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…

Housewares History: Happy Holidays!

December 27, 2010

The Holidays are synonymous with gathering together with family and friends to celebrate-meaning eat, drink and be merry. We wouldn't get too far into the holiday feasts without the help of housewares, which have been helping hosts for decades. What is it? Can you guess what this barrell, used mainly in the far east circa 1900, was used for? *hint*- Think drinks on…

Housewares Connect 365 Tip: Simplifying Show Communication

December 21, 2010

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development Communicating with buyers + media through your exhibitor message center As part of your Housewares Connect 365 listing, exhibitors have access to a personal message center FREE of charge. Through your message center you can send buyers and media an invitation to your booth before the Show and follow-up with them…

Invention Home Spotlight: Pet Christmas Tree Saver

December 20, 2010

The family cats use it as a hideout/battle ground every year. The dogs? They can't contain themselves from finding out how every ornament tastes. Theres also the chance that Fido decides the christmas tree is an alternate indoor urinal. This is the annual struggle many families face this time of year. The family pets vs. the christmas tree. Or should we say the family's war to…

Things you can see at an IHA New York Press Event

December 15, 2010

Design Comes Into Focus for 2011 at Media Event By Lisa Casey-Weiss, IHA Lifestyle Consultant IHA will have it's annual Show Preview press event in about a month, Tuesday, January 18 2011 to be exact. The event will be at the Hilton New York from noon-4pm and will have about 70 exhibitors displaying housewares products that will take center stage at the Show in March. The…

IHA Media Events: A View from Behind the Table

December 15, 2010

By Beth Jester, Public Relations & Marketing Events Manager BISSELL Homecare, Inc. Because BISSELL is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., it can be difficult to reach the shelter, women's interest and other national media outlets in a meaningful, personal and cost-effective way. We look forward to the International Home + Housewares Show each year because many of these…

Housewares Connect 365 Tip: Special Events

December 14, 2010

By Marie Kulik, Manager of Exhibitor Business Development Generate Interest – Tell us about your special event Housewares Connect 365 allows companies to add information regarding special company news, events, celebrations or milestones that you think buyers, media or consumers may be interested in while attending the Home + Housewares Show. Whether you're demonstrating…

Act Today and Speed Up Your Post-Show Buyer Follow Up! Reserve Your FREE Lead Retrieval Unit / Buyer Connect Unit Compliments of IHA – Limited Quantity Available!

December 14, 2010

By Sharon Janota Manager, Trade Show Operations Speed up your post-Show follow-up by creating a complete buyer contact list of every buyer who visits your booth. Use this buyer list to track your sales and measure your Show's return on your investment. Don't delay, order your FREE lead retrieval / buyer connect unit while they are still available! Here are the benefits of…

Housewares History:Bundt-ing into the conversation

December 13, 2010

Bundt cake may not be your favorite, but it's definitely one of the most noticable desserts to come out of the kitchen. Bundt pans are the signature product of Nordic Ware, a company founded by David Dalquist in the 1940s, after being created at the request of a woman from Minnesota in 1950. The pans had a rough go early on, but sales picked up in the 1960s after receiving an…

Don’t be a Greenwasher! Make your products sustainable the right way!

December 10, 2010

By Jeffrey Rosenholtz Vice President, Sustainability Solutions for NextLife Sustainability is a phrase that is widely used, yet rarely understood. Sustainability is about the capacity to endure; to continue with the model you are doing, not just for a long period of time, but essentially, ideally, "forever". A symbiotic relationship where the waste that is generated becomes…