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…

Have you been staying current with HC365?

August 31, 2011

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development With the International Home + Housewares Show featuring 2,000 exhibitors annually, including over 500 new companies at the 2012 Show, exhibitors need a good “game-plan” to generate interest with buyers, media + consumers. The Show has developed Housewares Connect 365 - a year-round search/planning tool to make your…

Housewares History: Mixing it up!

August 29, 2011

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Multi-tasking in the kitchen with Sunbeam What kitchen appliance created such a stir in American homes that nearly 70 years after its premier it merited its own U.S. postage stamp as an icon of household convenience? You probably had one in a kitchen during your lifetime—the Sunbeam Mixmaster. In 1929 when the Mixmaster…

UPDATE: IHA Members help those in need though GOOD 360 program

August 26, 2011

UPDATE** - IHA members that have donated to date: Jelmar Whitford Corp. Lamson & Goodnow Madesmart Lipper International The CLI Group Aroma Housewares DKB Household USA Corp. Keurig, Incorp. If you'd like to donate through the GOOD 360 program , see how below! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IHA and…

Follow the Housewares Show for a Chance…

August 23, 2011

and you could win this $75.00 amazon giftcard. That's literally all you have to do. The International Home + Housewares Show has made it very easy to enter. No registration needed, once you "Follow HousewaresShow" on Twitter you are automatically entered to win. If you already Follow HousewaresShow you are automatically entered to win. Easy…

Housewares History: Ever Think of Coffee Drinking as Romantic? Savor a Sip of 1930s Glamour

August 22, 2011

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator This elegant chrome-plated Maxwelton Braes Sunbeam COFFEEMASTER set, with brewer/server, table stove, circular tray, creamer and sugar, is a classic of Depression-era streamlined design. It was promoted by the Chicago Flexible Shaft Company in the late 1930s as one of the company’s glamorous tableside cooking appliances. The…

CHESS 2011 KEYNOTE: Peter Sims

August 17, 2011

By Judy Colitz, Manager of Special Events & Executive Services LITTLE BETS—INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, CREATIVITY & DESIGN What do Apple CEO Steve Jobs, comedian Chris Rock, prize-winning architect Frank Gehry and the story developers at Pixar films all have in common? Best-selling author Peter Sims found that they all have achieved remarkable results using a…

Antique or Modern? A Look at Kitchen Evolution

August 16, 2011

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator In the late 1800s, home economists and social reformers focused their attention on the functionality of the American kitchen and improving the efficiency of domestic labor. Kitchen furnishings were spare, with an assortment of simple work tables, cupboards and wall shelves. By 1900, the pace of change sped up. Industrialization…

HECNA Global Forum Update: Getting To Know Ambiente Gourmet

August 11, 2011

By Lori Szudarek, Manager of International Services The Global Forum presents multiple opportunities for attendees to learn about and meet with global retailers who will be in on hand to speak about their retail outlets. Colombian Retailer, Ambiente Gourmet, has 22 stores within Colombia and the surrounding countries. Patricia Valez, CEO of Ambiente Gourmet, will…

Buyer Benefits of HC365

August 9, 2011

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development With the International Home + Housewares Show featuring 2,000 exhibitors annually, including over 500 new companies at the 2011 Show, you need a good “game-plan” to navigate the housewares industry. The Show has developed housewares connect 365 - a year-round search/planning tool to make your Show experience as…