ROSEMONT, ILL (May 12, 2021)—Connect GLOBAL, a virtual presentation of the International Business Council’s Global Forum, will be held May 18-20, offering housewares suppliers overviews of key international markets through daily keynote presentations given by industry experts. Sessions are applicable for both suppliers new to the international arena or veteran sales executives wanting to grow their global business. The IBC is a special interest group of International Housewares Association members dedicated to global marketing and sales.
Sessions will be held each morning and afternoon, lasting approximately 90 minutes. Registration is free to all current IHA Regular members. Attendees can register for individual sessions of interest or the entire program.
The Connect GLOBAL program features market experts presenting information from the perspectives of the home and housewares industry and opportunities in their markets; networking opportunities after the presentations will allow attendees to ask follow-up questions of the speakers. Market overviews will cover Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Taiwan and the U.K. Retailer/distributor updates will feature Mercado Libre and Burton McCall and a session by Blue Tiger International will explore supply chain management and tariff mitigations. Strategic problem-solving sessions in the afternoon will offer small group networking opportunities for attendees to discuss issues with their peers. The three-day schedule is:
Tuesday, May 18
- Key Retailer Update: LATAM / Key Market Updates: LATAM and India
- Mercado Libre Retail Update by Mariano Migues, cross border trade manager
- Updates on Brazil, Colombia, India and Mexico by IHA’s global office representatives
- Afternoon Session: Strategic Problem Solving
- Strategic Problem Solving—small group networking with industry peers
Wednesday, May 19
- Morning Session: Key Retailer Update: UK & Ireland / Key Market Updates: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK
- UK & Ireland Key Market Update by Michelle Dickinson, managing director, Burton McCall
- Updates on France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK by IHA’s global offices representative
- Afternoon Session: Key Market Updates: Australia, Canada, China & Taiwan/ Strategic Problem Solving Networking
- Updates on Australia, Canada, China and Taiwan by IHA’s global office representatives
- Strategic Problem Solving—small group networking with industry peers
Thursday, May 20
- Morning Session: Export Business Development
- Tools for Export Business Development, Supply Chain Management and Tariff Mitigation by Thomas Cook, managing director, Blue Tiger International
- Global Forum Wrap-up
“Connect GLOBAL presents our members with a unique opportunity to not just learn about international sales issues but also network with the industry experts doing business in markets around the world as well as their like-minded exporting colleagues who share a similar goal – to increase global sales,” said Derek Miller, IHA president. “Although we can’t hold the Global Forum in-person this year, we have created a program similar to the live event and have scheduled networking time, so our members won’t miss this great benefit.”
For further information or to sign up for Connect GLOBAL visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com/connect/global/or contact Lori Szudarek, senior manager, member and international buyer relations, at +1 847-692-0116 or email Lszudarek@housewares.org.
