All Posts

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

IBC 101: International Sales Essentials

As a preview to the presentation during the upcoming IBC Global Forum, the following is a brief on the IBC 101 workshop. Over 25 years ago, at the first several IBC Global Forums (then called the HECNA Annual Meeting), most of the attendees were new in some way to exporting. As the annual IBC Global Forum developed, the IBC Board and membership found that the program would…

Learning to Cook in the Modern Age

By Carley Knobloch You might not be unboxing a robot butler this decade, but there’s a good chance you’ll be adding a robotic appliance to your kitchen. With ovens that recognize what’s inside and tell you how to cook it, slow cookers that are controlled via app and appliances that stop when your meal is “just right,” will home cooks go the way of telegraph operators? Here’s…

Tendencias y Conceptos: Key Mexican Market Overview

As a preview to his presentation during the upcoming IBC Global Forum, the following is a brief on Meir Mareyna and his distribution company, Tendencias y Conceptos. The Mexican economy is ranked 13th in the world with a GDP of $1.5 trillion with 49% of total imports coming from the U.S. With nearly 60 years of experience importing and distributing home and housewares…

EPA: Key Latin American Retailer Update

As a preview to his presentation during the upcoming IBC Global Forum, the following is a brief on Juan Francisco España and EPA home centers in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Venezuela. Headquartered in Valencia, Venezuela, EPA is a large hardware store chain, offering solutions for projects related to construction, decoration and remodeling. EPA stocks a wide…

Tax Reform: What You Need to Know about the Border Adjustment Tax

Not since 1986 has the U.S. Tax Code undergone fundamental reform. But now, with Republicans controlling both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, and President Trump anxious for a win on one of his biggest promises from last year’s campaign, major efforts are underway to redefine our nation’s outdated and overly complex tax code to make the United States more…

Ocean Freight Carriers Seeking Rate Increases Ahead of Peak Season

On June 7, a headline in a trade publication indicated freight carriers were poised to profit from higher rates. On June 8th, that same trade publication had a new headline indicating that new capacity entering the market would keep pressure on West Coast rates. Those contrasting remarks highlight the uncertainty when it comes to predicting freight rate stability in the Asia to…

Housewares Hot Seat Panel: Changing Channels

The housewares industry faces mounting channel management challenges because of e-commerce disruption. While off-price stores are thriving, for example, department stores are under stress as consumers abandon traditional shopping patterns. This panel of housewares leaders will reveal how they are re-aligning channel strategies to maximize growth opportunities today while…

The Future is So Bright

The housewares industry is on the cusp of a 5-to-10-year window of growth it hasn’t seen since the 1970s. Changes in demographics and eating habits are driving key trends in housewares today and for the future. Learn how these life-stage demographic changes will positively impact key life moments for housewares and how you can market and innovate during this growth window.…

Generational Family Feud

How much do you really know about the purchasing habits and buying patterns of the two most important consumer groups? A team of Millennials will be pitted against a team of Baby Boomers in a live game designed to see how they answer questions that CHESS attendees will have already answered. 1:30 pm Tuesday, October 3, 2017 Presenters: Warren…