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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.

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…

PUBLIC CHICAGO: A New, Modern Hotel that Embraces the Historic Ambassador East Hotel Location

By: Sharon Janota, Manager, Trade Show Operations In October, Hotelier Ian Schrager premiered his new hotel brand, Public Hotels, in Chicago. Being the first hotel to open under the new brand, Public Chicago has taken residence in the former Ambassador East Hotel located in Chicago’s exclusive Gold Coast neighborhood. The hotel is walking distance to some of the city’s…

Inside Discover Design: Prairiedog International

By Marie Kulik, Exhibitor Business Development Manager IHA caught up with Ken Shinjo of Prairiedog International for this week's Inside Discover Design and found out about what influenced their whole line of everyday towels that are packaged like delicious deserts. Enjoy! Marie: What is the inspiration behind the design and functionality of your products? Ken Shinjo: Our…

2011/12 gia Award Winners!

Since its inception in 1999, gia has grown in stature to become the leading global award for home and housewares retailers in more than 20 countries on five continents. The primary sponsors of the gia award program are the International Housewares Association and the International Home + Housewares Show. Annually, over 20 global home and housewares retailers are recognized…

Knowing Innovation: Warren Tuttle

By Vicki Matranga Previewing the speakers at the 2012 IHA Innovation Theater 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 beginning Saturday afternoon and ending Tuesday afternoon. The Theater, which was located in the Level 3 Lobby, moves…

Housewares History: Dishpan Hands No More – Kitchen Sink Tales

Can you guess what this is? How was this item used every day? Chain mail for personal protection or something in a kitchen? It’s a pot scrubber! Back in the “good old days” when cast-iron cookware heated on a wood-fueled cook stove, burnt-on crusts were scoured with such a “dishcloth” made of iron loops. Tough on the hands, such scrubbers were used with salt, sand, lemon…

Webinar: Trends in Cookware & Bakeware

“What’s Cooking…trends and techniques in cookware and bakeware" When: Wednesday, October 26 at 1 p.m. (CDT), one week from today. Free Webinar for IHA Members and Specialty Retailers Presented by IHA's Gourmet Home Specialty Retailer University Point, click and join IHA for this free webinar with Hugh Rushing, leader in the cookware industry. He has served as executive vice…

The Metal Ware Company: Generations of Innovation

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Where did key items in the history of kitchen products originate? Look to the rolling landscape of Wisconsin for many chapters of this continuing story. The Metal Ware Company celebrated several anniversaries recently. In 2010, the company marked the 90th year of its founding in Two Rivers, Wis. In 2011, it noted the 30th…