Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) of the US will celebrate its 20th anniversary at a gala on March 20 during the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago.
The non-profit HCF hosts this annual event to raise funds for critical causes, unite the US housewares industry and honour its leaders.
This year, three industry leaders will be honoured. Janet Hayes, president of Williams-Sonoma, will receive the Lifetime Humanitarian Award.
Janet was named president of US specialist retailer Williams-Sonoma in 2013, responsible for merchandising, product development, inventory management, creative services, visual merchandising, brand finance and operations.
She joined the housewares chain in 2007 as senior vice president/general merchandise manager, where she led the Pottery Barn Retail division and provided business leadership for product, visual merchandising and inventory management.
Prior to joining Williams-Sonoma, Janet accumulated more than 20 years’ experience in the retail industry, working with brands including Macy’s and American Eagle Outfitters.
Richard L. Boynton, Jr., president of JURA Inc., will receive the Humanitarian of the Year Award. Richard joined the coffee equipment supplier as general manager in April 2007 and was named president in January 2008. Before moving to JURA, he worked for Le Creuset from 2002 to 2007, becoming president of the manufacturer in 2004.
Phil Brandl, president and chief executive officer of the International Housewares Association (IHA), will receive the Lifetime Leadership Award.
Phil has served as president of the IHA for 20 years. He joined in 1994 as director, marketing & trade development, was named vice president in 1996 and president in 1997.
Under his direction, the not-for-profit association 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, executive management peer groups, a web-based community at www.housewares.org, group buying discounts on business solutions services, and a consumer-focused digital platform, ‘The Inspired Home’.
IHA also owns and operates the International Home + Housewares Show, held every March in Chicago.
Prior to joining IHA, Phil was vice president of the National Association of Service Merchandising, a national trade association for distributors and manufacturers of general merchandise and health and beauty products. He also has 15 years’ experience in the retail sector holding operations and merchandising management positions.
Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), which is the HCF’s legacy charity, and No Kid Hungry: a campaign which works to ensure that every child in the US has access to healthy food.
Since the first gala in 1998, HCF has raised more than $48 million and has been credited with donating more than $27 million to BCRF.
Honoree: Janet Hayes is president of the Williams Sonoma brand
