IHA Celebrates 80th Anniversary in 2018
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 members in increasing profits and growing their business.
The Association that the housewares industry knows today is the result of mergers with competing groups throughout the years, beginning its journey as the House Furnishing Manufacturers Association of America (HFMAA) and holding its first housewares trade show in 1939 at the Palmer House hotel in Chicago, Illinois. In 1940, HFMAA changed its name to the Housewares Manufacturers Association (HMA) after merging with a rival show organizer, the National House Furnishings Manufacturers Association. In 1946, HMA merged with the New York Housewares Manufacturers Association to create the National Housewares Manufacturers Association (NHMA) and operate the industry’s primary Housewares Show in 1947.
In 2000, the association’s board of directors, recognizing the global nature of the housewares industry, changed the corporate name to the International Housewares Association. A series on IHA’s blog, https://blog.housewares.org/category/education/housewares-history, commemorates 80 years of serving the housewares industry with a historical timeline and individual articles spotlighting memorable moments of the Show’s early years.
“Through the decades, IHA has been led by board of directors and professional staff who are committed to maximizing the success of the global home products industry and focused on providing value to the retailer/supplier relationship,” said Phil Brandl, IHA President and CEO. “We are proud to serve the industry and appreciate the continued support from members and retailers alike. We look forward to many more years of being the voice of the housewares industry.”
