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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.

ELYSIAN HOTEL CHICAGO: Becoming Waldorf Astoria Chicago before the 2012 International Home + Housewares Show!

By: Sharon Janota, Manager, Trade Show Operations The Elysian Hotel Chicago was recently attained in a collaborative endeavor between Hilton Worldwide (the parent company of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts), an Equity Group Investments affiliate and the Elysian principals. Under the new ownership, the Elysian Hotel Chicago will officially become the Waldorf Astoria…

Housewares History: Whitmor

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Organizing Homes, Organizing a Business Today’s homes need many products to keep track of shoes, clothes, and toys. While shopping for storage supplies, you were probably thinking about how to squeeze your stuff into a space that could use a few more inches of shelving. The organizing business keeps on growing, as we pack our…

Previewing Housewares Charity, Celebrating 15 Years at the 2012 Housewares Show!

By Judy Colitz, Special Events & Executive Services Manager The Housewares Charity Foundation celebrates a milestone this March—its 15th Annual Gala during the upcoming 2012 International Home + Housewares Show. Thank you for your ongoing generosity as we continue this proud tradition! FIFTEEN YEARS OF HEART Monday Evening, March 12, 2012…Returning to the Elegant Hilton…

Inside Discover Design: Stelton

By Marie Kulik, Exhibitor Business Development Manager This week we were able to sit down with Mathilde Ring from Stelton, who make their Housewares Show debut last year in the inaugural Discover Design exhibit. Mathilde answered some questions about how Discover Design is helping the progress the global design industry, who has influenced the Stelton designs the most and how…

Knowing Innovation: Jeff DeBoer

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator At the International Home + Housewares Show in March, the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center (formerly called the Housewares Design Theater) will present 20 educational programs, every hour beginning Saturday afternoon and ending Tuesday afternoon. The Theater, which was located in the Level 3 Lobby, moves to Room E350…

Design and Innovation: Powering the Housewares Industry

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator What’s new? That’s the question that drives retailers, marketers and consumers. Companies strive to develop innovative new products that set them apart from their competitors, retailers seek fresh approaches to attract purchasers, and consumers customize their homes and carefully choose the items that they bring into their…

Recap: IHA’s Affordable Innovation Press Event

By Wes French, Social Media Coordinator The 2012 International Home + Housewares Show is quickly approaching, but many media members in the New York City area were treated to a sneak peek at the Affordable Innovations press event last month in Manhattan. Nearly 40 companies demonstrated some of the products that are available this holiday season, many of which you might find…

HECNA Global Forum Recap

By Piritta Torro, International Marketing & Business Development Inspiring Presentations, Productive Networking The 2011 HECNA Global Forum took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 18-20, followed by an extended visit to Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic on September 21-22. As Valorie Langille of Arrow Plastic summarized it, the Global Forum once again proved to…

Housewares History: Working Under Pressure in the Kitchen

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Today’s busy families operate under a lot of pressure to keep after-school activities, homework and chores on schedule. Moms may feel they are battling clock and calendar as they rush to get dinner on the table, while worrying that food-on-the-go or a microwaved meal-in-a-bag can’t provide the nutrition or satisfaction of a…