The International Housewares Association (IHA) announced the Canadian Home Products Trade Association (CHPTA) will sponsor the 2022-2023 national gia (Global Innovation Awards) winner from Canada.
The gia program recognizing international retailing excellence is sponsored and organized by IHA and The Inspired Home Show. Trade publications and organizations in countries across the globe nominate national gia retailer honorees. Global gia honorees are selected from the national winners and announced yearly at a gala during The Inspired Home Show.
Canadian retailers, including six retailers named Global gia honorees, have been recognized in the gia program since its inception in 2002. CHPTA assumes the Canadian gia nominating role from HomeStyle Magazine, an original gia sponsor that is no longer in operation.
“We are very pleased to be working with CHPTA as our official partner in Canada for the gia Global Innovation Awards,” said Derek Miller, IHA president, and CEO. “Canada was one of the original gia countries, and we look forward to continuing to honor the best home and housewares retailers within Canada in the future, now with CHPTA’s support.”
Michael Jorgenson, CHPTA marketing and communications manager said the association’s gia partnership follows the 2021 rebranding of what was formerly known as the Canadian Hardware & Housewares Manufacturers Association.
“We have been a vendor-based association, and there had been discussions over the years about taking the word ‘manufacturers’ out of the name because we wanted to reach and represent other related businesses. We’ve changed the bylaws to allow retailers to become association members. The gia partnership presents a great opportunity for CHPTA to get more involved with Canada’s home and housewares retailers.”
CHPTA plans to announce the 2023 Canadian gia winner by the end of September. The association features information about the gia program on its website and has been engaged in direct outreach to the industry and retailers to promote the 2023 gia nominating campaign.
Gia national winners will be announced by IHA this fall. The 2023 gia gala will be held during The Inspired Home Show 2023, which runs March 4-7 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.
