IHA News Release

For more information:
Noelle Kull
H+A International
+1.312.332 4650 ext. 21
nkull@h-a-intl.com

2007-2008 Global Gia Honorees Announced at International Home + Housewares Show

CHICAGO (16 March 2008) – The International Home + Housewares Show and International Housewares Association (IHA), primary sponsors of the Global Innovator Award (gia) program, today announced the five 2007-2008 Global gia Honorees. The Global Honorees are:

• Taste, Australia
• Pepper, Brazil
• Lafayette Maison, France
• Schafferer, Germany
• Casa Palacio, Mexico

A special global jury, consisting of three retailing/visual merchandising experts and eight editors and publishers of co-sponsoring housewares trade publications from around the world, selected the five Global gia Honorees from 23 winners previously chosen in their respective countries by the publication-sponsors. In addition, the Martin M. Pegler Award for Excellence in Visual Merchandising, formerly called the gia Top Window Award, was bestowed to Rustan’s of the Philippines. The award is sponsored by the International Housewares Association. The gia program was created by IHA and the International Home + Housewares Show in 1999 to honor housewares retail innovation and merchandising excellence at the international retail level. The competition is structured both on a national and global level to honor specialty and multiple- location housewares retailers for excellence in several business categories:

• Successful operations
• Depth of product offerings
• Innovative business practices
• Innovative in-store merchandising displays/techniques
• In-store promotions
• External marketing/promotions
• Quality of customer service
• Breadth and depth of employee training

The 2007-2008 gia program attracted 23 co-sponsoring housewares trade publications with targeted distribution in over 30 countries on five continents.

Juries appointed by each publication selected 23 national winners from 22 countries at the end of 2007. All winners automatically entered the global competition at the International Home + Housewares Show, where the global jury selected the final Global gia Honorees. In addition, Wal-Mart Logistics was selected as the third annual gia World Honoree.

"We are proud to provide a stage at the International Home + Housewares Show for best-in-class retailers around the world to showcase the latest in housewares retailing excellence, while giving recognition for their accomplishments and adding significant value to their stores," said Phil Brandl, IHA president.

A special gia celebration was held at The Intercontinental Hotel on Sunday night, 16 March. In addition, the unique and innovative merchandising visuals of each winner is featured on-site in the International Home + Housewares Show special gia display located in the Grand Concourse Lobby and on large banners on the walkway connecting the Lakeside Center to the Grand Concourse. For more information about the gia, the co-sponsors, or participating in 2008, email international2009@housewares.org. Visit www.housewares.org/gia for additional information about the Global Innovator Award program.

Editor’s Note: Each gia winner’s merchandising visuals are downloadable at www.housewares.org/gia.