Karlie Orlando, Author at International Housewares Association

Making it an Eventful Summer

While retailers like to hold events year-round, summertime, with its pedestrian-friendly weather, is when stores really get creative. Kitchen a la Mode owner Ben Salmon recently took advantage of the street-facing picture window in his South Orange, N.J., store and parked himself beside it with a knife sharpener. “Start your Memorial Day Weekend with an edge” he posted…

Global Retail Intelligence – June

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: June 20 – JD.com Reaches Record Sales During its Annual 6.18 Shopping Event More than 43 million customers visited online pop-up stores and brought sales for the Chinese online retailer to $24.7 bn during the company’s anniversary on June 18. This falls just behind Alibaba.com’s $25.3 bn in sales during the…

Retail Profile: Stock Culinary Goods

Retail Profile: Stock Culinary Goods Location: Providence, R.I. Owner/Founder: Jan Faust Dane Founded: November 2012 Square footage: 900 sq. ft. Stock is the hottest kitchenware/gift store in what has arguably become America’s hippest city. Providence, R.I., long sitting in the shadows of Boston, has been named “America’s favorite city” by Travel + Leisure Magazine and…

Stats: Sales of Housewares Products Rise

U.S. online sales of housewares products increased 18 percent in 2017. That’s according the The NPD Group’s Checkout consumer receipt mining service. On average, nearly a quarter of online buyers purchased housewares in 2017. And when they did, they bought nearly four items online during the year. “E-commerce has changed the way consumers shop for home products,” says Joe…

Housewares Hot Seat Panel: Reclaiming Control in the Digital Jungle

Digital commerce has unlocked dramatic new growth opportunities for housewares, but it also has unleashed new dangers. From the spread of counterfeit products to fake reviews to slashed postal rates on China-direct consumer shipments, the housewares industry is on guard as it works to adapt to a vast digital marketplace without the boundaries, checks and balances of traditional…

The Art of Perception

In what is likely to be the most eye-opening presentation at CHESS, art historian (and former lawyer) Amy E. Herman will train us in new ways to see. Herman applies techniques for analyzing painting, sculpture and photography to real-world needs for acute perception, objective observation and precise communication. Herman’s clients include first responders, military personnel,…

Trends Shaping the Future of the U.S. Retail Landscape

Preparing for the future of your business requires a deep understanding of what’s happening in the present. At IHA’s annual senior-level conference, CHESS presents top experts in their fields who share the latest information that can help industry leaders map their strategies. Don Unser, president of NPD’s retail group, will outline macro trends in the U.S. retail industry…

Sell More Made in USA to Reduce Motivation for More Tariffs

The increasing advantages of producing in the U.S. for the North American market are driving retailers and manufacturers to reshore. Companies announced the reshoring and foreign direct investment (FDI) of approximately 170,000 manufacturing jobs in 2017, up 50 percent from 2016 and 2,800 percent from 2010. Most of the reshoring is in consumer goods. The recent tariff changes…

How Brands Must Evolve to Thrive in the Digital Age

Consumer-facing brands have the opportunity to grow sales through digital commerce channels, but face substantial challenges and risks. If a brand’s digital business professionals do not craft a clear digital commerce strategy, they ultimately empower others at their expense. This session will focus on housewares manufacturers and how their role in retail is changing. …