FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Deborah A.Teschke
Manager, Media Relations & Communications
847-692-0110
2005-2006 GLOBAL GIA HONOREES ANNOUNCED AT INTERNATIONAL HOME & HOUSEWARES SHOW
CHICAGO (March 12, 2006) – The International Home & Housewares Show and International Housewares Association (IHA), primary sponsors of the Global Innovator Award (gia) program, today announced the five 2005-2006 Global gia Honorees.
Hailing from three continents, the honorees are:
- Nest – New Zealand
- Palacio de Hierro - Mexico
- Lane Crawford – Hong Kong
- Lenffer - Germany
- Gourdo’s – Philippines
A special global jury, consisting of three visual merchandising experts and seven 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 gia Top Window Award was bestowed for the fourth time. Sponsored by the International Housewares Association, it was awarded to Lenffer of Germany.
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 2005-2006 gia program attracted 21 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 21 countries at the end of 2005. 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, IKEA was selected the first-ever 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 Chicago Cultural Center on Sunday night, March 12. In addition, the unique and innovative merchandising visuals of each winner were featured on-site in the International Home & Housewares Show special gia display located at the Lakeside Center Level 3 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 2006, contact Derek Miller, IHA vice president, international, at international2008@housewares.org. Visit www.housewares.org/gia for additional information about the Global Innovator Award program.
