Tabletop
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.
Tervis Extends Partnership With Pickleball Players
Tervis kicked off its extended partnership with the Association of Pickleball Players at the first APP Tour event in Punta Gorda.
The partnership with the pickleball tour, which began in 2023, designates Tervis as the official and exclusive water bottle of the APP.
Founded in 2019, the APP serves professionals, senior professionals and amateurs in the fastest growing sport in the United States. The first and only tour officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the 2024 APP Tour has 12 announced tournament stops and kicks off in Punta Gorda, Fla., on Jan. 17-21. The five-day season kick-off event launched at the newly renovated PicklePlex, where fans can watch the best pro pickleball players in the world compete, as well as the AARP Champions and AARP Masters Division competitors, and hundreds of amateurs.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tervis back to the family of official APP partners,” said Ryan McSpadden, chief revenue officer for APP. “They are a leader in the hydration space and provide innovative products to all of our players.”
Tervis was in attendance at the Punta Gorda event with a booth set up for spectators to stop by and learn more about the well-known drinkware brand, as well as purchase pickleball-themed tumblers.
“Tervis takes pride in knowing what our consumers love and being nimble enough to pivot toward those trends in developing new tumbler designs,” said Hosana Fieber, chief executive officer for Tervis. “With the popularity of pickleball continuing to sweep the nation, we are incredibly pleased to partner with the APP at this event and others to help promote pickleball, as well as introduce our timeless products to fans and players alike.”
Through its partnership, Tervis will immerse itself with in-venue branding and visibility, including signage, social media promotion and inclusion in APP Tour broadcast productions — spanning coverage on CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2 and more linear broadcast partners to be announced by the APP, as well as livestream coverage on APPTV and ESPN+.
For more information on the APP’s 2024 tour schedule, visit TheAPP.global.
For more news of interest to the drinkware industry, subscribe to Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
Fortessa Tableware Names Smith as CEO, President
Fortessa Tableware Solutions, a global leader in the tableware industry, has appointed Jeff Smith as chief executive officer and president, effective March 1. This strategic decision follows Smith’s nearly two decades of dedicated service to the company, during which he has played a pivotal role in shaping its success and organizational evolution. Smith previously served as the company’s COO and CFO.
Smith brings a wealth of experience and a comprehensive understanding of the company’s overall business. His embodiment of the distinct values and culture of Fortessa Tableware Solutions, coupled with broad credibility within the global team, has garnered the confidence of the board of directors, the group supervisory board, and owners Andreas Buske and Scott Hamberger.
Hamberger will be transitioning to the position of president emeritus. In this capacity, he will continue to contribute to the company’s success in an advisory role. Hamberger will continue as a director and will assume the role of vice chairman of the supervisory board of Zwiesel Kristallglas, AG, the parent company of Fortessa Tableware Solutions.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the transition, Hamberger said, “My greatest professional joy has been to be a part of the growth and development of the wonderful people of this company. I look forward to continuing to contribute in a different way and from a different perspective. As part of that I will be giving Jeff my full support as he takes the company forward.”
Group CEO Buske extends his best wishes to Smith, stating, “Jeff has earned the confidence of his colleagues across our group, as well as that of our Board of Directors in the United States and our Supervisory Board in Germany. We wish him every success and look forward to working with him as he leads Fortessa Tableware Solutions to new heights.”
“I could not be more excited to lead this outstanding company of which I have been a part. I appreciate the confidence of our ownership, governing boards, and my colleagues. We have a great history and I’m looking forward to an even better future,” Smith said.
Fortessa Tableware Solutions is part of the Zwiesel Fortessa Group, a global leader in the tableware industry. The company creates value around the table through customer solutions and innovative product. For more information, visit www.fortessa.com.
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Overstock Changing Corporate Name to Beyond Inc.
Overstock.com, Inc, which operates as Bed Bath & Beyond, will change its corporate name to Beyond, Inc. effective Nov. 6. With the corporate name change, the company will transfer its stock listing from the Nasdaq Global Market to the New York Stock Exchange and change its ticker symbol from OSTK to BYON.
Following the corporate name change, Beyond, Inc. will continue to operate its furniture and home furnishings ecommerce business under the Bed Bath & Beyond brand.
On June 28, Overstock.com, Inc. acquired the Bed Bath & Beyond brand and associated intellectual property. Overstock was rebranded as Bed Bath & Beyond, launching bedbathandbeyond.ca (formerly overstock.ca) in Canada on June 29, followed by bedbathandbeyond.com (formerly overstock.com) and the brand’s new mobile app in the United States on Aug. 1. Bed Bath & Beyond sells a broad array of high quality, on-trend home products at competitive prices, including furniture, bedding and bath, patio and outdoor, area rugs, tabletop and cookware, décor, storage and organization, small appliances, home improvement and more.
“Changing our corporate name to Beyond, Inc. sets us up well for a brighter future,” said Jonathan Johnson, chief executive officer. “As we continue the process of transforming our consumer brand, our new corporate name will help us reach millions of new customers with our advantageous and differentiated, asset-light ecommerce business model. The name ‘Beyond’ emphasizes our commitment to connect new and legacy customers with a wide assortment of products and services.
“Since our founding in 1999, the company has focused on bringing technical expertise to ecommerce and providing a simple and easy experience for consumers and supplier partners. We expect the corporate name change to enhance the awareness of our iconic consumer brand, Bed Bath & Beyond.”
Overstock.com, Inc. will continue to trade on the NASDAQ with ticker symbol OSTK until the close of market on Friday, Nov. 3. Beyond, Inc. will begin trading on the NYSE with ticker symbol BYON when markets open on Monday, Nov. 6. On that day, to celebrate the transfer, representatives of Beyond, Inc. will ring the NYSE Opening Bell at 9:30 a.m. ET.
“We are grateful to NASDAQ for their partnership and support over the years,” Johnson said. “We are thankful to the NYSE for welcoming us to its prestigious platform. We are excited to join many of the world’s biggest consumer brands, as we begin a new chapter in our corporate transformation.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Beyond, Inc. to the New York Stock Exchange,” said Lynn Martin, NYSE President. “Under its new name, Beyond, Inc. joins a world-class community of peers in the retail space at its new listing home, where it can leverage the visibility, unmatched trading platform and other advantages only found at the NYSE.”
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Reynolds Consumer Products Appoints Huckins as CFO
Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. has appointed Scott E. Huckins as the company’s chief financial officer, effective Nov. 13. He is the successor to Michael Graham, who will then shift to an advisory role until his retirement in February.
“We are excited for Scott to join us as CFO as we continue to provide products that simplify daily life for consumers. He brings extensive experience in leading finance at consumer staples and publicly traded companies – most recently as CFO at SunOpta, where he demonstrated his expertise in P&L management. During this time, he also served a dual role as general manager for the turnaround of one of SunOpta’s business units, further exhibiting his strength as a business leader. I look forward to working with Scott, who will lead our financial team as we continue to focus on growth and operational excellence,” said Lance Mitchell, chief executive officer.
Mitchell added, “We extend our sincere gratitude to Michael Graham for his leadership over many years. From carefully managing our resources, to developing a strong Finance team, to his role in taking the company public, his contributions have truly made RCP successful. We look forward to a smooth transition and wish Michael all the best in his retirement.”
Huckins brings extensive experience to the company. He most recently served as the CFO of SunOpta, Inc., since 2019, where he was instrumental in contributing to substantial revenue and earnings growth through significant operational focus and portfolio prioritization. Serving in the additional role of general manager for SunOpta’s fruit business unit, he helped to drive overall success of the business from 2021 to 2022. He also led the 2020 sale of the global ingredients segment, SunOpta’s largest business unit at the time.
Huckins previously served as CFO of Claire’s Stores, Inc., from 2016 to 2019, which included leading recapitalization and business consolidation initiatives, followed by a change of ownership.
Prior to Claire’s, Huckins was with Sears Holdings from 2012 to 2016, as vice president – treasurer, and president of Sears Reinsurance Company, Ltd. In his previous role, he served at RSC Holdings, Inc., as vice president of Treasury, Tax, and Investor Relations. He also formerly served as principal at Pioneer Advisors. He had several leadership roles at Koch Industries Inc. and affiliated companies, including president & CEO of Koch Financial Products, LLC, CFO of the Capital Markets Division, treasurer at Koch Industries Inc., and CFO at KoSa B.V.
Huckins holds a bachelor of science in finance from Arizona State University and earned a master of management, with concentrations in finance and management strategy, from Northwestern University, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Huckins added, “I’m excited to be joining Reynolds Consumer Products. Knowing the strength of the brands and products, I’m looking forward to working with the team to drive further growth and additional margin expansion.”
Reynolds Consumer Products is a leading provider of household products that simplify daily life so consumers can enjoy what matters most. With a presence in 95 percent of households across the United States, Reynolds Consumer Products manufactures and sells products that people use in their homes across three broad categories: cooking, waste and storage and disposable tableware. Iconic brands include Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil and Hefty trash bags, as well as dedicated store brands which are strategically important to retail customers. Overall, Reynolds Consumer Products holds the No. 1 or No. 2 U.S. market share position in the majority of product categories it serves. For more information, visit https://investors.reynoldsconsumerproducts.com/.
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