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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.

Build It AND Market It and They Will Come…

Author: Marie Kulik, Manager, Exhibitor Business Development, IHA Building a booth and waiting for buyers to appear isn’t necessarily a formula for success. A successful trade show is closely tied to your pre-Show marketing, which creates excitement and drives traffic. Eighty-nine percent of the retailers who attend the International Home + Housewares Show are in search of…

Happy Thanksgiving

Author: Phillip Brandl, President, IHA This day of giving thanks celebrated in the U.S. on Thursday is the official beginning of the holiday season – bringing families together and putting consumers into a shopping frenzy for holiday gift-giving. And housewares plays a vital role on both fronts. As families gather for the Thanksgiving meal, housewares and homegoods products…

What’s “Out” in Consumer Lifestyle Trends

Author: Perry Reynolds, Vice President, Marketing & Trade Development, IHA Continuing our series on the “ins” and “outs” in consumer lifestyle trends, here is a list of housewares products that consumers say are “out” for 2009 and beyond. See the list of what housewares products they say are “in”. This list is from a focus group of consumers held in mid-October. The…

Notes from the Road…

Author: Derek Miller, Vice President, International, IHA If you’re like me and engaged in the international part of the housewares industry, and really, who’s not these days, you might have traveled to or are planning a trip to Hong Kong in the coming months. So what’s new and exciting? Hong Kong Convention Center – The remodeling construction is finally over with the total…

What’s “In” in Consumer Lifestyle Trends

Author: Perry Reynolds, Vice President, Marketing & Trade Development, IHA Consumer lifestyle trends are always changing. What’s in this month may be out in six months. To help the International Housewares Association (IHA) gauge what consumers are thinking about how they live, where they shop, what they buy and what types of housewares products they use, we convened a…

Sales Opportunities and Networking

Author: Derek Miller, Vice President, International, IHA The 2009 HECNA Global Forum back in September was very successful with over 75 housewares professionals attending. With the economy making this a challenging year, the Global Forum was an energetic and upbeat event with attendees and speakers eager to learn and share their experience. In a half-day session, Randy…

You’ve Signed the Contract, Picked a Booth….Now, What Are Your Goals?

Author: Marie Kulik, Manager, Exhibitor Business Development, IHA Yogi Berra said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up some place else.” Whether you’re writing a blog, preparing a presentation or exhibiting in a housewares trade show, you need to start with a goal in mind. The goal here at the International Housewares Association (IHA) is to help you…

Welcome to IHA’s Blog

Author: Phillip Brandl, President, IHA Welcome to the International Housewares Association Blog! This new addition to IHA’s website is to keep you informed through social media. IHA bloggers will post entries weekly on topics such as current housewares trends in the industry, notes from around the globe, tips for having a successful International Home + Housewares Show,…