Housewares SmartBrief

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January 2, 2013

News for and about the housewares industry

Industry Update

Intercontinental Hotel awards London contract to Heritage Silverware
Heritage Silverware beat out competitors from France, Germany and China to win a contract to supply dinnerware for London’s newest five-star Intercontinental Hotel. The company’s winning design concept included pieces made out of silver and fine bone china, and cutlery with antique finishing. Birmingham Post (U.K.) (1/1)

Ozonator machine works to extend life of food
Ozonator has taken steps to improve the performance of its eco-friendly Green Refrigerator Machine. The unit uses battery-operated Ozonator technology to slow food decay and extend the shelf life of perishable foods. Food Business Review (1/2)

Trends & Innovations

Putting frying pans to the test ... against each other
While stainless steel frying pans remain a fixture in most homes, aluminum pans are regaining popularity, and cast-iron skillets remain a favored traditional choice. All three varieties cook up a broad array of foods with near-equal results, with the exception of sautéed vegetables, in this side-by-side comparison. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model) (1/1)

Tips to cut homemade bread
The right tools and a light touch can help home cooks slice up loaves of homemade bread without mashing them. A long, serrated bread knife is ideal for cooled loaves, while an electric knife is the safest bet for a loaf fresh out of the oven. Charleston Daily Mail (W.Va.) (12/31)

Retail News

Report: Home furnishing orders, sales rise
October orders for home furnishings rose 6% compared to the same month in 2011, and retail furniture sales increased 6% to $8.03 billion in November, according to data from Smith Leonard and the Commerce Department. Winston-Salem Journal (N.C.) (1/1)

Sales, traffic for week before Christmas down from last year
While last-minute holiday shopping deals helped drive increases in foot traffic and retail sales for the week ending Dec. 22, the numbers remained down against last year’s performance, according to research firm ShopperTrak. Retail sales were down 2.5% as compared to the same week in 2011, with foot traffic decreasing by 3.3%. ApplianceMagazine.com (12/28)

Finance & Policy

"Fiscal cliff" bill clears Congress
The House voted 257-167 to adopt the Senate's bill to avert "fiscal cliff" tax increases for most Americans. The measure prevents $600 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes from automatically taking effect. House Republicans gave up on demands for spending cuts that likely would have been blocked by the Senate. Bloomberg (1/1), The Washington Post (1/1), Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Politics Now blog (1/1)

Many Americans will pay higher taxes in 2013 despite deal
The budget bill that would avert the "fiscal cliff" will preserve tax cuts for many middle-class Americans, but other taxes will go up in 2013. A temporary reduction in employees' contribution to Social Security will end and the average household will pay an extra $1,000 this year. The income-tax rate of individuals making more than $400,000 a year and of couples whose combined income is greater than $450,000 will rise to 39.6% from 35%. CBS MoneyWatch (1/1)

IHA News

Going Green deadline this Friday, Jan. 4
Friday is the deadline for submissions for the Going Green display at the International Home + Housewares Show. Trend spotters’ research indicates that careful consumers are looking for greener alternatives. Going Green attracts media and buyers looking for the latest products that save energy, save money and help consumers make better choices in their daily lives. Exhibitors, get attention for your sustainable products and packaging. Entries will be reviewed by sustainability experts who will select the items to be displayed. Enter today.

IHA's blog offers industry news, features and housewares trivia
Stay in touch with the pulse of the housewares industry with the IHA blog. Get in-depth coverage of industry news, ranging from Show info to global topics like shipping and international business. Take in some of our lighter coverage with series like Housewares History, a combination of photos, nostalgia and videos of housewares past. And check out our guest blogs, like the Inside Discover Design series, which features interviews from the designers that made up our newest exhibit, Discover Design. Read it here.

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Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them."

--Rose Kennedy,
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	Recent Housewares SmartBrief Issues: Monday, December 31, 2012 Friday, December 28, 2012 Thursday, December 27, 2012 Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Monday, December 24, 2012			Lead Editor: Liz DeHoff Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004