Industry Resources

Learn about IHA’s cost-saving programs, including the International Housewares Shippers Association, designed to help members grow their business!

Biden Administration COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Mandates

On Sept. 9, 2021, President Biden announced a series of Executive Orders (EOs) for new policies to combat the COVID-19 virus. One EO expanded an earlier order requiring that federal employees be vaccinated by Nov. 22 to federal contactors with a deadline for them now set at Jan. 18, 2022. Another EO directed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue its…

Challenges to Sec. 301 Tariffs Make Headway in U.S. Court of International Trade

In September 2020, Americans for Free Trade (AFT), the coalition IHA participates in to fight the Sec. 301 tariffs on Chinese products imposed by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), provided a forum for a lawsuit brought by vinyl floor importer HMTX Industries in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT). The lawsuit challenges the List 3 and List 4a China 301 tariffs as…

US Supply Chain Participants Feel Defeated

One word best describes the US supply chain: BROKEN. There is the sense among supply chain experts that it’s too late for any meaningful solutions to be implemented that will positively impact getting goods delivered to store shelves for the upcoming holiday season. If such solutions existed, they would have already been implemented. Six months ago, it was thought that…

U.S.Retail Intelligence – October

October 29 – Amazon Forecasts Modest 4th-Quarter GrowthHuge expenses ahead related to labor and supply chain challenges. From: Progressive Grocer October 29 – Popular Pet Products Private Brand Gets its Own StorePetco has unveiled a boutique dedicated to its urban-inspired store brand in NYC. From: StoreBrands Today October 29 – Independent Grocers Attain Record Sales,…

Shippers Scrambling to Meet Holiday Season Demand

The US supply chain delays have reached critical mass. The delays have reached a point where some shippers haven given up hope that their product will be available for the holiday season. This will be especially devastating to small shippers that rely heavily on holiday sales to survive. Three months ago, the big obstacle was finding space on container ships. While space is…

U.S.Retail Intelligence – September

September 30 – IHA Announces Global Honorees for gia Top Window AwardThe Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA), the global sponsors and organizers of the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) program announced the Global Honorees for the gia Top Window Awards during the Connect FALL “Winning Visual Clicks/gia Top Window Award” presentation by gia…

Infrastructure and “Human Infrastructure” Legislation and Taxes

On August 10, the U.S. Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, H.R. 3684, by a 69-30 vote. This is the bipartisan infrastructure framework (or BIF) that would spend $1.2 trillion over ten years on what’s generally considered to be infrastructure, using a combination of $550 billion in new spending and spending offsets including repurposing $200 billion of…

Port Congestion Going from Bad to Worse

Carriers will be increasing capacity from Asia to US West Coast ports by 22 percent. The influx of the additional capacity will last through the end of the year. US East Coast ports will also see an increase in capacity through the end of the year by 14 percent. Carriers had hoped these additional measures would help shippers meet the surging demand which is expected to last…

U.S.Retail Intelligence – August

August 30 – Dollar General Q2 Beats Street With Eyes On FutureDollar General, looking beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, asserted that it is in good shape despite tough year-over-year comparisons. From: HomePage News August 29 – ShopRite Launches New 'Fresh to Table' In-Store ExperienceA Philadelphia ShopRite store introduces a meal solutions center with a host of fresh, on-trend…