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2019 Global Forum Recap: Top Market Opportunities in International Markets Part One

Directly after a delicious lunch in the lovely garden of The Guild Hotel, Monday afternoon sessions began with a 30-minute group presentation by five IHA global sales offices and representatives. Linus Kolmevik – Denmark, Norway, Sweden Mark Chapman – United Kingdom, Ireland Pascal Glorieux – France, Belgium Tommaso Madotto – Italy Monica Lee – Taiwan Linus…

Housewares Charity Foundation Donates to World Central Kitchen for Hurricane Dorian Relief

To assist in the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts in the Bahamas, the Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) has donated $25,000 to World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit led by renowned chef José Andrés. WCK is currently in Nassau delivering nearly 30,000 fresh meals per day to shelters and communities across the northern Bahamas. WCK went to Nassau before Dorian hit the…

Influencer Marketing—How to Find, Use and Measure Effectiveness

The 2019 CHESS conference Building for the Future…New Leaders, New Markets will present two full days of content-rich presentations by experts in many fields. On Sept. 25, Embello’s CEO Laiza Cors and Talent Relations Strategist Anne Sage will share their experience in the dynamic field of influencer marketing, now a critical component for targeted communications with…

IHA Partners with Good360 to Assist in Hurricane Dorian Relief

Housewares suppliers can help residents from the Bahamas to North Carolina recover from Hurricane Dorian by donating needed products to Good360, the International Housewares Association announced today. IHA is partnering once again with Good360 to provide hurricane victims with home products as they rebuild their lives and homes. IHA partnered with Good360 last year to…

Spot Rates Remain Volatile

Ocean container spot rates from Asia to US West Coast ports increased 25.6% for the week ending August 30th. This is welcome news for the carriers who have been battling declining spot rates for much of the peak shipping season. The good news may not last long for the carriers. Industry experts believe this sharp increase in spot rates will quickly fade away unless…

Retailing Outdoors

Traditionally a way to dump overstock merchandise and have fun with neighbors, street fairs and sidewalk sales are not as popular with independent retailers as they used to be. Most retailers interviewed for this story have participated in sidewalk sales in the past, but now have decided to take a pass on the events, citing staffing issues among other things. “We used to do…

Trends: Consumers Love Snacks

According to the NPD Group’s most recent survey, consumers love snacks! And why not. They like tasty, rich snacks, according to the NPD Group’s “Future of Snacking” report, which says consumers “are giving themselves permission to enjoy indulgent snacks.” For retailers with cooking programs, the trend is an interesting one. Why not consider adding classes on how to whip up…

CBD Products Emerge at Retail

While you still can’t order a CBD latte at Starbucks, the market for CBD (Cannabidiol) products is opening and already on the shelves of small retailers, as well as shown during the 2019 International Home + Housewares show last March. Cannabidiol is the non-THC part of the marijuana plant and can be seen in such housewares products as air diffusers, CBD oil sprays and…

Perfectly Porland

Porland of Turkey, one of the five gia Global Honorees this year, has a long, rich and colorful history. We look into what makes this manufacturer and retailer of porcelain stand out from the rest. by Michelle Hespe Porland’s logo features a ballerina executing a perfect pirouette. This elegant symbol conveys both beauty and strength, reflecting the grounding philosophy…