IHA Announces Innovation Awards Finalists

The names of the 65 finalists in the second annual IHA Innovations Awards have been released by the International Housewares Association (IHA). Winners in each of 13 categories will be announced in a ceremony during the International Home + Housewares Show at 4:30 p.m. March 2 in the Innovation Theater, Room E350, Lakeside Center, followed by a reception at the Innovation Awards display in the Hall of Global Innovation. 

More than 400 entries were received and were judged by a panel of industry experts and news media. The finalists will be on display in the New Product Showcases located in the Buyers Club in each show building.  

“We are pleased to honor exhibitors’ cutting-edge innovations. Congratulations to all of the finalists,” said Phil Brandl, IHA president.

The finalists are:Bath & Personal Care: Better Living Products Int’l., Inc., The Extendable Squeegee; CTF Enterprises Inc., FixnZip; simplehuman, Sensor Mirror; simplehuman, Toilet Plunger; Zadro Products, Z’Fogless Water Mirror.  Cleaning: Browne USA, Magnetic Spot Scrubber; Grillbots by Humminah, Grillbot; MaddieBrit Products, Garbage Disposal Freshener & Cleaner Red Pear with Magnolia 12 Pods; PF WaterWorks, DrainEASY No Clog Bathtub Stopper; Quickie Mfg. Corp., Spill Collector. Cook & Bakeware: Companion Group, Perfect Pizza Grilling Stone with Heat Diffusion Technology; COOKINA (Poirier Richard), Barbeque XTRA; Global Marketing/Woll Cookware USA, Concept Plus; Nordic Ware, Div. Northland Aluminum Prods., Egg Waffle Pan; Rayware, Mason Cash Bread Baking Set. Floor & Carpet Care: BISSELL Homecare Inc., SpotClean; Cuisine Sante International, Sirena; Oreck Corp., Magnesium RS Bagged Upright Vacuum; Oreck Corp., VersaVac Full Size Bagless Vacuum & Steam Mop; Rowenta, Groupe SEB USA, Delta Force Hand Vac. Home Décor & Gifts: Bella Vita Gift Bags, Bottle Net; Bella Vita Gift Bags, Chill It Aquarium/Camo Bags; Java Hook, JavaHook; Mark Feldstein & Assoc., All Seasons Interchangeable Coach Lantern; TAG - Trade Associates Group Ltd., Outdoor Candle Torchpot. Home Organization & Storage: Rubbo International Inc., Cord Channel XL; simplehuman, Rectangular Touch-Bar Can; Trash-Ease, Trash-Ease; World Kitchen, Total Solution; YouCopia Products Inc., PodStack™ Organizer. Household Electrics & Home Environment: Airfree Produtos Electronicos, Lotus; ECOVACS Robotics Inc., WINBOT; Oreck Corp., Air Instinct Smart Air Purifier; Revere Supply Co., UST 30 Day Lantern; StoreBound, Maytag M1200 Smartfill Iron + Steamer. Kitchen Electrics: Jura Capresso Inc., Capresso Coffee à la Carte™ Cup-to-Carafe Coffee & Tea Maker; Jura Capresso, GIGA 5; KitchenAid, Pro Line 7-Quart Stand Mixer; L’Equip, BOSCH MUM5 – Styline; Roland Products Inc., Hurom Premium Slow Juicer/ Smoothie Maker. Kitchen Hand Tools & Cutlery: 4 Stir Inc., The Spifter; Casabella Holdings LLC, Apple Corer; HIC-Harold Import Co., The Pomegranate Tool; iSi North America, iSi Basics Flex~it Measuring Spoon Set; Widgeteer, Automatic Corkscrew. Kitchenware: Boston Warehouse Trading Corp., Tornado; Browne USA, Scoop Bowls; Chef’n Corp., Pull’n Slice Mandoline; Mastrad, Mortar & Grater; Prepara, Roasting Laurel. Personal & Home Healthcare: Aquis GmbH, ClaroSwiss® maxima® +C; Blue Anatomy Limited, Wireless Body Scale; DMD Brands, Weight Gurus AppSync Body Composition Scale; Evriholder Products LLC, Sesame Street® MediMeasure; Spectrum Brands, Remington i-Light Pro. Pet Products: Hyper Pet, K-9 Kannon; Neater Pet Brands, Neater Feeder EXPRESS; Pioneer Pet Products, Peaceful Waters Drinking Fountain; Pioneer Pet Products, Raindrop Drinking Fountain, Stainless Steel; XPOWER Manufacture, B-2 Pro-At-Home Pet Dryer. Tabletop: Boxxle, Boxxle 3 Liter BIB Wine Dispenser; Rush3, Chomp Stix; Solvetta, FlatBox-LunchBox by Solvetta; VAPUR: The Anti-Bottle, Vapur Shades .5L Cyan Blue; Zuna Enterprises, Frego. 

The judging panel for the second annual IHA Innovation Awards included housewares merchants from retailers such as Ace Hardware, Lowes, JC Penney, Pier 1, The Container Store, ShopKo, Cook’s Warehouse, Kitchen Window and A Southern Season. Other judges included editors from the Kitchen Boy blog and Brides Magazine, and many distinguished industry designers.

The 2013 International Home + Housewares Show will feature more than 2,100 exhibitors from 125 countries and more than 60,000 total attendees. The show opens at 10 a.m. on March 2 and runs through 3 p.m. March 5.