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IHA’s blog features informative posts written to keep the housewares industry educated and informed about key strategic issues and IHA member services.

Navigating the Bunker Crisis

by Dave Akers, IHSA "A recession is when a neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours." — Ronald Reagan The ocean shipping industry is currently navigating a significant crisis as of March 2026, primarily driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. These disruptions have forced carriers to implement Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) to offset…

Liquidation and IEEPA Tariff Refunds

by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — Now that the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has struck down President Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs, the issue of refunds is back in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) where one of its three judges, Judge Richard Eaton, is presiding over the refund process. On March 4, 2026,…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – April

March 31 – Numerator: Most Consumers Planning At-Home Easter Celebrations The top intended purchases for Easter are food (75%), candy (63%), and decorations (28%), yet 11% of Easter celebrants plan to purchase gifts ranging from toys to plants. From: HomePage News March 31 – JCPenney Rebuilds Home Business with Expanded Brands, Sharper Merchandising Upgrading the…

SCOTUS IEEPA Decision Alters Tariff Paradigm

by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — On Feb 20, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a 6-3 decision that tariffs imposed by President Trump using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are not legal. As such, SCOTUS struck down the “fentanyl” tariffs that went into effect on March 4, 2025, for Mexico, Canada, and China, and the…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – March

February 26 – Conference Board: Consumer Confidence Improves in February After January Slide Consumer intentions to purchase big-ticket items over the next six months rose in February as those who said they would and those who said maybe in the Conference Board Consumer Confidence survey increased, while the number of those saying they wouldn’t declined. From: HomePage…

Navigating U.S. Port Modernization Part I

by Dave Akers, IHSA "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there." — Will Rogers As of early 2026, U.S. ports are engaged in an aggressive modernization push driven by the need to handle larger vessels ("megaships"), reduce congestion, and meet strict new environmental standards. The modernization efforts generally fall into four main…

Navigating AI Security in Ports & Intermodal Shipping

by Dave Akers, IHSA "Ignore AI, and you’ll own the next Blockbuster card.” — Arianna Huffington AI is significantly enhancing the security and safety of maritime shipping containers in 2026. This transformation has moved from experimental pilots to practical, real-time applications that protect against both physical and digital threats. These are some of the uses developed…

Groundhog Day and Tariffs

by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — On Feb. 2, the famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob and saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. Perhaps businesses impacted by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs (the “reciprocal” and “fentanyl” IEEPA tariffs) might have to wait that long for the Supreme Court…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – February

January 30 – Home Depot Laying Off 800 Workers at Atlanta HQ in Return-to-Office Move Our goal is to drive greater agility and position the company to move faster and stay even more closely connected with our frontline associates, said the company. From: HomePage News January 30 – Gen Z Takes Wedding Planning Lead with Minds on Budget, Social Content & AI Based on…