Housewares suppliers new to the international arena or veteran sales executives wanting to grow their global business will benefit from IHA’s 2016 Global Forum, to be held June 8-10 at the Warwick Allerton Hotel in Chicago. Overviews by key housewares buyers covering China, Denmark, Honduras, Indonesia, Norway and Sweden along with sessions on critical international business issues and networking opportunities fill the agenda of the two-day annual meeting.
The Global Forum is sponsored by the International Business Council (IBC), a special interest group of International Housewares Association members dedicated to increasing their international business. It is open to IBC and non-IBC members and sessions are geared toward both novice and experienced sales managers.
For attendees new to IBC or new to exporting, “IBC 101: International Essentials” on June 8 will provide an overview of the international marketplace, including brief discussions on market selection, export mechanics, distribution models, international pricing and INCO terms. The one-hour session will be held before the opening night networking reception and dinner.
The main program opens on June 9 with an Executive Education session, “Pragmatically Approaching Western Europe” by François Boutet of STARTˈHOME, a consultancy specializing in European market strategy. Entering the region or enhancing current exports of home and housewares goods in European markets can dramatically increase a company’s overall global sales. Although close in proximity, the market preferences and demands for each country within Europe can vastly differ. Boutet will explain the nuances of several Western European markets, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, providing pragmatic best-practices for these key regions.
Ambrose Thomas of the U.S. Commercial Service in Lagos, Nigeria, will provide an overview of “How to use Africa to Reach Other Export Markets“. He will explore using Africa as a thoroughfare for exporting to other markets that have a demand for home and housewares. Attendees may discover new markets they have not yet considered or alternative ways to reach these regions to increase their export portfolio.
Representatives from key retailers or distributors in China, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, Honduras and Indonesia will discuss their markets and explain their goals and strategies for working with housewares suppliers. The retail update sessions cover:
China—VIP.com. Tony Shun, head of business development and merchandising for VIP.com, will explain how to sell directly to their 180 million registered Chinese users. In December 2008, VIP.com introduced its B2C online sales model to the Chinese consumer market, which has an estimated value of $600 billion.
Denmark, Norway and Sweden—Hippie De Luxe. Linus Kolmevik will discuss this home and housewares distributor’s approach to product distribution, key retailers to target and the nuances of these three Nordic markets, which have a combined GDP of US$ 1.437 billion.
Honduras—Lady Lee. Carlos Zelaya, commercial manager of Lady Lee, a department retailer with 20 stores in main Honduran cities, will present their strategies for success within the home and housewares market in Honduras and how to enter this key Central American country.
Indonesia—ACE Hardware. Nana Puspa Dewi, marketing director, and Donny Prayoga, head of purchasing, will offer perspectives on the growing Indonesian market and how to work with ACE in this country. ACE Hardware Indonesia has 116 stores across the country and plans to add up to 10 more in 2016, targeting mid to high-level consumers—67 percent of the population falls into the middle to upper middle class. Customers are very open to western-branded home and housewares products and encourage the retailer to add more their current selection.
The Global Forum registration fee includes the educational program, continental breakfasts, lunch, reception and dinners. For further information or to sign up for the Global Forum visit www.housewares.org/members/global-forum or contact Lori Szudarek, manager, international trade development, at +1 847-692-0116 or email Lszudarek@housewares.org.
