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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.

Understanding Influencers

The tools of the trade for retailers have irrevocably changed. Today, it’s not good enough to sell great products and have great staff. Today, social commentary is word of mouth, and influencers can provide a route to gaining more traction in a world where the union of technology and social media is king. Let’s start with the basics and work our way up to a more complex…

March Currency Outlook

In their March 2017 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief U.S. Dollar turned around in February Economic growth and confidence are on the rise Banxico, Mexico's central bank, intervened in FX market to erase Peso’s post-U.S. election…

Introducing Anne Kong: gia’s New Expert Juror

The IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) program is guided by a wealth of housewares industry and retail expertise: the national gia sponsors are the leading professional housewares trade publications in their own countries and adding credibility to the program, the four expert jurors are internationally recognized experts in visual merchandising, store design and marketing. The…

Discovering Design: Meet Nambé

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 trend-setting tableware and gift items. Nambé will feature new introductions and its line of classics at N7919 at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design. Laura, where does Nambé find…

2017 Student Design Competition Winners Announced

For the first time in the 24-year history of the International Housewares Association’s Student Design Competition, an industrial designer has won first, second and third place, prompting the creation of a new Outstanding Achievement Award for the winner, Dominic Montante, a senior at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) from Rochester, N.Y. The Student Design Competition’s…

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

The 65 finalists in the IHA Global Innovations Awards (gia) for product design have been announced by the International Housewares Association. Global Honorees in each of 13 categories will be announced in during the invitation-only gia dinner Saturday, March 18. The finalists and Global Honorees will be on display in the Hall of Global Innovation in the Lakeside Center Lobby.…

Discovering Design: Meet Urban Trend

IHA gets acquainted with Rob Kushner, co-founder of Urban Trend, based in Costa Mesa, Calif., creators of unique and affordable kitchen gadgets. They will display their innovations in everyday tools in Discover Design N8408 at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show. Growing up around the corner from each other in a typical Los Angeles suburb, Rob Kushner and Michael…

Discovering Design: Meet meori

IHA speaks with Deirdre Meyer, general manager, North America, of Seattle-based meori. meori’s range of foldable organization and storage boxes will be shown in Discover Design N8637 at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show. meori® is the 'go anywhere, hold anything' storage solution designed to organize everyday life. In three simple steps, meori foldable boxes…