UAE homegrown Tavola is the 2020 gia Global Honouree
The Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA), the global sponsors and organisers of the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) programme, announced the 2020 gia Global Honourees for retail excellence during a live-streamed presentation earlier on April 23.
Also, the Martin M. Pegler
Award for excellence in visual merchandising was awarded to Sibler AG of Switzerland, and the gia Digital Commerce Award for excellence in online retailing was awarded to In&Out Cooking of Portugal.
“Congratulations to all of these outstanding retailers. Our expert jury thought this was such an exceptional year for entries they recognised six Global Honourees,” said Derek Miller, IHA president. “All of our national winners provide great examples of best-in-class housewares merchandising.”
The global gia jury, consisting of four retail/visual merchandising experts – Wolfgang Gruschwitz, Scott Kohno, Henrik Peter Reisby Nielsen and Anne Kong – and seven editors and publishers of co-sponsoring housewares trade publications from around the world selected the gia
Global Honourees from the winners previously chosen in their respective countries by the national gia sponsors. Because The Inspired Home Show was cancelled this year due to COVID-19, the global gia jury selected the gia
Global Honourees during an online session in late March.
The gia programme was created by IHA and The Inspired Home
Show (formerly the International Home + Housewares Show) to foster innovation and excellence in home and housewares retailing throughout the world. Since the launch of gia
in 2000, there have been over 460 gia retail award winners, from 48 countries on six continents.
The competition is structured on a two-tier level, national and global, evaluating retailers within the following 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
Co-sponsoring the country -specific gia award programmes with IHA are housewares trade publications worldwide, which sponsor national gia programmes in their respective countries. This year, 32 national gia winners from 31 countries were selected by cosponsoring trade publications with targeted distribution in over 50 countries on five continents. All winners were automatically entered in the global competition for The Inspired Home Show in Chicago.
The Images RetailME sponsored Middle East entries representing the region were Saudi homegrown brand Aura and the UAE home-grown Tavola.
Both gia national winners and
Global Honourees are recognised in a gallery on TheInspiredHomeShow.com/Explore/Awards/gia-Excellence-inRetailing. Because of the gia dinner not taking place this year, the 2019-20 national winners and Global Honourees will be honoured at the gia awards dinner held during The Inspired Home Show 2021.
Below are short descriptions of the 2019-2020 gia global honourees: Reina Batata Bazar Boutique, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Reina Batata is a landmark boutique bazaar in Argentina offering a wide variety in designer tableware, kitchenware, home decor and furnishing. Its products are known for their modern, clean-line design and simple illustration style. It has grown to become the most successful of its kind with 25 stores across Argentina. Founded in the city of Buenos Aires in 2003 under the concepts of simplicity, practicality and beauty, the company pioneered an establishing presence in the Palermo Soho area, contributing to its consolidation as a must-see neighbourhood for art, design, fashion and cuisine.
Few and Far, Berry NSW, Australia
Travelling the world every year as designers, Tara and Danny Solberg had always dreamed of bringing everything they saw home. They had big dreams of creating a magical space full of wonder and curiosity and set out to search the globe for unique and interesting pieces, each with its own special story to tell. They are passionate about interiors and products with soul and strive to present a product range that is both aspirational and affordable. Few and Far is known for its curated collection of handcrafted, one-of-akind and unique product ranges.
ISETAN MITSUKOSHI HOLDINGS LTD, Tokyo, Japan
As a historic department store, ISETAN continues to make new proposals that respond to changes in society. Today, the store has gained the support of generations as Isetan for fashion. It provides high-quality new products and services that enrich people’s lives, from a wide range of living products to solution services for life events in a well-designed store environment for high-end customers. ISETAN offers a unique and valuable shopping experience introducing new organisations and systems to deepen further the foundation of customer relationships, aiming for a seamless matching platform.
Central Department Store, Bangkok, Thailand
Since 1947, the Central Department Store has grown into a household name in Thailand with 23 locations throughout the country. They endeavour to offer complete, innovative in-store shopping moments through products, services, store designs and lifestyle elements that blend in harmony with their omnichannel platforms for a seamless shopping experience. It ensures customers will always have Central in their lives – anytime, anywhere.
PROMENU by MIRS Corporation, Odesa, Ukraine
PROMENU is a store where consumers can feel at home and find ideas for making their life happier. With more than 25 years of experience and knowledge, it aims to help its customers find solutions for tableware and household chores. An omnichannel retailer, PROMENU offers its customers unique products to make their life better and easier. They do not just sell products – they help customers make the right choice in their purchases.
Tavola, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Twenty years ago, a family that loved cooking opened the first Tavola shop in Dubai. Since then, Tavola has grown to become one of the most reputable kitchenware stores in the Gulf, with 30 stores in six countries. Tavola’s new flagship store boasts a fully functional kitchen classroom, where some of the country’s most influential chefs, influencers and industry professionals host workshops, classes and events. Tavola is leading the way in the region with its experience and education-focused stores.
Sibler AG, Zurich, Switzerland
(Martin M. Pegler Award for excellence in visual merchandising) The history of Sibler began over 180 years ago with the sale of glassware. Although the company still focuses on the household sector with sharp Damascus steel knives from Japan, porcelain from France, Belgian pans and more, it also offers a wide range of products for the home, office and children. About 7,000 articles for every age group can be found at Sibler, with the consulting team around for advice. Sibler belongs to Zurich just like the candle on the birthday cake, whether with this leading shop at Münsterhof or the new little sister in Viaduktbogen 24.
In&Out Cooking, Aveiro, Portugal
(gia Digital Commerce Award for excellence in online retailing)
In&Out Cooking is a Portuguese store focused on improving the contemporary life experience. It is the perfect store with unique brands and internationally designed products: functional, timeless and remarkable. Offering interior and exterior luxury products for hotels, restaurants and home projects, In&Out Cooking promises a journey through the best of what is happening in the world of design.
gia celebrates 20 years, honours winners from 31 countries
The Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA), the global sponsors and organisers of the IHA gia programme, have honoured the 32 national gia winners for 2019-20, as it marks 20th year of IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) programme. The 32 outstanding home and housewares retailers represent 31 countries around the globe.
The gia programme was created by the IHA and
The Inspired Home Show (formerly the International Home + Housewares Show) to foster innovation and excellence in home and housewares retailing throughout the world. Since the launch of gia in 2000, there have been more than 460 gia retail award winners, from 48 countries on six continents.
Each national gia winner is invited to The Inspired Home Show in Chicago. The global gia jury, consisting of four experts representing Asia, Europe and the Americas, plus a rotating group of co-sponsoring trade publication editors from around the world, select up to six gia Global Honourees and the winners of the
Martin M. Pegler Award for Excellence in Visual Merchandising and the gia Digital Commerce Award for Excellence in Online Retailing.
For more information, contact Piritta Törrö at piritta.torro@inspiredconnection.fi. ■