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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.

November Currency Outlook

In their November 2018 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief The USD was boosted as a safe-haven due to concerns over “tit-for-tat” tariffs After the cancellation of a $13 BN airport project was cancelled the Mexican Peso fell 8% The revised…

Deck The Stores

The holidays are nearly upon us and retailers are busy building festive decorations into their merchandising strategies. Are they having fun yet? Liana Ottaviani, GM of Fante’s Kitchen Shop in Philadelphia, is. She says she loves this time of year, but admits “It is crazy, but as fun as it can be.” Part of that fun is seeing old friends. “We have wonderful customers, but…

Retail Profile: Fante’s Kitchen Shop

Location: Philadelphia’s 9th St. Italian Market Founded: 1906 Owners: Mariella Giovannucci Esposito, Nick Giovannucci, Daniele Giovannucci Square footage: 4,000 sq. ft. Own or Rent: Rent A Philadelphia institution since 1906, Fante’s remains a family-run business as owner Mariella Esposito handed off control of the highly-regarded kitchenware store to her daughter, Liana…

Experience the Sophisticated Style of the Conrad Chicago

The Conrad Chicago is a new hotel partner for the 2019 Show! Book now and enjoy these incentives: Rates as low as $175 (early-bird rate) Complimentary WiFi, Fitness Center and Business Center Free Local and National Calls (2) Complimentary In-Room Bottles of Water Complimentary Truffle Box Book Your Discounted Room at the Conrad Chicago The sleek,…

Asia to U.S. Space Crunch Persists

The space crisis has been dominating the Asia to U.S. market since the end of June 2018. The crisis continues to cause major disruptions in import supply chains and increase freight costs of container shipments to the United States. The experts that project supply/demand balances were way off the mark leaving no warning of an impending space crunch to importers. In a two-week…

Stats: Shopping Small is Growing

It’s almost Shop Small Season. American Express launched Small Business Saturday in 2010 as a marketing effort to boost both its business and small, local retailers at a time when the industry was in recession. The idea was to give those retailers support, after the Black Friday mass market retail rush, by promoting the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a time for more leisurely…

CHESS 2018 Recap: Reduce Motivation for More Tariffs

Presented by: Harry Moser Founder and president, Reshoring Initiative Sell More “Made in USA” Product to Reduce Motivation for More Tariffs Harry Moser discussed the increasing advantages of reshoring now driving U.S. retailers and manufacturers to bring back manufacturing to North America. Recent tariff changes add pressure for decision-makers and encourage industry…

Trends: Home Cooking Raises Cookbook Sales

Even though everyone scrolls through internet sites in search of recipes, cookbooks aren’t going away. In fact, retailers who sell cookbooks will be happy to know that cookbook sales are rising at a good clip. According to The NPD Group cookbook sales grew 21 percent in the first half 2018 compared to the same period for the previous year. The reason for that is also…

Leana Salamah Named VP, Marketing at IHA

The International Housewares Association (IHA) announced today that Leana Salamah has joined the Association as vice president, marketing. Salamah has 20 years’ experience in marketing, including trade show, association and event marketing, and is replacing Derek Miller who became IHA president Oct. 1. She will be responsible for overall management of IHA and International…