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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.

CHESS 2017 Recap: Disruption in Retail

CHESS favorites Dana Telsey, CEO and Chief Research Officer, Telsey Advisory Group, and Joe Feldman, Senior Managing Director and Assistant Director of Research, Telsey Advisory Group, presented their annual analysis of the current retail landscape. Founded in 2006, the Telsey Advisory Group (TAG) a leading equity research, sales and trading, consulting, and investment banking…

Stats: Wellspring for Hydration

Consumers are taking their water with them—whether they are hiking, going to the gym or even heading into the office—and products that help with that are selling well. That’s according to a recent study by The NPD Group Inc., which reports that Hydration represents a $345.7 million dollar growth category for the outdoors industry. But kitchenware retailers can ‘tap’ into the…

From Farm to Magnificent Mile

The Chicago Marriott Downtown’s Food Philosophy Showcased at a Farm-To-Table Culinary Experience By: Sharon Bellock As the negotiator for the International Home + Housewares Show’s hotel rates, I get to develop relationships with some of the finest hoteliers in Chicago. Stemming from those relationships comes knowledge of positive initiatives that most wouldn’t realize,…

CHESS 2017 Recap: Generational Family Feud

Moderators: Warren Shoulberg, Publisher/Editorial Director, Home & Textiles Today, Editorial Director, HFN and Gifts & Decorative Accessories... Maureen Azzato, Publisher/Editorial Director, HFN... Taking a cue from a popular TV show, Warren Shoulberg and Maureen Azzato created a fun and interactive presentation to highlight some differences and similarities…

Benefits of Booking in the Block

There are several benefits when booking at an official hotel property: Low Rates & Cost Savings Flexible Terms Best Rate Pledge Convenience Hotel Incentives Customer Service Support the Show Networking Group Bookings Book Before Poachers Hit Low Rates & Cost Savings IHA negotiates the lowest available rates with our hotel…

CHESS 2017 Recap: Influencer Marketing

What is an “Influencer”? And how can your brand benefit from influencing them? Melissa Maker and Chad Reynolds, the creators of Clean My Space, and Gemma Stafford and Kevin Kurtz, the creators of Bigger Bolder Baking, outlined for CHESS attendees how social media celebrities can assist housewares marketers in reaching key audiences to help build their brands. Melissa Maker…

Selling From the Sidewalk

Just as consumers throw yard sales to rid their homes of unwanted clutter, so retailers throw sidewalk sales to rid their stores of merchandise that, for various reasons, is cluttering up shelves. It is an annual process especially embraced by independent retailers who don’t have to deal with corporate policies regarding pricing and discounting. Which is good, because most…

CHESS 2017 Recap: The Future is So Bright

Marshal Cohen, Chief Industry Analyst for the NPD Group, addressed current events in business and how the consumer has changed dramatically. We’ve allowed our businesses to become stagnant and boring, and the housewares categories must learn how to drive their exciting products out into the market. If the Apple phone is the most exciting product in the marketplace, we have a…

CHESS 2017 Recap: Housewares Hot Seat

CHESS 2017 opened with the annual favorite conversation-starter—the Housewares Hot Seat panel, moderated by Peter Giannetti, Editor-in-Chief, HomeWorld Business. Changing Channels, the sixth in the series of Hot Seat panel discussions, joined panelists Bruce Kaminstein, Executive Chairman, Casabella Holdings LLC; Michael Stoll, President, UT Brands, and Neal Asbury, CEO, Legacy…