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Archive for the ‘ Housewares Trends ’ Category

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IHA Giveaway: ZX Kitchen Ceramic Knives!

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Another week, another giveaway, and this one features some prime kitchen cutlery from ZX Kitchen! This week we’ve got a set of Black Ceramic Knives from member ZX Kitchen, sure to aid in all that recipe prep work in your home!

To enter the ZX Kitchen giveaway this week, you must comment on the photo of the knives on our Facebook page with an answer to this question: How will ZX Kitchen Ceramic Knives make your favorite recipe’s prep simpler?

These ceramic knives would make a great gift for mom with mother’s day right around the corner! Answer with a comment by 12:00 pm CST next Wednesday, May 9th to have a chance to win. Good luck to all!

ZX Kitchen Black Ceramic Knives

Precision Set

zx kitchen’s black ceramic knives deliver flawlessly for at least five years with no need for sharpening.  They slice meats, fruits and vegetables with such ease that you will never return to traditional steel cutlery.  zx knives are stain proof, rust proof and germ-resistant and they wipe clean as you use them.  They are sleek and smooth and offer comfort grip handles and balanced weight.

zx kitchen™ boasts stylish blades made from zirconium oxide, the hardest material on earth second only to diamond.  The Precision Set gives you the functionality of both a paring and 5” utility knife in an elegant box, and makes a great gift for chefs who are updating their kitchens.

For more information about ZX Kitchen and their ceramic knife sets visit their website www.zxkitchen.com and interact with them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/zxkitchen!

To Offshore Or To Reshore? How To Objectively Decide

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

That is the question facing many manufacturers these days, both inside and outside of the housewares industry.  As the economic makeup of China changes, so does the financial model that U.S. manufacturers use to determine the feasibility of manufacturing products 8,000 miles away.  Together with the decision on financial feasibility, many manufacturers are also taking a hard look at the newly emphasized importance of the term “Made in U.S.A.”  Current intelligence indicates that there is an increased importance being placed on products “Made in U.S.A.” by consumers and therefore by retailers as well.

Whether you consider it a unique phenomenon or movement that could have been foretold years ago as part of the normal evolution of a developing country, the socio-economic makeup of the Chinese lower and middle classes is changing, making it more expensive to develop, manufacture and ship product to the U.S.

But when does it make sense to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.?

  • What are the critical supply chain costs and risks associated with offshore product development that I may be missing?
  • Is it time to capitalize on the “Made in U.S.A.” brand concept?
  • Ultimately, when are the scales going to tip back in favor of U.S. manufacturing so that I position my business to respond quickly?

To help you answer some of these questions, IHA has partnered with Harry Moser of the Reshoring Initiative (http://www.reshorenow.org/) to help you carefully answer a host of questions regarding your business and determine the right answer to these difficult questions.  Mr. Moser, though the Reshoring Initiative, has spent years developing a tool to assist you in evaluating all of the difficult aspects of offshore manufacturing, many of them containing hidden costs.

Mr. Moser hosted an educational session at the 2012 International Home + Housewares Show and highlighted some success stories in the housewares industry associated with reshoring.  Click here (location TBD) to obtain a copy of his PowerPoint presentation.  He also participated in a panel discussion hosted by the White House on the topic of insourcing (reshoring) manufacturing to the U.S.  To learn more about reshoring, click here to view the White House YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CU4s1fhjKUg#t=2956s

spi for Dean blogU.S. manufacturers of plastics

Are you at the point where you would like to discuss the manufacture of your product in the U.S. but you don’t know where to begin?  Does your entire product or components of your product contain plastic?

IHA has teamed-up with the Plastics Industry Trade Association to assist in your search for mold-makers, plastics processors, suppliers of resin, equipment manufacturers of plastics products, and more.  Visit the member site for the Plastics Industry at http://www.plasticsindustry.org/membership/directory/ and you’re just a couple of mouse-clicks away from finding a host of plastics suppliers who are eager to assist you.

For more information on reshoring please contact:

Dean Kurtis, IHA

Email: dkurtis@housewares.org

IHA Giveaway featuring Nordic Ware

Friday, April 27th, 2012

It’s starting to warm up out there and IHA giveaways is here to help you take full advantage of it with Nordic Ware’s new 365 cooking line! Nordic Ware provides a set of five pieces of cookware that can be used indoors or outside to help you entertain this summer as well as once winter hits again!

To enter to win this wonderful bundle, valued over $90, all you have to do is answer this question on our Facebook page: What is your favorite thing to grill? Which of these brand new items could help you to make that food/recipe indoors or outside this summer? Leave a comment by Noon CST next Wednesday, May 2nd to be entered! Good luck to all!

Here are some highlights of the items up for grabs! Thanks again to Nordic Ware!

Nordicware BBQ Set-031

Stuffed Burger Maker & Patty Press:

The only device you need in your arsenal to build made-to-order stuffed burgers, round patties or square sliders. Compared to others on the market, this version is simple in design and use; is made of durable plastic—no moving parts to break.

Cheese Melting Dome:

You’ve had your perfect burger in a diner. Now you want it at home. This handy spun aluminum dome captures heat to decrease cooking time, reduces flare-ups, and infuses more smoky flavor into foods. Oh, and just perfectly melts the cheese on your burger.

Meatball Griller:

Infuse classic meatballs with grilled flavor, or try other faves like lamb or stuffed tomatoes. Concave design keeps meatballs round, the way they’re meant to be.

Beer Can Chicken Roaster:

Admit it, you’re high maintenance: you want flavor and moisture, and a crisp exterior. This grill-or-oven roaster lets you make iconic beer can chicken two different ways: use the cone inside of the base or separately. The wide base holds liquids and spices of your choice and may also be used to hold and roast vegetables.

Grill ‘n Serve Plate:

Keep apps hot with a plate that transitions from oven or gill to tabletop. Stainless steel plate retains heat to bake crisp nachos, mini tacos, potato skins and other delicious appetizers.

You can find out more about the entire line of 365 cookware at Nordic Ware’s Facebook page and by following them on twitter!

IHA Giveaway: Sodastream USA!

Friday, April 20th, 2012

IHA giveaways are back! We’re coming back strong with a double giveaway from our friends at Sodastream USA! They’re trying to spread the message of sustainability and are doing it through their home soda makers, creating less need and use for plastic bottles! Celebrate Earth Day by helping the environment with Sodastream!

We’re going to give away one Genesis Starter Kit and one Fizz Starter Kit to lucky winners via our facebook page! You could be one of those winners if you follow the link and just answer this simple question: What have you done recently to make your carbon footprint smaller? What steps would you like to take or suggest that others can take to become more eco-friendly? We’ll take submissions until Next Wednesday, April 25th at noon CST! Good Luck!

Genesis Start Kit

GENESIS Black CO2 Taste Sampler with Box

Genesis Is an Ideal Combination  of Chic Design and Right Price
The modern slim-line design of the Genesis looks beautiful in  any kitchen and is available in three décor-friendly colors: Black, Red & White!

Genesis Bundle Kit contents:
•Genesis home soda maker

• Reusable 1L BPA-free carbonating bottle  with fizz-preserving cap

•60L CO2 carbonator (makes up to 60 liters)

• SodaStream 12 count Taste Sampler Pack  (6 regular and 6 diet samples of SodaStream’s  most popular sodamix varieties)

Fizz Starter Kit

Black FIZZ_CO2_VarietyPack_web

Fizz’s Amazing Fizz Chip™ Technology Ensures the Fun Never Ends!
Never Run Out Of Gas. The Fizz Chip’s™ gas level  indicator monitors the amount of CO2 left in the carbonator,  so consumers know when it’s time to exchange.
Monitor Fizz Strength.The Fizz Chip™ shows consumers  the carbonation level as they press the carbonating button so  they can make their favorite fizzy drinks just right every time.

Fizz comes in four on-trend décor-frendly colors: Black, Red, Blue & Green!

Fizz Starter Kit contents:
•Fizz home soda maker

•Reusable 1L BPA-free carbonating bottle with fizz-preserving cap

•60L CO2 carbonator (makes up to 60 liters)

• SodaStream 12 count Taste Sampler Pack  (6 regular and 6 diet samples of SodaStream’s  most popular sodamix varieties)

Find more information about Soda Stream and their products on their official Facebook page and by following them on twitter!

2011-2012 gia GLOBAL HONOREES ANNOUNCED AT THE INTERNATIONAL HOME + HOUSEWARES SHOW

Monday, March 12th, 2012

CHICAGO (March 11, 2012) – The International Home + Housewares Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA), the global sponsors and organizers of the Global Innovation Award (gia) program, today announced the five 2011-2012 gia Global Honorees. The Global Honorees are:

  • Morandin Regali                            Italy
  • De Bijenkorf                                  the Netherlands
  • home&you                                    Poland
  • NK Glas, Porslin & Kök                Sweden
  • Sur La Table                                 United States

The global gia jury, consisting of four retail/visual merchandising experts and eight editors and publishers of co-sponsoring housewares trade publications from around the world, selected the five gia Global Honorees from the winners previously chosen in their respective countries by the national gia sponsors. In addition, the Martin M. Pegler Award for Excellence in Visual Merchandising was bestowed upon:

  • Morandin Regali                            Italy
  • NK Glas, Porslin & Kök                Sweden

gia was created in 1999, with the objective of fostering innovation and excellence in housewares retailing throughout the world. Today, gia is the most recognized, high-profile awards program for homegoods retailers around the globe. The competition is structured on a two-tier level, national and global, evaluating retailers within the following categories:

  • Overall mission statement and strategy
  • Store design and layout
  • Visual merchandising, displays and window displays
  • Marketing, advertising and promotions
  • Customer service and staff training
  • Innovation

Co-sponsoring the country-specific gia award programs with IHA are housewares trade publications worldwide, which sponsor national gia programs in their respective countries. Twenty-five co-sponsoring housewares trade publications with targeted distribution in over 30 countries on five continents participated in the 2011-2012 gia program, selecting 25 national winners from 23 countries. All winners were automatically entered the global competition at the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, where the global jury selected the final gia Global Honorees.

Both gia national winners and Global Honorees are recognized and prominently featured at the International Home + Housewares Show. A festive gia awards dinner was held at The Four Seasons Hotel. In addition, introducing the national gia winners to visitors and exhibitors of the International Home + Housewares Show, there is a special gia display in the Hall of Global Innovation, in the Lakeside Center Lobby, and large gia winner banners span the walkway connecting the Lakeside Center to the Grand Concourse.

For more information about the gia awards program, the co-sponsors, or participating in 2012-2013, contact Piritta Törrö at piritta.torro@inspiredconnection.fi. Additional information on the gia program is also available online at www.housewares.org/gia.

Editor’s note: Images of the 2011-2012 gia Global Honorees and the Martin M. Pegler Award winner as well as the gia logo and award photos are available for download at:

http://housewares.smugmug.com/

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