Giftware
Party with a Purpose Returns to High Point
Gift for Life’s Home vs. Hunger team’s popular Party with a Purpose fundraising event returns to the Spring High Point Market on Sunday, April 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at the Eichholtz Showroom, 129 S. Hamilton St. A $20 minimum donation is suggested; all proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen’s crisis-related hunger relief efforts.
In partnership with home industry leaders and market makers, Gift for Life debuted its Home vs Hunger initiative at High Point Market in October 2022. To date, through the generosity of the home industry, nearly $60,000 has been raised for WCK at in-person events at the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 High Point Markets and through online campaigns in February 2023 following devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and in August 2023 following destructive wildfires in Maui.
“We look forward to another Party with a Purpose fundraising event this April at High Point Market,” said Russ Jones, chair of Gift for Life’s Home vs. Hunger team. “Our industry’s generosity and support has been humbling and we’re excited to see what we can do this year to help make a difference for WCK’s global initiatives.”
To RSVP for the 2024 event, email homevshunger@gmail.com by April 5. For those unable to make it to the event, donations will be accepted through April 30 at www.giftforlife.org/donate.
2024 Home vs. Hunger team members include Chris Amos, ANDMORE; Jonathan Cochran, Eichholtz; Sharon Davis, ART; Jen Dolan, Arteriors; Mark Furlet, ANDMORE; Jenny Heinzen York, Currey & Company; Russ Jones, Ivystone; Monica Loving, Ivystone; Douglas Self, J. Douglas; and Sandra Standefer, Loloi Rugs.
Founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that is first to the frontlines providing fresh meals in response to crises, while working to build resilient food systems with locally led solutions. Applying a model of quick action, leveraging local resources and adapting in real time, WCK has served more than 300 million nourishing meals around the world. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Relief Team mobilizes with the urgency of now to start cooking and serving meals to people in need.
By partnering with organizations on the ground and activating a network of local restaurants, food trucks, or emergency kitchens, WCK serves comforting meals to survivors of disasters quickly and effectively. To support regional economies, WCK prioritizes purchasing local ingredients to cook with or distribute directly to families in need. WCK knows that good food provides not only nourishment, but also comfort and hope, especially in times of crisis.
Gift for Life was founded by Peter Schauben in 1992 in response to the tragic loss of industry lives to AIDS. The organization’s first meeting at the National Stationery Show brought together a cross-section of the industry’s leading publishers, market centers, sales reps, manufacturers, and retailers – all willing to convene and work together towards a common goal. Since that time, Gift for Life has raised nearly $6 million for AIDS research, education, treatment and care through nationwide at-market events, cause marketing programs and direct donations.
In 2021, Gift for Life pivoted towards online digital events with a specific emphasis on COVID-related hunger relief and has funded provision of nearly 100,000 hot, nutritious meals to communities impacted by crisis and conflict worldwide. The all-volunteer organization continues to support year-round programs that address hunger relief, as well as annual support for GMHC’s HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and advocacy programs.
Global Innovation Awards Product Design Finalists Named
The 70 finalists in the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) for Excellence in Product Design have been announced by the International Housewares Association. Global honorees in each of the 14 categories will be announced during the invitation-only gia dinner Sunday, March 17 during The Inspired Home Show 2024, IHA’s Global Home + Housewares Market, at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex.
Entries were judged by a panel of industry experts and news media. The finalists and global honorees will be on display in an exhibit in the Hall of Global Innovation in the Grand Concourse Lobby of the North Building as well as in the New Product Showcases located in the Buyers Club in the North and South halls. The Inspired Home Show opens at 8:30 a.m. on March 17 and runs through 5:30 p.m. March 19.
“Congratulations to all of the finalists for an IHA Global Innovation Award for Excellence in Product Design,” said Derek Miller, IHA president & CEO. “Product innovation is the engine that keeps the home + housewares industry vibrant and profitable. It is our pleasure to honor the brands and designers that continue to push the envelope and delight both buyers and consumers.”
The gia product design finalists are:
Bath + Personal Care
Company — Product
Dorai Home Inc. — Large Bath Stone Mat
Everplush – Tricol Clean — Farberware by Everplush Bath Towel
madesmart — madesmart Expandable In-Drawer Dental Tray
Sanimaid ApS — Stockholm Toilet Brush
Shenzhen Shuye Technology Co.,Ltd. — Laifen Wave Electric Toothbrush
Cleaning
Cuisinel — Cuisinel Cast Iron Scrubber Set
FreeForm Brush Inc. dba FreeForm — FreeForm 360
Gleener Inc. — GLEENER Swift Battery-Free Fabric Shaver
Plaspak Plastik ve Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret AS — Super Easy Shiny Surfaces Cleaning Set
Sanimaid ApS — Stainremover-XL Starter Set
Cook + Bakeware
AeroPress Inc. — AeroPress Clear Coffee Press with Flow Control Filter Cap
Brod & Taylor — Baking Shell
Joseph Joseph Inc. — Space 10 Piece Cookware Set
Ooni Limited — Ooni Product
THE COOKWARE COMPANY (USA), LLC — TUCCI by GreenPan
Home Décor + Gifts
Cricut — Cricut Mug Press – Heat Press for Mugs
Evriholder Products, LLC — Cocktail Smoker
Nwtn Home — Roseland Set
Umbra LLC — Cubiko Wall Planter
Umbra LLC — Ferris Jewelry Organizer
Home Organization + Storage
Delta Cycle Corp. — Pivot Bike Storage Rack
Evriholder Products, LLC — Telescopic Over-The-Sink Drying Rack
Joseph Joseph Inc. — Tota 90L Laundry Separation Basket
Polder Products, LLC — Harmony Dish Rack
YouCopia — StoraRoll 3-in-1 Wrap Dispenser
Household + Home Electrics
Cricut — Cricut Joy Xtra Smart Cutting Machine
Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Co., Inc. — Metro Vac Cordless Hand Vac
Mila — Mila Air 3
New Dawn Innovations: VQ Halo – Portable Bluetooth Speaker & Lantern
Zafferano America — PushUp Pro
Kitchen Electrics
FinaMill Co. — FinaPod GT
JURA Inc. — JURA J8 Twin Diamond Black
Midea — Two Zone Air Fryer
THE COOKWARE COMPANY (USA), LLC — GreenPan Elite Convection Air Fry Oven
The Legacy Companies — Omega Effortless Batch Juicer
Kitchen Hand Tools + Cutlery
DKB Household USA Corp. — Zyliss Gourmet Drum Grater
Dreamfarm — Lockorns
Dreamfarm — Ozest
That Inventions — Corkie
Welcome Industries — Visual Measuring Spoons
Kitchenware
Dreamfarm — Corpeel
KitchInventions — ICEBREAKER Nordic POP 2.0
madesmart — Madesmart “Everything Over the Sink Station
Progressive International Corp. — Cookie ProKeeper+
Swish Rocks — Swish Rocks
Luggage, Travel Goods + Accessories
Drinkmate Inc. — Drinkmate Spritzer
Gleener Inc. — GLEENER S’wet Wet/Dry Bag
Moso Natural — Moso Natural Travel-Size Scent-Free Odor Eliminating Spray
NewAir LLC — Newair 25 Qt. Jobsite Cooler Car Refrigerator Battery Powered 18/20V
Talus – High Road Organizers — Luggage Cup Holder
Pet Products
Dexas International, Ltd. — MudBuster Unleashed!
Paikka — PAIKKA Glow Leash and Collar Bundle
Paikka — PAIKKA Raincoat 2.0
Paikka — PAIKKA Seawool Shirt
Prevue Pet Products, Inc. — Prevue Pet Products Comfy Chicken Hideaway
Smart Home Products
BLOK — BLOK Smart Cutting Board
Chefman — CHEF iQ Smart Thermometer (3-probe set)
ChefsTemp — ProTemp Plus Wireless Meat Thermometer
Ember Technologies, Inc. — Ember – Tumbler, 16 oz – Black
Tramontina USA, Inc. — Tramontina Guru
Sustainable Products
Electrodomesticos Jata, S.A. — EMULSIONIZER, The Zero Waste Kitchen Secret Hero
Full Circle — Clean Ocean – Palm Brush
Klean Kanteen — Rise 36 oz. Tumbler with Lid and Straw
The Peacock Vacuum Bottle Co., Ltd. — Cooler Bucket
Volume Brands Int’l. — Glad Link & Sort Recycling Station
Tabletop
Asobu — Asobu Bestie Bottle – Penguin
Asobu — Asobu Duplex Tumbler
Gourmet Kitchen Works LLC — Leopold Vienna Otto
LARQ, Inc. — LARQ Bottle PureVis 2
Prepara — Prepara Tacopillar Taco holder
The judging panel for the annual IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) included housewares buyers from retailers including Ace Hardware, Artichoke, The Cook’s Warehouse, Dillards, Divertimenti, Dreamscape, Event Network, HTI Buying Group, In the Kitchen, Lekka Retail Concepts, Leon & Lulu, Meijer, National Building Museum, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Pampered Chef, Quality Products, Sign of the Bear, Toque Blanche and Volume Studios. Other judges included consumer editors, bloggers and many distinguished industry designers.
View the finalists in each category at TheInspiredHomeShow.com/awards/gia-product/. The Inspired Home Show, IHA’s global home + housewares marketplace, will be held March 17-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex. For more information about the 2024 Show and to register for a Show badge, please visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com/register. To search for new products that will be at the Show visit Connect 365, the Show’s online directory.
For more news of interest to the housewares industry, subscribe to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
IHA Expects Bigger Attendance at Home Show
IHA President and CEO Derek Miller says organizers expect more exhibitors and exhibition space at The Inspired Home Show this year over 2023. Miller made his comments in an open letter:
February 13, 2024
Dear Home + Housewares Colleague,
With only a bit over four weeks before the opening of The Inspired Home Show, we are truly excited about the industry’s focus shifting to Chicago. More than 1,700 exhibitors from 40 countries and more than 30,000 attendees from over 125 countries are slated to participate. The total number of exhibitors and the total amount of exhibition space will exceed that of last year, and we continue to assign additional companies every day.
Importantly, over 200 companies will exhibit at the Show for the very first time, and over 150 companies will return to the Show after a brief absence. A few notable names of those returning include:
- Artland
- BergHOFF
- BSH Bosch
- Cool Gear
- Corkcicle
- Cuisinart
- Deejo-Coriolis
- Ember
- Emile Henry
- Etekcity
- Everplush-Tricol Clean
- Fissler
- Hurom
- iSi North America
- J.K. Adams
- Jean Dubost
- Joseph Joseph
- Keurig/Dr. Pepper
- Koopman
- Lotus Sustainables
- Midea
- Millenarie International
- Opinel
- Range Kleen
- Scanpan
- Stolzle Lausitz Glassware
- Tooletries
- Tramontina
Our online search application, Connect 365, is being populated with more exhibitors, brands and products every day – visit the site to search for exhibitors and to pre-plan your visit to the Show.
The 2024 Show will be different than editions of the past with many strategic changes being implemented, based on feedback received from exhibitors and the buying community.
First, the Show will be three full days designed to make the experience as efficient and cohesive as possible. Second, we’ll open on Sunday this year with the Show extending through Tuesday to offer both weekend and weekday options to attendees. Third, and perhaps most important, Wired + Well will be co-located with Clean + Contain in the North Hall. Conveniently positioned adjacent to Dine + Décor in the South Hall, the Show’s three primary Expos will now be easier to navigate than ever before. Feedback on all of these changes has been overwhelming positive with the Show positioned to be incredibly productive. And, our fourth Expo, International Sourcing, will be re-located in the Lower North Hall with country pavilions offering OEM products.
The IHA Board of Directors, the IHA Staff and our Committee Members work hard to create the best trade show experience for the industry as possible. We listen, plan and adapt – we then position, promote and build – and finally, we come together to buy, sell and collaborate. The industry works together to grow together – that’s our mission – past, present and future.
We look forward to welcoming the industry to The Inspired Home Show, March 17-19. See you in Chicago soon! It’s going to be great!
Best,
Derek Miller
President & CEO
International Housewares Association
For more news of interest to the housewares industry, subscribe to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
Dallas Market Center Launches Nearshoring America
Dallas Market Center announces the launch of Nearshoring America, a new international expo and support services designed to explore and facilitate nearshoring production services for gift, home furnishings, and fashion accessories companies. Nearshoring America EXPO, to take place at Dallas Market Center from Dec. 10-12, will connect brands and their representatives with vetted factories and supply chain service providers from Mexico and Latin America.
“We are creating this groundbreaking new trade event and support services for several key reasons,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “First and foremost, many leading companies in several of the industries we serve have encouraged a juried event in Dallas given recent challenges to overseas production and interrupted supply chains. They requested the event be created by the industry for the industry.
“They also understand our commitment to supporting more efficient trade; our unique access to brands, factories, and service providers as well as our long-standing relationships with them; our purpose-built marketplace infrastructure and operations; our geographic advantages for easy travel; and our safety and controlled access for both attendees and exhibitors.”
Exhibitors will include an invitation-only showcase of factories and supply chain providers that have been pre-selected based on their history, operating experience and delivery. In addition, supporting enterprises including sourcing agents, trading companies, shelter companies, and design and production consultants will be represented. The exhibiting companies will be thoroughly vetted to ensure they are legitimately capable of supporting our industry importer partners. Expected participants are from Mexico, joined by other countries in Central America and South America such as Brazil and Colombia.
The show floor will feature a uniform presentation of each participant showcasing their production and/or supply chain services capabilities and each exhibitor will be prepared to immediately engage with attendees regarding terms and conditions of product development and production.
“We are delighted about the new Nearshoring EXPO,” said Alix Buckley, founder and CEO of Stephen Joseph Companies, a large multi-brand gift company. “Having alternative options when sourcing goods will allow us to save time and expense in numerous ways – including the advantage of attending a show that brings suppliers in Mexico and Latin America together in one venue closer to home. Not to mention, the faster turnaround time in bringing goods to market. Our product development team heard about the Dallas show while they were visiting Ambiente in Germany… seems the buzz has begun!”
Attendees will include importers of gift, home furnishings and apparel accessories seeking OEM product sources, project manufacturing services and full-scale product development partnerships.
Said Chuck Fraelich, president of tag, a leading North American gift company: “We are proud to be working with the Dallas Market Center and industry colleagues to bring the first nearshoring expo for the gift and home industry to Dallas. We feel this forum will allow for importers, agents, and factories to come together and discuss business opportunities that could lead to transformational change as we diversify our supply chain.”
Nearshoring has quickly become an extremely valuable alternative for importers within the United States in a range of consumer product categories. A recent Morgan Stanley report noted that “Nearshoring has the potential to boost the growth of Mexican manufacturing exports to the U.S., from $455 billion today to an estimated $609 billion in the next five years.”
Consul General of Mexico in Dallas, Francisco de la Torre Galinda, commented on Nearshoring America at Dallas Market Center: “Nearshoring becomes an increasing opportunity in the North American market, [and] we have to take advantage together. México’s investments in infrastructure, logistics and trade policies under the USMCA are attracting the development of nearshoring programs across all sectors, including the categories represented at the Dallas Market Center.”
A Nearshoring Leadership Council, comprised of leading importers, was critical to advancing the conversations and organization of the expo and support services. A full list of participants will be announced soon. Additionally, research is currently underway among the Council and other stakeholders identifying the top production categories to be showcased at the expo. The results of that research will be shared at a later date.
In addition to showcasing vetted exhibitors, the Nearshoring America EXPO will be supported by a series of seminars and symposia focused on nearshoring in Mexico and Latin America. In support of the expo, a Nearshoring America INDEX will be created that includes an exclusive and vetted list of factories and supply chain service providers organized by country. Finally, a Nearshoring newsletter will be created that includes background, research, commentary, and timely topics for the business of nearshoring.
For information on Nearshoring America contact Michael Mendoza at mmendoza@dallasmarketcenter.com. For information on Dallas Market Center visit the website and download the Dallas Market Center mobile app. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the DMC Daily Dose.
For more news of interest to the gift and home furnishings industries, subscribe to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
Las Vegas Spring Buying Event Set March 3-5
ANDMORE’s semi-annual Las Vegas Spring Buying Event, featuring nearly 50 home, gift and lifestyle permanent showrooms across Building C and the Las Vegas Design Center, will be held March 3-5, at World Market Center Las Vegas. To extend business opportunities for buyers and sellers, the trade-only event will run concurrently with ToyFest, the nation’s first full toy trade show of 2024. Onsite registration is required, and buyers can RSVP at https://www.lasvegasmarket.com/Year-Round/Off-Market-Events/Spring-Buying-Event.
“After a successful Winter Las Vegas Market, select showrooms, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center, will welcome buyers to World Market Center Las Vegas again in March,” said Dorothy Belshaw, ANDMORE executive vice president, chief growth officer.
The event includes a growing list of some 15 gift and home manufacturers, as well as sales agency showrooms, located in Building C. Confirmed participants opening March 3-5 are: Diverse Marketing, F.E.M. Sales, Fine Lines, Karen Alweil Studio, Kathleen Milne Company, Keena, The New Era Sales Team (NEST), Next Step Reps, Oak Street Wholesale, R-Biz Associate,; Sales Producers, SPI Home, Toyology and ZODAX. Select showrooms will be open for buyers before Spring Buying event, March 1 – 2, to give attendees extra time to source, and appointments are highly recommended.
The March event is an extension of World Market Center Las Vegas’ open year-round offerings in the Las Vegas Design Center. Buyers can source in LVDC’s 30+ designer showrooms, which present more than 120 product lines, plus additional gift, lifestyle, gourmet, tabletop and decor showrooms on campus.
As an added benefit, Toyfest, the second oldest and second largest toy show in the United States, will run concurrently with the event at World Market Center Las Vegas, offering cross-market opportunities for buyers and sellers alike. Hosted by the Western Toy & Hobby Retailers Association, ToyFest attracts hundreds of buyers and presents 500+ exhibitors in categories such as: toys, gifts, infant and toddler, games, education & books, stem, museum, hobby, costume, beauty and novelty.
ToyFest badges will grant buyers access to Spring Buying Event showrooms, and Spring Buying Event attendees interested in attending ToyFest will need to complete a simple, on-site registration process. For more information, visit www.toyfestus.com.
The Spring Buying Event at World Market Center Las Vegas runs Sunday, March 3 through Tuesday, March 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. For more information and registration, visit https://www.lasvegasmarket.com/Year-Round/Off-Market-Events/Spring-Buying-Event.
For more news of interest to the giftware industry, subscribe to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
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