and building supplies retailing industry is expected to grow by 2.2 per cent in 2013-14 to $13.0 billion, stemming from improved spending on home renovation and growth in household construction, according to analyst, IbisWorld. The hardware and building supplies retailing industry is characterised by a moderate level of market share concentration. Hardware retail…

A Look Back at “Mad Men” Era Housewares

By Vicki Matranga, H/IDSA, Design Programs + Services Innovation + Design = Success Innovation and design drive the housewares industry today. Consumers and retailers are always looking for unique new products to brighten their homes and lighten their work. To add excitement to the International Home + Housewares Show and to recognize current design and innovation in…

Retail News from Around the World

John Lewis sees strong sales of baking products The popular BBC2 television series “The Great British Bake Off” is helping to drive sales on baking products at John Lewis. Measuring cups and spoons, palette knives, rolling pins, stand mixers and blowtorches are among the top sellers, according to Rebecca Fletcher, the department store group’s assistant buyer for…

IHA Trade Event Recap – Japan

From September 29-30, the International Housewares Association led a trade mission in Tokyo to introduce members to the Japanese market. This two-day event started with a retail tour to offer a competitive benchmarking review of the following retailers: Isetan, Takashimaya, Tokyu Hands, Loft, and Actus. The group also made cultural stops along the way with brief visits to…