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.

Cultivating Your Concept

We chat with Wolfgang Gruschwitz about how to create a successful concept retail store. by Michelle Hespe “What is your story?” That would be the first question that Wolfgang Gruschwitz would ask if you engaged his team to develop a successful retail store. Wolfgang is a consultant in the field of retail design, as well as juror for the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia), and…

Stats: Moving From Cash

Americans are growing less reliant on cash currency, with 1-in-3 Americans last year opting out of using cash for spending during a typical week, according to a recent Pew Research Center study. Those who made more than $75,000 a year were more likely to eschew cash for their typical weekly purchases, compared with people who made less than $30,000. Which means that…

Mintel 2019 Household Trend: Healthy Happy Home

IHA spoke with Mintel household care analyst Rebecca Cullen to learn about how the health movement impacts how consumers interact with home and household products, which she will discuss at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics will include design innovation, smart home, digital…

Is it Time to Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.?

IHA got acquainted with reshoring advocate Rosemary Coates, who will explain the latest in tariff policies that can move a company to bring production back to the U.S. in her presentation at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics will include design innovation, smart home, digital…

Sofitel Chicago: Showcasing High Design and International Brand

Take Advantage of Special International Home + Housewares Show Amenities: Waived $15.00 Amenity Fee Which Includes: Premium WiFi in Guestroom with up to 5 mbps of bandwidth Unlimited local and long distance calls within the continental USA Complimentary Morning Coffee & Tea Station until 10:30 AM in Café des Architectes 10% discount in all Food and Beverage…

Trends: There’s a Trend for That Food

’Tis the season for protracted food trend announcements from just about everyone. From mitochondrial optimization (courtesy of Natural Grocers) to hemp (courtesy of Whole Foods) to cricket flour (it’s out there), few foods are not trending for 2019. And yes, fermentation is still considered trending. The more obscure the food, the better for the trend PR machine, it…

Grounded | Spring Summer 2019

by Rebecca Charlton, Trend Researcher, Trend Bible Trend Bible is a home and interiors-dedicated forecasting agency working with leading international brands to help them understand the future of their market. They forecast future trends in the behavior of consumers in a two-to-five year timeframe and analyze how this will impact the home environment. A longing sense of…

IBC: Closing Out 2018 and Looking Forward to 2019

Another year has come to a close and IHA is looking forward to 2019! We thank our IBC members for your support and participation throughout the year. Healthy retail sales numbers reported during the holiday season have capped off a successful year in the home and housewares industry. In 2018, the International Housewares Association, through the International Business…

Global Retail Intelligence – January

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: January 15 – Ahold Delhaize to Open Additional Outlets in Belgium In addition to opening 200 new Fresh Atelier and Shop&Go stores, announced in late October, the group plans to add 100 new supermarkets (SM, AD or Proxy) and 30 to 50 Albert Heijn supermarkets in Flanders, Belgium for a total of 350 new…