by Michelle Hespe We catch up with Shelley Young, Founder and CEO of one of the five 2018 gia Global Honorees, The Chopping Block of the USA. There are three major components to The Chopping Block, and although they sit under the same umbrella, they are like three separate businesses. There’s…
CONTINUE READINGINTERNATIONAL HOME + HOUSEWARES SHOW
2018 gia Global Honoree – Manufactum
by Michelle Hespe At the 2018 IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) in Chicago, German retailer Manufactum was announced as one of the top five most innovative stores in the world. Here we take a look at what makes this retail store so great, and so grounded. In today’s technology-driven world,…
CONTINUE READING
2018 gia Global Honoree – Pollmann sinds 1890
by Michelle Hespe The 128-year-old Dutch retail store, Pollmann sinds 1890, has always had family, personal service and cooking at its heart. Nick and Anke Pollmann, the fourth-generation owners of Pollmann sinds 1890, raised a glass to Nick’s great grandfather, Bernhard Pollmann, at the IHA…
CONTINUE READINGExecutive Networking
Housewares Hot Seat Panel: Reclaiming Control in the Digital Jungle
Digital commerce has unlocked dramatic new growth opportunities for housewares, but it also has unleashed new dangers. From the spread of counterfeit products to fake reviews to slashed postal rates on China-direct consumer shipments, the housewares industry is on guard as it works to adapt to a…
CONTINUE READING
The Art of Perception
While leaders by nature are observant and perceptive, there is a consistent breakdown across the professional spectrum in the effective communication of vision, strategy and crisis management. In this presentation, Amy Herman engages her audience in a highly participatory dialogue about perception…
CONTINUE READING
Trends Shaping the Future of the U.S. Retail Landscape
Don Unser’s retail expertise, coupled with NPD’s unique data on industry trends across $1.8 trillion of U.S. consumer spending, will provide attendees with insights into the hottest retail trends, including best-in-class innovations, disruptive commerce trends and shifts in consumer behavior. In…
CONTINUE READINGGlobal Opportunities
KoolaWorld: South Africa Market Overview
As a preview to the upcoming IBC Global Forum, to follow is additional information on the South Africa Market Overview session presented by David Nourse, General Manager of KoolaWorld: KoolaWorld is an importer and distributor of home and housewares products in South Africa. The company relies…
CONTINUE READING
July Currency Outlook
In their July 2018 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief Mexico elected Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as the new president, bringing a new era of leftism to the country,…
CONTINUE READING
Global Retail Intelligence – July
To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: July 17 – Hong Kong’s Sa Sa Announces 24.8 Percent Increase in Q1 Turnover Cosmetics retailer Sa Sa International Holdings announced that the retail and wholesale turnover for the first quarter increased by 24.8 percent over the…
CONTINUE READINGIndustry Resources
IHA Opposes Latest Round of Proposed Tariffs
The latest round of tariffs on products coming from China announced by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) affects $200 billion of goods imported and if enacted would have an impact on the housewares industry. The International Housewares Association announced today it will activate its…
CONTINUE READING
Ocean Network Express Startup Issues
The merger of the three major Japanese container lines, K-line, MOL and NYK into Ocean Network Express (ONE) has gotten off to a rocky start. Industry experts expected a few hiccups during the startup phase of the merger. However, anyone that has shipped or has attempted to ship with ONE can safely…
CONTINUE READING
Why is the USPS Charging You 5x What They Charge Chinese Shippers?
By Jayme Smaldone Below is an elongated version of an OpEd I wrote for The Wall Street Journal, published on February 6, 2018. Please share with anyone that warehouses goods in the US. President Trump recently tweeted about mounting problems with the U.S. Postal Service. Specifically, he noted…
CONTINUE READINGEducation
IHA Opposes Latest Round of Proposed Tariffs
The latest round of tariffs on products coming from China announced by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) affects $200 billion of goods imported and if enacted would have an impact on the housewares industry. The International Housewares Association announced today it will activate its…
CONTINUE READING
Stats: Sales of Housewares Products Rise
U.S. online sales of housewares products increased 18 percent in 2017. That’s according the The NPD Group’s Checkout consumer receipt mining service. On average, nearly a quarter of online buyers purchased housewares in 2017. And when they did, they bought nearly four items online during the…
CONTINUE READINGWhy is the USPS Charging You 5x What They Charge Chinese Shippers?
By Jayme Smaldone Below is an elongated version of an OpEd I wrote for The Wall Street Journal, published on February 6, 2018. Please share with anyone that warehouses goods in the US. President Trump recently tweeted about mounting problems with the U.S. Postal Service. Specifically, he noted…
CONTINUE READINGInspiration Magazine
Home Smart Home
By Michelle Hespe Carley Knobloch knows a thing or two about smart homes: She’s consulted with HGTV on their annual HGTV Smart Home build for years, and is a regular tech contributor on the Today Show. Her home, a blend of California cool and high tech, was just featured in Good Housekeeping. To…
CONTINUE READING
Guide to Effective Retail Store Design
by Martin M. Pegler If RETAILING is your chosen path of livelihood, here are some simple guidelines you might like to consider when planning your retail store. 1. Let There Be Light! Without the proper light the merchandise cannot be seen or judged, colors cannot be appreciated, coordinates…
CONTINUE READING
Inspiring the Industry: Katrina Markoff
by Michelle Hespe Katrina Markoff is a highly-creative chocolatier and the founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, a Chicago-based chocolate maker that inspires people to open their minds and travel the world through chocolate. As is the case with most successful business ventures, there was a…
CONTINUE READING
