Global Opportunities

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

IHA Members Explore the Home and Housewares Markets in Spain and France

Five IHA member companies interested in learning about new export markets and increasing sales within Spain and France joined IHA on a recent Trade Mission to Europe. To begin the Mission, attendees visited home and housewares retail stores in Madrid, Spain, during a retail tour. Visiting the stores prior to meeting with buyers allowed the attendees to learn about competition…

Global Retail Intelligence – November

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: November 15 – Australia’s Coles Opens Small Format Stores Coles has unveiled its answer to competitor, Woolworths’ Metro small-format store, Coles Local. The first outlet is about half of the size of a full supermarket and will offer gourmet local produce, specialty ranges, an in-store chef, barista and a…

November Currency Outlook

In their November 2018 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief The USD was boosted as a safe-haven due to concerns over “tit-for-tat” tariffs After the cancellation of a $13 BN airport project was cancelled the Mexican Peso fell 8% The revised…

2018 Global Forum Recap: Canadian Tire

Presented By: Doug Young Vice President, Merchandising – Living Division Canadian Tire Retail Doug Young, vice president of merchandising for Canadian Tire Retail, is responsible for merchandising and inventory management for the Living Division, which includes everything for inside the home including Kitchen, Home Décor, Organization, Cleaning, Essentials, Electronics…

2018 Global Forum Recap: Wayfair/CastleGate

Presented by: Evangeline Wiles Head of Account Management, U.S. Suppliers Wayfair/CastleGate Europe Evangeline Wiles has held management roles at Wayfair/CastleGate Europe for more than two years. She leads the account management and customer acquisition teams, helping Wayfair's U.S. suppliers enter the European market by providing a market entry strategy as well as…

Selling Products in the UK: An Update Provided by PR Direct

If you’re looking to sell your products into the UK, here’s an update on how the market operates – and how to capitalise on a consumer audience keen on innovation. PR Direct often hears from international brands how difficult the UK market is. Take heart! It’s not difficult just “different” – even compared to our mainland European cousins (and that’s before Brexit even…

Comparing NAFTA to USMCA: What You Should Know

The United States, Canada, and Mexico recently agreed on terms of a new trade deal to replace NAFTA. The agreement will be called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. After more than a year of difficult negotiations, the three countries reached a consensus to create the new trilateral trade deal governing $1.2 trillion in trade, making it the largest trade deal…

October Currency Outlook

In their October 2018 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief The USD finished almost even in September, per the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index Economic consistency and an interest rate hike by the Fed helped the dollar close the month The revised…

Global Retail Intelligence – October

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: October 15 – Amazon Bids on 30% Stake in India’s Spencer’s Retail Amazon has bid $400 M for 30% stake in Kolkata-based grocery chain with 128 stores in over 30 cities in India with 58 large-format, hypermarkets and supermarkets and reported revenues of $282.9 M in FY18. From Inc42 October 15 – Google Plans…