Patricia Barreiro, GMM, Home Décor and Garden, Sodimac Sodimac, founded in 1952, has stores in seven countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay. It has been on a steep growth track since 2012, when the company served a market of 137 million residents with 134 locations for sales of nearly US$46 billion. In 2020, Sodimac has served about 480 million…
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Latin American Market Update
Juan Francisco Espana, EPA Director EPA is a home center chain that operates in four countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Venezuela. Founded in 1992, EPA has more than 3,000 employees working at its 27 stores, whose average size is 7,000 sq. ft. Speaking from San Jose, Costa Rica, Juan Francisco Espana summarized operations in each country: store…
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Gabriel Solar, Founder, Yestis Speaking from Barcelona, Gabriel Solar, whose company represents major international brands in Spain, prefaced his remarks on the Spanish market by addressing current conditions. Before Covid-19, Spanish consumers purchased mid-range products, but the pandemic conditions caused households to reduce purchasing and shift toward lower-priced…
CONTINUE READINGMarket Opportunities in Europe: Top Five Trends in UK, Spain, France, Italy, Germany IHA Offices and Representatives
IHA brought insights from around the world to Global Forum attendees with short presentations by its offices in varied regions to close each morning and afternoon session. Mark Chapman, IHA UK Office Online Retail: The online retail space in the UK continues to diversify, even in the shadow of Amazon. There are many new, independent online retailers finding their niche in…
CONTINUE READING2020 Global Forum
IHA’s first live-streamed Global Forum presented three days of informative sessions by experts in Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America. The series of virtual education programs took place September 22 - 24. As the housewares industry has learned new ways to conduct business remotely this year, suppliers eager to grow their global business and learn about current market…
CONTINUE READINGU.S. Retail Intelligence – September
September 20 – Will ShopRite Continue Its North Jersey Reign?With Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Amazon, Aldi and Lidl setting up shop in northern New Jersey, competition is heating up for the region’s No. 1 grocer. From Winsight Grocery Business September 20 – QuikTrip's Network Reaches 850 C-StoresThe convenience retailer opened four new locations on Sept. 17,…
CONTINUE READINGGlobal Retail Intelligence – September
September 15 – Auchan to Invest in Urban Development of Retail OutletsFrance’s Auchan aims to increase market share in urban centers by investing heavily in both proximity and digital services. From European Supermarket Magazine September 9 – Australia’s Myer Partners with AmazonAustralians are now able to buy items on Amazon and have them sent to their nearest…
CONTINUE READINGSeven New Directors Elected to IHA Board of Directors
ROSEMONT, ILL. (Sept. 14, 2020)—Seven new directors have been elected to the board of directors of the International Housewares Association (IHA), the full-service trade association for the housewares industry. They are: Kim Cole, CEO, Gleener Inc.; Kristine Malkoski, business unit CEO, Foods, Newell Brands; Tom McMahon, president, Jura Inc.; Robert Michelson, president &…
CONTINUE READING2020 IBC Global Forum Offers Buyer Connections, Networking Through Virtual Education Series
ROSEMONT, ILL (Sept. 10, 2020)—The 2020 IBC Global Forum, the annual gathering of the International Housewares Association’s International Business Council (IBC), will be held Sept. 22-24 as a series of virtual education sessions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The live-streamed event will offer housewares suppliers new to the international arena or veteran sales executives…
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