Industry Resources

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

Congestion Switching to East Coast Ports

Shippers are watching how the contract talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) will play out during the month of June. Key players on both sides have indicated they expect a smooth negotiation process even if a contract is not concluded by the June 30, 2022 expiration date. Shippers are hoping negotiations…

Identify and Capitalize Growth Through Exports

By Thomas A. Cook, Managing Director, Blue Tiger International The United States exported $2.53 trillion in goods and services in 2021, an increase of 18.5% over 2020. Of that, $1.76 trillion were goods, according to the US Census Bureau of Economic Analysis. Expanded opportunity awaits the US housewares industry. This four-part blog series, provided by Blue Tiger…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – May

May 31 – Bed Bath & Beyond Rolls Out Everhome Brand In another expansion of its “owned-brand” range, Bed Bath & Beyond is officially launching Everhome, which it characterizes as a casually sophisticated collection of furniture and furnishings, bedding, bath linens and accessories, decor, outdoor decor and tabletop, and storage and organization now available in-stores,…

USTR China Tariff Review Process Underway

As required by law, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced May 3 that it has initiated a four-year “review of necessity” process for tariffs on Chinese imports under Sec. 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. In a May 10 speech, President Joe Biden said combating inflation is his top domestic priority citing the pandemic, supply chain issues and war in Ukraine as the primary…

West Coast Port Disruptions

Formal contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) begin on May 12, 2022. The ILWU represents port workers in California, Oregon and Washington. The PMA represents carriers and terminal operators at West Coast ports. The current ILWU contract is set to expire on June 30, 2022. Shippers have been…

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act goes to a House-Senate Conference

Key to untying the Gordian knot known as the supply-chain crisis is recognizing and addressing unreasonable business practices by ocean carriers. Some of these practices can likely be attributed to consolidation, and a recent report by Commissioner Carl Bentzel, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), finds the shipping container (“containerization”) was a key factor in this…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – April

April 29 – Publix Launches Rapid Delivery in Miami Using Instacart's Carrot Warehouses Retailer is 1st grocer to use nano-fulfillment models. From: Progressive Grocer April 28 – Weis Markets Unveils $150M Cap Ex Plan Weis Markets continues to make record investments in new stores, remodels, fuel centers, IT upgrades and smaller store improvement projects. From: Progressive…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – March

March 31 – RH CEO Friedman Touts Big Expansion Plans After Q4 Earnings Beat Restoration Hardware CEO Gary Freidman highlighted the company’s active retail expansion and brand extension strategy after releasing fourth-quarter results that saw RH beat a Wall Street estimate on earnings but not on sales. From: HomePage News March 30 – Meijer Readies Sustainability Supplier…

New Contracts Fail to Deliver Relief to Shippers

The majority of shippers have finalized their 2022 contract negotiations covering ocean containers shipping from Asia to the United States. The traditional contract period, May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023, will bring many of the same challenges that have plagued the shipping industry over the last two years. Record high freight rates, insufficient container allocation, and…