AT THE HOUSEWARES SHOW–Australia’s Taste, Brazil’s Pepper, France’s Lafayette Maison, Germany’s Schafferer and Mexico’s Casa Palacio were the winners of this year’s Global Innovator Awards (gia), announced last night by program co-sponsors the International Home & Housewares Show and the International Housewares Association. They were selected from among 23 international retailers as having innovation and merchandising excellence at the international retail level.
In addition, Rustan’s of the Philippines was awarded with the Martin M. Pegler Award for Excellence in Visual Merchandising, formerly called the gia Top Window Award.
“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 last night at The Intercontinental Hotel, and each winner is featured on-site at the Housewares Show’s gia display located in the Grand Concourse Lobby and on large banners on the walkway connecting the Lakeside Center to the Grand Concourse.
The gia awards program launched in 1999.