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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.

Biden Administration COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Mandates

On Sept. 9, 2021, President Biden announced a series of Executive Orders (EOs) for new policies to combat the COVID-19 virus. One EO expanded an earlier order requiring that federal employees be vaccinated by Nov. 22 to federal contactors with a deadline for them now set at Jan. 18, 2022. Another EO directed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue its…

Global Retail Intelligence – November

November 17 – Moderna Rolls Out Maxi Store Format With 170 stores, located in the Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Puglia regions of Italy, Italy’s Moderna 2020 Rolls Out Maxi Store Format in Pompei. Moderna 2020 is a leading company in the organized retail distribution sector in Southern Italy and a partner in retail consortium Gruppo VéGé. From European Supermarket…

Supply Chain Spend in 2022 – Setting the Stage

By Thomas A. Cook, Managing Director, Blue Tiger International The Covid-19 pandemic brought significant increases in logistics costs and supply chain spend, along with limitations on service both domestically and internationally. Initial predictions pegged the disruption to continue into the second quarter of 2021 with a residual impact lasting until December 2021. …

Challenges to Sec. 301 Tariffs Make Headway in U.S. Court of International Trade

In September 2020, Americans for Free Trade (AFT), the coalition IHA participates in to fight the Sec. 301 tariffs on Chinese products imposed by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), provided a forum for a lawsuit brought by vinyl floor importer HMTX Industries in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT). The lawsuit challenges the List 3 and List 4a China 301 tariffs as…

US Supply Chain Participants Feel Defeated

One word best describes the US supply chain: BROKEN. There is the sense among supply chain experts that it’s too late for any meaningful solutions to be implemented that will positively impact getting goods delivered to store shelves for the upcoming holiday season. If such solutions existed, they would have already been implemented. Six months ago, it was thought that…

U.S.Retail Intelligence – October

October 29 – Amazon Forecasts Modest 4th-Quarter GrowthHuge expenses ahead related to labor and supply chain challenges. From: Progressive Grocer October 29 – Popular Pet Products Private Brand Gets its Own StorePetco has unveiled a boutique dedicated to its urban-inspired store brand in NYC. From: StoreBrands Today October 29 – Independent Grocers Attain Record Sales,…

Shippers Scrambling to Meet Holiday Season Demand

The US supply chain delays have reached critical mass. The delays have reached a point where some shippers haven given up hope that their product will be available for the holiday season. This will be especially devastating to small shippers that rely heavily on holiday sales to survive. Three months ago, the big obstacle was finding space on container ships. While space is…

Global Retail Intelligence – October

October 26 – Ikea Acquires Real Estate in London With plans to open a large store on London’s Oxford Street in fall of 2023, Ikea acquired a building previously occupied by Topshop. The 22,000 square meter building was bought for GBP 378 million. From Retail Detail October 26 – Amazon India Announces New Store and Pays Cashback Ahead of the holiday season of Dhanteras,…

U.S.Retail Intelligence – September

September 30 – IHA Announces Global Honorees for gia Top Window AwardThe Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA), the global sponsors and organizers of the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) program announced the Global Honorees for the gia Top Window Awards during the Connect FALL “Winning Visual Clicks/gia Top Window Award” presentation by gia…