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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.

The Recipe for Strategic Merchandising

IHA learns from Steven L. Katz, MAN THE KITCHEN, CEO and founder, about his presentation at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show. Steve looks at what happens in the kitchen through a lens that blends anthropology and psychology to capture and understand the unique traits observable among male home cooks. Steve’s presentation kicks off the four days of programs at…

Celebrity Chefs Abound at the Cooking Theater

The celebrity chef line-up is now set for the Cooking Theater at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show, March 18-21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Ayesha Curry, Claudia Sandoval and Geoffrey Zakarian will be making their debut in the Cooking Theater, joining returning celeb chefs and influencers David Burke, Todd English, Tom & Patty Erd, Tyler Florence, Bernard…

On Trend

The four gia expert jurors — Martin M. Pegler, Wolfgang Gruschwitz, Scott Kohno and Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen — are from different sectors of retail, including store design and architecture, branding, visual merchandising and displays, marketing and technology. They always need to be at the forefront of trends driving the retail world, so who better to present the latest…

Transformation of the Trans-Pacific Ocean Shipping Market

December 31, 2016 could not have come soon enough for shippers that import and export ocean containers through the Trans-Pacific ocean shipping lanes to and from the United States. 2016 will be remembered as one of the most turbulent years on record for the international shipping industry. Shippers struggled to find consistent and reliable services while weaker ocean carriers…

Indonesia Market Visit

IHA Staff recently made a market visit to Indonesia in preparation for the planned November 2017 trade mission to that country. Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has enjoyed steady economic growth over the past decade, averaging between 5-6 percent, with moderate inflation, rising foreign direct investment, and relatively low interest rates. U.S.-Indonesia…

Discovering Design: Meet Love Reusable Bags

IHA speaks with Joe Rogers, the Super Genius at Love Reusable Bags, based in Costa Mesa, California. LOVE Bags, makers of fashionable reusable bags for all seasons and needs, will present its latest innovative products in Discover Design N8202 at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design. Joe Rogers, Super Genius Love Reusable Bags, Inc. was created…

Keys to New Product Success for Designers and Product Managers

IHA reconnects with Rick Babick, president of Design Research, based in Lawrenceville, NJ., for a preview of the presentation on planning for new product success that Rick and Janine Michalek will deliver at the upcoming 2017 International Home + Housewares Show in the Innovation Theater. Rick Babick has more than 35 years of experience in the market research field. He…

Discovering Design: Meet Fellow

IHA caught up with Jake Miller, founder of San Francisco-based Fellow, which premiered at the 2016 Show in Design Debut. Fellow will present its latest coffee and tea products in Discover Design N8510 at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design. Jake, tell us about you got started with Fellow and what’s the latest. Fellow began as a Kickstarter…

Discovering Design: Meet notNeutral

IHA gets acquainted with Julie Smith-Clementi, president/CEO of notNeutral. Based in Los Angeles, notNeutral blurs the boundaries between the figural and abstract, the decorative and functional. The pieces they design are durable, playful and imbued with a clever take on the ordinary that is unquestionably not neutral. Since its conception more than 15 years ago, notNeutral has…