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…
CONTINUE READINGArchives for May 2021
Food52 Cooks Up a Surprise
By Peter Giannetti Recent news that Food52 was acquiring Dansk probably caught more than few industry observers by surprise. Perhaps it was no surprise that Centre Lane Partners, the new private-equity owner of a Lenox business in transition, spun off a Dansk cookware and tableware brand that still holds solid brand equity despite a clear need for a revival. What may…
CONTINUE READINGTax Hikes on the Congressional Agenda
On March 31, President Biden announced the first half of his “Build Back Better” initiative, the $2.25 trillion American Jobs Plan. Presented by the White House as an infrastructure plan, this massive proposal covers a broad range of functions that go beyond the conventional notion of “infrastructure” to include programs such as $400 billion for home and community-based…
CONTINUE READINGU.S. Retail Intelligence – April
April 30 – Target works toward goal of opening 40 stores this yearTarget appears to be on track to reach its goal of opening 30 to 40 stores this year with 12 new locations already operating, including a site along Hollywood's Walk of Fame in Los Angeles and a small-format store near the University of Georgia campus. This slide show offers a look at the retailer's newest…
CONTINUE READINGEncouraging Signs From Bed Bath & Beyond
By Peter Giannetti I was greeted upon my arrival at the International Housewares Association in March with the opportunity to participate in the inaugural IHA Connect SPRING virtual event. The event’s array of keynotes, sessions and virtual product demonstrations delivered compelling insight into how developments of the past year have recalibrated practices and products…
CONTINUE READINGAsia to U.S. Contracted Container Space is Sold Out
It is going to be a challenging year for the entire shipping industry. March imports in the Transpacific jumped 51%. Every major trade publication is predicting that the 2021 space issues will be much worse than what the industry experienced in 2020. The carriers have sold out all space for the 2021-22 contract period. This unprecedented space crisis is going to present many…
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