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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.

Tabletop Beyond Bridal

Tabletop categories are household staples, but the way in which people shop for place settings, flatware and dinnerware is changing, and independent retailers who carry tabletop are adapting as the category shifts gears. Where the bridal registry was once the holy grail of tabletop sales, now many consumers are skipping registries; even skipping buying tabletop for wedding…

Top Retail Trends for Consumer Engagement

by Michelle Hespe At the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, the four Expert Jurors of the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) – Wolfgang Gruschwitz, Scott Kohno, Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen and Anne Kong – revealed the “Top Retail Trends for Consumer Engagement.” The key message from the Expert Jurors was: “Nothing is more important than engaging with…

Housewares Executives Ready to Capitalize on Investments; Positive Momentum in 2018

In many ways, the housewares business is in a better place than just one year ago, and housewares executives say they’re ready to capitalize not only on positive momentum in the U.S. economy but also the many investments and adjustments they made at their companies in 2017. “There’s obviously tremendous change going on in our marketplace,” said Brett Bradshaw, president of…

Discover Design: Meet SANS

IHA speaks with Tracy Miller, president of SANS, LLC, to learn about their latest products for healthy living that will be shown at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design booth N8232. Tracy, tell us about how your company began. Time and time again, we found ourselves wasting fruits and vegetables that had gone bad before we had a chance to use…

HCF to Honor Three Industry Veterans at March Gala

Shelley Salomon, vice president Home, Pets and Toys at Amazon; Bill Dillard III, senior vice president, Dillard’s; and Georg J. Riedel, owner, Riedel, will be honored for their philanthropic endeavors by the Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) during its 21st annual gala on Monday, March 12 during the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. Salomon will receive…

The Fresh Face of Retail

by Michelle Hespe We speak to Anne Kong, expert juror from the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia), about fresh trends in sustainable retailing. When brands like Apple make big changes in their approach to retail and branding, you know there’s change a-foot. In Apple’s new stores, the products are still the main drawcard, but the clever place-making is what makes people…

2018 International Home + Housewares Show is Sold Out

The 2018 International Home + Housewares Show sold out in late December, more than 10 weeks before opening day, according to the International Housewares Association (IHA), the Show’s owner and operator. The Show begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 10 and closes at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13. “The high demand to be a part of our world-class marketplace continues for our…

Retail Profile: The Chopping Block

Retail Profile: The Chopping Block Owner: Shelley Young Location: Chicago Square feet: 12,000, spread over two locations (Lincoln Square and The Merchandise Mart), including six different kitchens Founded: 1997 Twenty years ago, chef Shelley Young opened a small store, more like a cottage, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood to teach cooking classes and maybe sell…

Discover Design: Meet Sovaro

IHA gets acquainted with Katie Nisbet, director of marketing at SOVARO, which will feature its products for entertaining in style during its first appearance at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show in booth N8705 in Discover Design. Katie, tell us about how your company started. Based in Batavia, Ill., a suburb west of Chicago, SOVARO was founded in 2015 with our…