Global Opportunities

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

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Robert Parker, General Trader Group, Australia

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Robert Parker has been involved in the Australian homewares industry for more than 40 years. He served as president of the Tasmanian Divisionof the Australian Retailers Association and has been a long-time member of the association’s governing National Council. In 2011 when Mr. Parker merged his…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Mark Ladham, Retail Overview Safat Home, Kuwait

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 by Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Mark Ladham, senior general manager of Safat Home’s Home Division, has more than 25 years of retail experience. Safat Home is part ofAlghanim Industries, a privately owned, multi-national enterprise with business operations in multiple sectors including housewares retail in Kuwait. With two large stores…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Jonathan Knowles, Rethinking the 4 P’s — From Selling Products to Selling Solutions (Part II)

by Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator (Jonathan Knowles continued) Participants Share Common Issues and Discover Relevancies in Workshop Exercises After tabulating the morning’s exercise worksheets during the lunch break, Knowles presented a simple analysis at the afternoon session. He commented on different dynamics at companies of varied sizes: smaller companies…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Jonathan Knowles, Rethinking the 4 P’s — From Selling Products to Selling Solutions

by Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Tuesday, June 17, 2014 IHA’s Global Forum kicked off with Jonathan Knowles’ engaging presentation that updated the traditional 4 P’s of marketing—product, price, place and promotion—for a fresh approach to marketing in today’s global business-to-business environment. Those earlier strategies lead marketing and sales teams to…

International Housewares Business Leaders Meet Today in Rosemont

by Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator IHA opens its Global Forum, the essential annual meeting for sales professionals and companies looking to grow their international business, on Tuesday, June 17 at the Intercontinental O’Hare hotel. Participants will hear market overviews by retailers from Kuwait, China, Russia, Brazil, Czech Republic and Australia and will learn…

Housewares Export Council (HECNA) Changes Name to International Business Council (IBC)

The Housewares Export Council (HECNA), a special interest group of International Housewares Association members who sell their products internationally, has changed its name to the International Business Council (IBC). The rebranding, which coincided with the start of IHA’s 2015 membership year on April 1, better defines the global activities of IHA’s international programs and…

Housewares Exports Grow in 2013

Report and analysis by: Laura Spingola, Trade Resources Ltd. 2013 was a positive year for housewares exports as they grew 3.9% to nearly $4.3 billion. This is a record high! Almost all export markets expanded, though the pace was more moderate than that of the previous four years. Houseware exports have now climbed 12.8% over the past two years. This is a testament to the…

Retail News from Around the World: 4/9/2014

Walmart India Planning a long run in India, Wal-Mart to open 50 wholesale stores in next 4-5 years, to enter ecommerce, strengthen compliance procedures: "Wal-Mart is committed to India and we are excited about our growth plans and we will continue to focus on the cash-and-carry format as we are very happy with the way it has shaped up in the last few years," Walmart Asia…

Australia Home & Housewares Market Overview: Insight to Consumer Buying

IBC Members have access to the Australian Home & Housewares Market Report prepared in September 2013, highlighting specifics makeup of the market in Australia as well as demographics influencing consumer purchasing. In addition to the many Australian retailers described within the Australian Home & Housewares Market Report, members are encouraged to review the…