With The Inspired Home show in Chicago cancelled, this also meant the gia awards, which are held during the show, wouldn’t go ahead.
The International Housewares Association (IHA), together with the initial group of magazine sponsors from 13 countries, officially launched gia in January 2000 with the goal of honouring excellence in home goods retailing around the world.
Today, gia is the most recognised, high-profile awards program for home goods retailers anywhere around the globe.
In light of this year’s cancelled event, IHA has decided that all 32 2019-2020 national gia winners, including Aussie retailer Few and Far, will be invited to Chicago to The Inspired Home Show 2021 where they’ll receive their awards.
“Judging for the 2020 gia Global Honourees and special award winners has already taken place. The winners will be announced during a special online gia event in the coming months,” says the gia team.
“The 2020 gia Global Honourees will be invited to Chicago in 2021 and recognised during the 2021 gia Awards Gala.”
In addition, the 70 finalists in the IHA Global Innovations Awards (gia) for product design have been announced by the IHA. Global honourees in each of 14 categories, including the new sustainability category, will be announced during an online gia gala on 27 March 2020.
More than 400 entries were received and were judged by a panel of industry experts and news media.
“Congratulations to all of the finalists for an IHA Global Innovation Award for product design,” says Derek Miller, IHA president.
“Our world-renowned gia program is the ultimate awards event in the industry, honouring excellence in housewares retail, product design, student design and booth presentation.”
