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…

Scandinavia Trade Mission: A Great Success!

July 5, 2011

By Derek Miller, VP International Business Earlier this month, representatives from the International Housewares Association and nine IHA member companies expanded their international knowledge with a trade mission to Scandinavia – Stockholm in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark. In both cities, the international knowledge program included individual meetings with key home and…

Inside Discover Design: StoreBound

June 29, 2011

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development This week's edition of Inside Discover Design features Evan Dash. Evan is a current member of IHA's Board of Directors and has been debuting great products at the Housewares Show for years. This was his first year exhibiting his new company StoreBound, electing to debut along with Discover Design. Marie: What is the…

Celebrate Two Milestones with Homer Laughlin China!

June 20, 2011

By Vicki Matranga What dinnerware line was designed in 1936, is a hot collectible for antique seekers, and is made by the only ceramic tableware manufacturer remaining in the U.S.? If you guessed Fiesta®, you are correct! Headquartered in Newell, West Virginia, the family-owned Homer Laughlin China Company celebrates two special anniversaries in 2011—the 140th year since…

The future is NOW! Don’t miss our Social Media Webinar!

June 17, 2011

By Wes French, Social Media Coordinator Learn how to get ahead in the social media game The home and housewares industry is changing, much like the rest of the world. Social Media has become the premier avenue to market every sort of product and service imaginable. Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or whatever new medium is popping up, the internet is where…

Inside Discover Design: Blomus

June 15, 2011

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development Ohlig Ralf of blomus sat down this week with Marie to discuss the idea to include high design in the International Home + Housewares Show, appreciation of the skill that goes into design and the emergence of gia as a high design award. Marie: What is the inspiration behind the design and functionality of your home and…

Housewares History: West Bend Hit the Century Mark!

June 14, 2011

by Vicki Matranga Cooking Up Traditions for 100 Years Remember your grandmother’s biscuits? Did your mom let you lick the mixer’s beaters when she baked a cake? What about that platter you inherited? You can thank a housewares company for such kitchen memories. Some of IHA’s member companies continue to make great products that people love and use for generations. We…

CHESS 2011 looks to build on Success of 2010

June 9, 2011

By Judy Colitz, IHA Events Coordinator CHESS 2010 provided housewares industry chief officers a chance to learn about the uncertain economic outlook last fall and business practices for sorting the winners from the losers in the new economic order. CHESS—the strategic and networking event of the year—included a wide range of topics from the new reality of global…

Blog on Blogs: Covering Clean + Contain

June 8, 2011

By Wes French, Coordinator of Social Media This year the International Home + Housewares Show saw a major increase in online media attendance at the Show. The way people get their news is shifting to sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, more and more, and we're happy to open our doors to bloggers and traditional media alike! Here are some of the best to cover the Clean…

Inside Discover Design: Kahla/Barbara Schmidt

June 1, 2011

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development This week Marie caught up with Barbara Schmidt, designer for the KAHLA line of porcelain dinnerware. Marie: What is the inspiration behind the design and functionality of your products? BS: I want to translate the material porcelain with its long history of use and design into the present. Human habits are as…