When it comes to retail, there’s more than one path to success. That’s why the Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA) designed the Global Innovation Awards (gia) for retail excellence. The gia program not only serves as a platform to honor outstanding home and housewares retailers from around the globe, but award winners also offer inspiration to other retailers in different parts of the world.
In 2024, 32 national winners from 31 countries were selected. Independent and multiple-location retailers were evaluated in several categories:
- Overall mission statement, vision and strategy
- Store design and layout
- Visual merchandising, displays and window displays
- Marketing, advertising and promotions
- Customer service and staff training
- Innovation
From this pool, five Global Honorees will be selected and announced at The Inspired Home Show 2024 in Chicago.
Take a look at some of this year’s winners, some who’ve been around for generations and others who are new kids on the block. Note: We’ll feature the first half of winners this week, and the second half next week.
Negro House and Pleasures
Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.negrohouse.com.ar
- Who They Are: Innovators in architecture and decoration
- Reason for Being: Transforming houses into homes
- Store Design: Breaks away from a conventional store format with each space designed to tell a story
- Special Touch: Artwork, especially photography, is integrated throughout the store
Granite Lane
Perth, Western Australia – Australia
www.granitelane.com.au
- How It Began: Established in 2014 to fill a gap in the Perth furniture market
- On the Map: Now known as a premier destination for interior styling, furniture and homewares
- How It Feels: Carefully chosen music, scents and lighting create a positive, relaxed ambiance
- Special Touch: Shoppable mood boards tailored specifically for individual clients
Redl Glas – Porzellan
Linz, Austria
www.glas-porzellan-redl.at
- Who They Are: Second-generation family business
- What You’ll Find: Distinctive and diverse household, kitchenware, storage and gift products
- Area of Emphasis: Sustainable products, including biodegradable plastics and exceptional craftsmanship
- Claim to Fame: Their offerings include exclusive limited-edition products and handcrafted items from artisanal workshops
Dhondt leef mooi
Bruges, Belgium
www.dhondt.be
- Who They Are: Fourth-generation family business
- What You’ll Find: The finest brands in cookware, tableware, interior design and gift products
- Area of Emphasis: Sincere long-term customer relationships
- Special Touch: Their own magazine, which is produced twice a year
MUMA
São Paulo, Brazil
www.muma.com.br
- Claim to Fame: Focuses exclusively on high-end, signed furniture and home décor
- Reason for Being: Democratizing premium design throughout Brazil and supporting emerging designers
- Areas of Emphasis: Creativity, sustainable practices, and exceptional customer service
- Tagline: Joy Is On Trend
Bradshaws
Stratford, Ontario – Canada
www.bradshaws.ca
- Who They Are: A 128-year-old business featuring six generations of two Stratford families
- Where They’re At: A historic downtown location
- What You’ll Find: A forward-focused destination with innovative products to address the changing needs of contemporary clientele
- Area of Emphasis: Being active in their local community (whether hosting events, collaborating with local organizations or making charitable donations)
DOHMC Ltd
Chengdu, Sichuan – China
www.idhmj.com
- Reason for Being: To connect people, products and stories
- Tagline: The solution provider for your extraordinary life
- Part of the Experience: Vibrant social spaces with monthly theme rotations, engaging displays and influencer collaborations
- Special Touch: Empowering staff members with pre-employment lifestyle and community-building experiences
CRISTALERIA LA PAZ
Bucaramanga, Columbia
www.cristalerialapaz.co
- Who They Are: A one-stop shop for housewares and hospitality products
- Tagline: As Big As Your Dreams
- Part of the Experience: An in-house chef offers customers cooking lessons in the store’s professional kitchen/Experience Center, which can also be rented for private social and corporate events
- Special Touch: The space is also available to local influencers for producing original content
Potten & Pannen – Stanek
Prague, Czech Republic
www.pottenpannen.cz
- Who They Are: The newest store concept by Potten & Pannen – Stanek
- Where They’re At: A historic neoclassical building in central Prague
- What You’ll Find: Almost 40 carefully curated premium brands featuring the originality and craftsmanship of Bohemian designers
- Special Touch: Sales staff guide customers through the store like curators in a gallery
Maison Empereur
Marseille, France
www.empereur.fr
- Who They Are: France’s oldest drugstore and a family business founded in 1827
- Areas of Emphasis: Regionality, sustainability and social commitment
- On the Map: It’s now a tourist and cultural attraction that draws national and international visitors, while remaining an essential part of the daily lives of the people of Marseille
- Part of the Experience: A museum, coffee shop and guest room, which allows visitors to experience a night in the back shop like in days past
Kustermann
Munich, Germany
www.kustermann.de
- Who They Are: A department store founded in 1798
- What You’ll Find: Tradition, delight and joie de vivre
- Area of Emphasis: Beautiful and functional products that guarantee long-lasting enjoyment
- Part of the Experience: Guests can shop, taste, experience products (over 700 demonstrations per year), enjoy special events and celebrate
Pure Home + Living
New Delhi, India
www.purehomeandliving.com
- Who They Are: India’s leading home décor and lifestyle brand with 34 stores
- Reason for Being: To help customers design unique environments that delight them each time they come home
- Part of the Experience: Collections are presented by color and theme, inspiring customers with creative combinations and arrangements
- Special Talent: Blending nature-inspired elements with inventive color palettes
The Kitchen Whisk
Dublin, Ireland
www.thekitchenwhisk.ie
- Who They Are: A specialized kitchen shop founded by a mother and daughter team
- Reason for Being: Offering diverse and quality solutions for home cooks, students and experienced chefs alike
- How It Feels: Warm and bright, like a traditional kitchen with modern touches
- Special Touch: Personalized customer service and extra perks like knife sharpening and cake tin rental
Cucina33
Pordenone, Italy
www.cucina33.it
- Reason for Being: Offering not just a specialty kitchen shop, but a meeting point and a feel-good place for cooking enthusiasts
- Claim to Fame: In-store cooking school
- Area of Emphasis: Collaborating with local producers and artisans to provide newness for customers
- Special Talent: Attention to detail, with custom-made store structures, furnishings, seasonal displays and original packaging
Y.YACHT STORE Azabudai Hills
Naka-ku, Nagoya – Japan
www.store.y-yacht.co.jp
- Who They Are: The new Y-Yacht flagship store, which is located in the luxurious Azabudai Hills area
- What You’ll Find: Special art pieces, seasonal fresh flowers and minimalistic displays that highlight details and designs of products for sale
- Part of the Experience: A fully equipped kitchen with food for customers to test cooking appliances and tools
- Special Touch: A resident concierge who offers solutions to customer requests and problems
Premium Home
Astana, Kazakhstan
- Where They’re At: Two boutique stores in high-end shopping malls
- What You’ll Find: More than 20 brands and 50 sets of porcelain tableware in beautiful table settings throughout the store
- Reason for Being: Bringing beauty to every home
- Claim to Fame: Holds exclusive rights to Baccarat, one of the finest crystal brands in the world
Next week’s blog will feature the second half of the 2023-2024 gia retail winners, as well as how they’ll be honored at The Inspired Home Show 2024 in Chicago on March 17-19.