International Housewares Association

Perfectly Porland

Porland of Turkey, one of the five gia Global Honorees this year, has a long, rich and colorful history. We look into what makes this manufacturer and retailer of porcelain stand out from the rest. by Michelle Hespe Porland’s logo features a ballerina executing a perfect pirouette. This elegant symbol conveys both beauty and strength, reflecting the grounding philosophy of this manufacturer and retailer of porcelain. The word…

CHESS 2019 – Retail’s Seismic Shift: Understanding the Forces Changing Housewares Consumers

Presented by: Michael Dart, Partner, Consumer/Retail Practice, A.T. Kearney Retail specialist and visionary, Michael Dart advises retail and consumer companies on how best to navigate retail’s seismic shifts. He combines his economics and finance training from Oxford University and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with more than 25 years of experience consulting with A.T. Kearney and Bain & Co. to provide a unique…

Global Retail Intelligence – April

April 14 – JD.com Creates Offline Catering Supply Chain SolutionJD.com with Juqi, a dinning chain in Beijing, announced a supply chain cooperation, positioning JD.com as the first platform in China capable of providing a one-stop supply chain solution covering both the full category of food and materials supply, and integrated warehousing and distribution services. Through the cooperation, JD will also provide intelligent inventory…

Navigating The Wild West of Ocean Shipping

by Dave Akers, IHSA "Good Judgment comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." — Will Rogers Here is how the modern shipping business mirrors the Wild West: 1. The “Gold Rush” Boom and Bust Cycles The Old West was defined by the gold rush with sudden, explosive wealth that created overnight millionaires, followed by devastating busts that left ghost towns behind. Shipping operates on the exact same…

IHA Plans Sourcing Mission to Vietnam

To help members investigate alternatives to sourcing from China, the International Housewares Association will hold a sourcing mission to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next year. The 2020 Vietnam Sourcing Mission will be offered in two sessions: April 20-22 or April 23-25. Each session is limited to just six companies to provide a high level of service and allow for private meetings and factory tours. The dates were chosen to allow…

Guide to Effective Retail Store Design

by Martin M. Pegler If RETAILING is your chosen path of livelihood, here are some simple guidelines you might like to consider when planning your retail store. 1. Let There Be Light! Without the proper light the merchandise cannot be seen or judged, colors cannot be appreciated, coordinates cannot be assembled, nor buying decisions made. Let your light be the best you can afford to install and use—or, if necessary, skimp on…

Knowing Innovation: Jeff DeBoer

November 22, 2011

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator At the International Home + Housewares Show in March, the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center (formerly called the Housewares Design Theater) will present 20 educational programs, every hour beginning Saturday afternoon and ending Tuesday afternoon. The Theater, which was located in the Level 3 Lobby, moves to Room E350…

Design and Innovation: Powering the Housewares Industry

November 21, 2011

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator What’s new? That’s the question that drives retailers, marketers and consumers. Companies strive to develop innovative new products that set them apart from their competitors, retailers seek fresh approaches to attract purchasers, and consumers customize their homes and carefully choose the items that they bring into their…

Recap: IHA’s Affordable Innovation Press Event

November 16, 2011

By Wes French, Social Media Coordinator The 2012 International Home + Housewares Show is quickly approaching, but many media members in the New York City area were treated to a sneak peek at the Affordable Innovations press event last month in Manhattan. Nearly 40 companies demonstrated some of the products that are available this holiday season, many of which you might find…

Knowing Innovation: Susan Yashinsky

November 10, 2011

Previewing the speakers at the 2012 IHA Innovation Theater By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator At the International Home + Housewares Show in March, the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center (formerly called the Housewares Design Theater) will present 20 educational programs, every hour beginning Saturday afternoon and ending Tuesday afternoon. The Theater,…

HECNA Global Forum Recap

November 9, 2011

By Piritta Torro, International Marketing & Business Development Inspiring Presentations, Productive Networking The 2011 HECNA Global Forum took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 18-20, followed by an extended visit to Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic on September 21-22. As Valorie Langille of Arrow Plastic summarized it, the Global Forum once again proved to…

Housewares History: Working Under Pressure in the Kitchen

November 7, 2011

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Today’s busy families operate under a lot of pressure to keep after-school activities, homework and chores on schedule. Moms may feel they are battling clock and calendar as they rush to get dinner on the table, while worrying that food-on-the-go or a microwaved meal-in-a-bag can’t provide the nutrition or satisfaction of a…

PUBLIC CHICAGO: A New, Modern Hotel that Embraces the Historic Ambassador East Hotel Location

November 7, 2011

By: Sharon Janota, Manager, Trade Show Operations In October, Hotelier Ian Schrager premiered his new hotel brand, Public Hotels, in Chicago. Being the first hotel to open under the new brand, Public Chicago has taken residence in the former Ambassador East Hotel located in Chicago’s exclusive Gold Coast neighborhood. The hotel is walking distance to some of the city’s…

Inside Discover Design: Prairiedog International

November 4, 2011

By Marie Kulik, Exhibitor Business Development Manager IHA caught up with Ken Shinjo of Prairiedog International for this week's Inside Discover Design and found out about what influenced their whole line of everyday towels that are packaged like delicious deserts. Enjoy! Marie: What is the inspiration behind the design and functionality of your products? Ken Shinjo: Our…

2011/12 gia Award Winners!

November 1, 2011

Since its inception in 1999, gia has grown in stature to become the leading global award for home and housewares retailers in more than 20 countries on five continents. The primary sponsors of the gia award program are the International Housewares Association and the International Home + Housewares Show. Annually, over 20 global home and housewares retailers are recognized…