International Housewares Association

Housewares Industry Rises to Challenges of Pandemic Year, Prepares for What 2021 May Bring

Focus on supply chain management, a truly omni-channel marketplace and changing consumer wants/needs (for now) ROSEMONT, IL (Jan. 20, 2021)– If there was one universal lesson from 2020, it was the importance of being adaptable. This was, after all, the year when a pandemic quickly took over the world – complete with retail and manufacturing shutdowns, combined with…

Seven New Directors Elected to IHA Board of Directors

ROSEMONT, ILL. (Sept. 14, 2020)—Seven new directors have been elected to the board of directors of the International Housewares Association (IHA), the full-service trade association for the housewares industry. They are: Kim Cole, CEO, Gleener Inc.; Kristine Malkoski, business unit CEO, Foods, Newell Brands; Tom McMahon, president, Jura Inc.; Robert Michelson, president &…

IHA Celebrates 80th Anniversary

Created for the purpose of providing a unified trade marketplace for the housewares industry, the International Housewares Association (IHA) celebrates 80 years of bringing manufacturers and buyers together in 2018. Since its incorporation on May 17, 1938, the Association has grown to become the voice of the housewares industry, providing opportunities and programs to assist…

Housewares Executives Ready to Capitalize on Investments; Positive Momentum in 2018

In many ways, the housewares business is in a better place than just one year ago, and housewares executives say they’re ready to capitalize not only on positive momentum in the U.S. economy but also the many investments and adjustments they made at their companies in 2017. “There’s obviously tremendous change going on in our marketplace,” said Brett Bradshaw, president of…

2018 International Home + Housewares Show is Sold Out

The 2018 International Home + Housewares Show sold out in late December, more than 10 weeks before opening day, according to the International Housewares Association (IHA), the Show’s owner and operator. The Show begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 10 and closes at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13. “The high demand to be a part of our world-class marketplace continues for our…

The Smart Kitchen: Trends and Early Success Stories

By Vicki Matranga Design Programs Coordinator Informing Innovation: Meet Greg Kahn, GK Digital Media, Santiago Merea, Yummly; Jenny Cooper, Google and Mike Fretwell, Jarden Consumer Solutions Home environments, kitchen appliances, phones—how do they connect and why? Physical products that respond to our activities and communicate with each other and with services promise…

Living the Dream

If Patricia Velez embarks on a new venture, her passion is the project’s driving force. Inspiring others has also always been paramount to her, and so her latest incarnation—as the founder and CEO of Ambiente Living —has meant bringing these two facets of her approach to life and work together. There are now 30 Ambiente Gourmet stores in Colombia and two Ambiente Living…

China’s Consumers Begin to Awake

Andy Kessler, former hedge fund manager, has a recent piece in the Op Ed section of the Wall Street Journal in which he says, “This trend toward consumerism is already under way—China’s big cities are plastered with ads for Porsche, Gucci and Apple products. Some 600 million Chinese have smartphones. Uber and local Didi Kuaidi are battling it out to offer rides. Airbnb is…

Sainsbury Agrees on $1.9 Billion Deal for Home Retail Group

The Wall Street Journal reports that UK supermarket retailer Sainsbury has struck a deal to buy Home Retail group, parent of UK retailer Argos. Details are available from the Wall Street Journal here. (Subscription required) IBC Members may view the Key Retail Profiles on Argos and Sainsbury here. If you are a current IBC Member and need assistance with your username and…