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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.

Venta Korea: Key Korean Market Overview

As a preview to their presentation during the upcoming IBC Global Forum, the following is a brief on Mr. Kim Dae-Hyun and his distribution company, Venta Korea. The South Korean economy has been ranked 4th largest in Asia and 11th in the world and has consistently demonstrated remarkable growth and development. South Korea has very low unemployment and has been called one…

How Mirai Became a Wake-Up Call For the Smart Home Industry

In October 2016, the technology world was jolted awake when millions of poorly secured consumer devices were compromised and subsequently used in a malicious attack on popular web services like Soundcloud and Twitter. This incident, which came to be known as the Mirai botnet attack, utilized a form of malware to take control of devices and effectively turn them into an army…

Global Retail Intelligence – July

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: July 27 - Wal-Mart de Mexico Net Profit Rises on Higher Sales, Lower Costs Mexico’s biggest retailer, Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB, said Thursday that its net profit increased 15% in the second quarter as higher sales combined with lower costs and expenses. From The Wall Street Journal July 26 - Amazon…

PANTONE®VIEW home + interiors 2018 Communicating with Color/Design: Inspiring and Defining Essential Trends

by Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute Key color stories for 2018 break free from traditional thinking. Colors are revitalized, hues are mixed in novel combinations and new color directions instantly and effectively express a fresh approach that satisfies the consumers continuing need for newness. Metallics we know are classic, but they have…

Discovering Design: Nambé

by Vicki Matranga Design Programs + Services, International Housewares Association IHA speaks with Laura Perri, senior manager, digital content and brand marketing at Nambé, to hear the about the latest developments at the company known for its trendsetting tableware and gift items. IHA: Laura, where does Nambé find inspiration in designing new products? LP: We…

Design Stars – Design Highlights from the gia Product Design Awards

Discover Design, the premier design destination at the International Home + Housewares Show, offers a collection of companies showcasing the latest designs found in housewares. Exhibitors are based on recommendations from and approval by the retail and design community. At the 2017 Show, several exhibitors from Discover Design were selected finalists in the IHA Global…

The Future of How (and What) We Eat

As connectivity transforms the way we live, work and shop, there is a heavy focus on technology’s role in our daily lives. The internet pushed us into a global economy, and the Internet of Things will connect us to our stuff and to the people who make our stuff. But what about food? We’ve explored how kitchen appliances are evolving and how grocers and retailers are shifting…

Show to Sell: Cross Merchandising

by Martin M. Pegler Visual Merchandising is really a very simple concept to understand. “Visual” refers to sight and “showing” while “Merchandising” is about “selling”. WE—people who believe in and are practitioners of VM—believe that it is very important to show your products in a way that makes the shopping process simple—easy—convenient for the shoppers. It is important…

The Living Kitchen: How Technology Will Become Part of the “Fabric” of Our Homes

By Ashley Daigneault and Michael Wolf In 2015, Swedish furniture giant IKEA released a video that outlined their vision for what the kitchen of the future might look like. The IKEA 2025 Concept Kitchen looked like something out of the movie “Minority Report,” where machine vision, built-in sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) combined to make surfaces come alive with…