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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.

Thirteen Companies Honored with IHA Global Innovation Awards for Product Design

Thirteen housewares suppliers ranging from well-established brands to first-time exhibitors were honored as Global Honorees of the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) for product design today. The Global Honorees in each of 13 categories were announced during the invitation-only gia dinner on the first evening of the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show. Global Honorees…

Global Retail Intelligence – March

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: March 19 – Alibaba’s New App Focuses on Discounted Products The new App features products that sell below 19.9 yuan (˜US$3). This “Taobao Special Offer Edition” offers products across a large range of categories, including food, clothing and electronics accessories and includes delivery in the cost of the…

Meet with Social Media & Digital Marketing Professionals at #IHHS2018!

Navigating today's marketplace is no easy feat, and the digital landscape can be especially confusing. Whether you're looking for a fresh perspective on your digital marketing strategy, insight on how to successfully take on live video, or just have questions you haven't gotten a straight answer to, the Social Media & Digital Marketing Center is the place for you at…

Connecting the Smart Home to the Homeowner

IHA connected with session moderator, designer Paul Hatch of TEAMS Design, and panelists Richard Hughes of Whirlpool Corp., Rajat Shail of Honeywell and John Kennelly of b8ta to talk about the rapidly evolving smart home environment that they will discuss at the at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations…

IHA Member’s Wall Street Journal Op-Ed Discusses Inequality of Postal Rates

The unfair advantage of postal rates given to products mailed from China to the U.S. versus products mailed within the United States was the focus of a Feb. 7 Op-Ed article in The Wall Street Journal by Jayme Smaldone, founder and CEO of Mighty Mug. According to Smaldone, the U.S. Postal Service rate for a 1 lb. package mailed within the U.S. is $6.30. A Chinese company…

Truck Power Shortage

The U.S. market is facing a serious shortage of qualified truck drivers. The driver shortage is impacting the carriers’ ability to deliver containers in a timely manner. The shortage is so severe in some U.S. regions that some carriers are refusing to quote new cargo opportunities where door delivery is being requested. There are several factors that have contributed to the…

IHA to Live Stream During 2018 International Home + Housewares Show

The International Housewares Association (IHA) has announced that select events from the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show will be live streamed on the internet. The Show will be held March 10-13 at McCormick Place in Chicago. All of the action from the Cooking Theater stage can be seen live during the Show at TheInspiredHome.com/cooking-theater-2018. See celebrity…

The State of the Connected Kitchen

IHA reconnected with Mike Wolf, founder of NextMarket Insights, to learn about what’s next in the connected kitchen and home, which he will address at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will include smart home, consumer shopping preferences, branding and global market…

IHA Announces Finalists for Global Innovation Awards (gia) for Product Design

The 65 finalists in the IHA Global Innovations Awards (gia) for product design have been announced by the International Housewares Association (IHA). Global honorees in each of 13 categories will be announced in during the invitation-only gia dinner Saturday, March 10. The finalists and global honorees will be on display in the Hall of Global Innovation in the Lakeside Center…