Global Opportunities

Benefit from IHA’s International Business Council, which offers opportunities, education and insight to help members succeed in the global marketplace!

Taiwan Market Visit

IHA Staff recently made a market visit to Taiwan in preparation for a potential trade mission to that island country in 2018. The visit included meeting with key importers and distributors, meeting with relevant key major chain retailers and touring multi-chain retailers and malls to better understand the market. Distributors met with included Farcent Enterprises, a…

IHA Announces Management Team Changes

The International Housewares Association today announced the hiring of Jeff Murphy as vice president, international, effective Feb. 1 and that Perry Reynolds will retire March 31 after 20 years at the Association. “IHA’s international efforts are a strategically significant element of the Association’s mission,” said Phil Brandl, IHA president & CEO. “Two mission items,…

IBC Members Meet with ACE Hardware International

On December 1, IHA’s International Business Council (IBC) hosted ACE Hardware International at an IBC Members-Only meeting in Chicago at the IHA office. With several IBC members in attendance, the retailer-owned cooperative explained how their Global team selects products and determines assortments offered to their member-retail stores outside of the U.S.A. Following the…

South Korea Market Visit

IHA Staff recently made a market visit to South Korea in preparation for a potential trade mission to that country in 2018. The visit included touring major retail outlets/malls, meeting with key distributors to better understand the market, and meeting with relevant key retailers. Distributors met with included Venta Korea Co., Ltd., household appliance distributor for…

Protecting your Brand in Cuba in Uncertain Times

Prior to Fidel Castro coming to power, the following three statements pertained to Cuba: - Its workers had the 8th highest wages in the world - More Americans lived in Cuba than Cubans lived in America - Its per-capita income was higher than those of Austria and Japan Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba were then severed for the 53 years between 1961…

December Currency Outlook

In their December 2016 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief US Dollar gains broadly as markets continue to price-in interest rate hike Japanese Yen has worst month since 2009 on policy divergence and inflation prospects in U.S. In Focus…

Global Retail Intelligence – December 2016

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: December 1 - When it comes to shopping, Canadians just aren’t clicking as only 2% of sales are made online While bricks and mortar retailers remain justifiably panicked about losing sales to digital-only ecommerce players like Amazon, it still comes as a surprise to learn that online sales account for just…

November Currency Outlook

Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, evaluated the current state of currency in their November Currency Outlook. Overall, the USD is poised to strengthen with a December rate hike. The market has now factored in a 92% likelihood of a rate hike. The Tempus traders completed their November Currency report just prior to the election, but the view is, regardless…

IHA Members Meet with Key Australian & New Zealand Buyers

Six IHA member companies participated in the IHA Trade Mission to Sydney and Auckland, October 30 – November 4 to develop sales opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. The participating IHA members, Astage, Candle Warmers, Honey-Can-Do, Hutzler Mfg., Nordic Ware and Whitmor, met with key home and housewares retailers and toured retail stores to learn more about how…