IHA News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Deborah A.Teschke
Manager, Media Relations & Communications
847-692-0110

China Expert Peter Navarro to Keynote 2008 Chief Housewares Executives SuperSession

Senior-Level Conference for Industry Decision Makers to be held in September

ROSEMONT, IL  (May 2, 2008)—China expert and author Peter Navarro will give the keynote address to open the 2008 Chief Housewares Executives SuperSession (CHESS), a senior-level conference for housewares industry decision makers set for Sept. 9-10 in Chicago. CHESS is open to all chief executive officers of IHA member companies.

Navarro is a business professor at the University of California-Irvine, a regular CNBC contributor and author of the bestselling book, “The Coming China Wars.” His video series, “The China Effect” appears on YouTube.

Navarro’s other books include the path-breaking management book, “The Well-Timed Strategy,” and the bestselling investment book, “If It’s Raining in Brazil, Buy Starbucks.” His articles have appeared in a wide range of publications from Business Week, the Los Angeles Times, New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, to the Harvard Business Review, the Sloan Management Review and the Journal of Business.

His unique and internationally recognized expertise lies in his “big picture” application of a highly sophisticated but easily accessible macroeconomic analysis of the business environment and financial markets for investors and corporate executives.

In addition to Navarro’s talk, the day-and-a-half CHESS agenda will include informative sessions with peer discussion on creating innovation through design, making sustainability a part of a company’s marketing strategy and the impact of consumer trends on future business initiatives. The breakout sessions will feature up-close access to experts, who will cover topics including:

  • Emerging markets for sourcing,
  • Dealing with retail bankruptcies, and
  • Protecting intellectual property.

A high-level retailer panel with personal advice on how to be a top-tier supplier will close the program.

To register for CHESS or for more information, contact Judy Colitz of IHA at jcolitz@housewares.org or visit IHA’s website at www.housewares.org/chess


The International Housewares Association is the 70-year-old voice of the housewares industry, which accounted for (US)$306 billion at retail worldwide in 2007. The not-for-profit, full-service association sponsors the world's premier exposition of products for the home, the International Home + Housewares Show, and offers its 1,700 member companies a wide range of services, including industry and government advocacy, export assistance, State-of-the-Industry reports, point-of-sale and consumer panel data through Housewares MarketWatch, executive management peer groups, a unique Web-based community at www.housewares.org and group buying discounts on business solutions services.