by Michelle Hespe The 2019 gia Global Honoree Futako Tamagawa Tsutaya Electrics from Japan is part of a new wave of retailers that understand that to survive in this industry, you can no longer simply sell products. This company has further raised the bar, creating an enticing society for its…
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Decidedly Danish
by Michelle Hespe When Bahne was established in 1965 in Denmark, they were already ahead of the game and vastly different from other retail outlets. The business was not just focused on offering customers a store filled with products that they could purchase, but rather, on creating an experience…
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Sculpting a Community
Above and beyond being a retailer, S-Kultur is a cooking school, a café/bar, an experience, a community and a homey place to indulge in some of the best things in life. by Michelle Hespe German gia winner and 2019 Global Honoree S-Kultur epitomizes the approach to retailing that stores…
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CHESS 2019 – Retail’s Seismic Shift: Understanding the Forces Changing Housewares Consumers
Presented by: Michael Dart, Partner, Consumer/Retail Practice, A.T. Kearney Retail specialist and visionary, Michael Dart advises retail and consumer companies on how best to navigate retail’s seismic shifts. He combines his economics and finance training from Oxford University and the Wharton…
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CHESS 2019 – Housewares Hot Seat: Recruiting the Next Generation of Housewares Leaders
Moderated by: Peter Giannetti, Editor-in-Chief, HomeWorld Business Panelists:…
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CHESS 2019: The Art of Business Influence
Former stockbroker Mark Jeffries is a popular keynote speaker and moderator/MC for events in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Jeffries has spoken before many business conferences, published two books, is a frequent guest on NBC Today, BBC News and writes for the Huffington Post. He recently launched his…
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Global Retail Intelligence – December
December 13 – Costco Plans Additional Openings in ChinaAfter the success of the August opening of a Costco outlet in Shanghai, the retailer plans another store in China in 2021. More than 240,000 membership have been sold since the August 2019 opening of the Shanghai outlet. From Nikkei Asian…
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IHA Plans Sourcing Mission to Vietnam
To help members investigate alternatives to sourcing from China, the International Housewares Association will hold a sourcing mission to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next year. The 2020 Vietnam Sourcing Mission will be offered in two sessions: April 20-22 or April 23-25. Each session is limited to…
CONTINUE READINGGlobal Retail Intelligence – November
November 18 – UK’s John Lewis and Waitrose Create New Concept Store The retailers will launch a customer-centric concept shop at which services and experiences, led by expert staff, will offer unique opportunities for customer to experience product. If the concept is successful, John Lewis may…
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Trade and Tariff Developments for 2020
Significant progress has been made with regard to the issue of tariffs in the trade dispute between the United States and China. The USTR announced on Dec. 13, 2019, the completion of a Phase One trade agreement with China. U.S. tariffs on List-4B products that were subject to 15% duties set…
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Efforts to Correct the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Problem Spark Further Changes
In a recent article posted on the Bloomberg website, IHA member Mighty Mug was singled out for successfully drawing the President’s attention to a vast disparity in shipping rates between U.S. and Chinese companies. The efforts to correct the United Postal Union (UPU) problem are possibly leading to…
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Scrubbers Could Provide Significant Cost Savings
Carriers that took the risk to install scrubber installations on their ships will likely have a competitive advantage in the containership industry. Effective January 1, 2020, vessels will be required to produce sulfur emission levels less than 0.5%. Scrubber installations allow carriers to buy the…
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IHA Plans Sourcing Mission to Vietnam
To help members investigate alternatives to sourcing from China, the International Housewares Association will hold a sourcing mission to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next year. The 2020 Vietnam Sourcing Mission will be offered in two sessions: April 20-22 or April 23-25. Each session is limited to…
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Stats: Sustainability Aware
Sustainability is on the minds of many consumers and they are bringing the topic to both retailers’ attention and product assortments. Sustainability—the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance, according to research firm The NPD Group’s…
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Trends: CBD Mainstreams
We’ve told you this before, but now a new study confirms that Cannabidiol (CBD) continues its mainstream appeal. According to a new NPD Group study, “With cannabis becoming legal in more states, it’s impossible to ignore the potential ramifications for the food and…
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The Art of Organization
We speak to Sharon Tindell— President and Chief Merchandising Office at The Container Store — for an insider’s view of how this iconic 40-year-old retailer retains its coveted spot as the leading organizational store in the U.S. by Michelle Hespe People love to buy things. To own things.…
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Think About Drink: Beverage Trends in Retail
At the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, the Trending Today Preview features the specialty beverage movement– highlighting the various types of craft beverage trends, including coffee, beer, cocktails and water, along with specialty glassware and accessories, craft beer &…
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Cultivating Your Concept
We chat with Wolfgang Gruschwitz about how to create a successful concept retail store. by Michelle Hespe “What is your story?” That would be the first question that Wolfgang Gruschwitz would ask if you engaged his team to develop a successful retail store. Wolfgang is a consultant in the field of…
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