Kristin Cihon, Author at International Housewares Association

Global Retail Intelligence – March

March 18 – UK’s Morrisons Expands Home Delivery Morrisons implemented new measures to help customers and employees during the Covid-19 outbreak. With new methods of grocery deliveries, new ranges of easy-order food parcels starting March 23 and a new customer order center, the UK retailer anticipates recruiting 2500 new drivers and order pickers.…

IHSA Ocean Contract Negotiations

IHSA and our carrier partners are fully engaged in contract negotiations that determine annual shipping rates for cargo shipped from Asia to the US. The new shipping rates will go into effect on May 1, 2020 and expire on April 30, 2021. When negotiations began, both parties were prepared to discuss the usual topics of rates, fuel, detention free time and space allocation.…

2020 IBC Global Forum: Speakers Announced!

The IBC 2020 Global Forum will be presented in a live-streamed webinar format this year. Attendees can anticipate learning from key industry buyers and IHA’s Global Offices and Representatives. Please save the dates of September 22 – 24 for a twice daily livestream, featuring confirmed speakers from Sodimac (Latin America), Indòmit (Spain & Portugal), EPA (Costa Rica),…

Global Retail Intelligence – February

February 26 – Amazon Enters Food Delivery Market in IndiaIn the wake of Uber’s attempt at food delivery in India, after falling to the competition of two local competitors, Swiggy and Zomato, Amazon is on the brink of launching its food delivery service in India. The launch is delayed from the original plan of launching by Diwali. The initial launch will be in Bangalore…

Combatting Counterfeit and Pirated Goods

On July 24, 2019, IHA President Derek Miller submitted comments to a U.S. Dept. of Commerce notice seeking input on how to curb the importation and sale of counterfeit products. IHA’s comments noted that legitimate businesses like those belonging to IHA are victims of counterfeit goods that are sold by bad actors and often directly compete with goods produced by IHA…

Carriers Monitoring the Coronavirus

The carriers are monitoring the impact the coronavirus could have on containers moving from China to the US. They have refrained from cancelling sailings so far, but the situation is very fluid. To help contain the coronavirus, the Chinese government extended the Chinese New Year holiday for most of the country by 3 days. Factories located in areas hardest hit by the…

Trade, Tariff and Postal Shifts

On Jan. 15, President Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed the Phase One trade agreement between the U.S. and China consisting of seven chapters on intellectual property rights, technology transfer, food and agricultural products, financial services, exchange rate matters and transparency, expanding trade, and bilateral evaluation and dispute resolution procedures. The…

Global Retail Intelligence – January

January 22 – Kaufland to Exit AustraliaSchwarz Group’s Kaufland, with about current 200 employees in Australia and a plan to open 14 stores in Victoria and land purchased in other sites has decided to pull out of the country, indicating that it will continue to focus on core markets in Europe. From Yahoo Finance January 22 – Amazon Australia Launches New Delivery…