Industry Resources

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

IHA Member’s Wall Street Journal Op-Ed Discusses Inequality of Postal Rates

The unfair advantage of postal rates given to products mailed from China to the U.S. versus products mailed within the United States was the focus of a Feb. 7 Op-Ed article in The Wall Street Journal by Jayme Smaldone, founder and CEO of Mighty Mug. According to Smaldone, the U.S. Postal Service rate for a 1 lb. package mailed within the U.S. is $6.30. A Chinese company…

Truck Power Shortage

The U.S. market is facing a serious shortage of qualified truck drivers. The driver shortage is impacting the carriers’ ability to deliver containers in a timely manner. The shortage is so severe in some U.S. regions that some carriers are refusing to quote new cargo opportunities where door delivery is being requested. There are several factors that have contributed to the…

IHA Celebrates 80th Anniversary

Created for the purpose of providing a unified trade marketplace for the housewares industry, the International Housewares Association (IHA) celebrates 80 years of bringing manufacturers and buyers together in 2018. Since its incorporation on May 17, 1938, the Association has grown to become the voice of the housewares industry, providing opportunities and programs to assist…

2018 Global Powers of Retail Report Released

In the 2018 Global Powers of Retail Report, newly produced by Deloitte as a collaboration with STORES magazine, authors explore the transformative environment that is enabling consumers to shop however, wherever, whenever and for whatever they want. This disruption of traditional business models has resulted in significant change in retail markets, while delivering rapid growth…

Detention and Demurrage Charges

Shippers may finally have some recourse when it comes to detention and demurrage charges. Shippers have been complaining for years that detention and demurrage charges are being charged even when it is no fault of the shipper. For example, everyone remembers the 2014-15 West Coast congestion and the gridlocked that brought the ports to a standstill. Shippers did their part…

New Carrier Environment and Uncertainty Emerges for 2018

IHSA will begin ocean contract negotiations in February. Industry analysts have differing opinions on which side, shippers or carriers, will have the upper hand during the 2018 negotiations. There are some analysts that believe excess capacity will again be a major deterrent preventing carriers from securing any sustained rate increases during 2018. On the contrary, other…

Carriers Struggle to Maintain Rate Stability

After collectively losing $5 billion in 2016, the carriers are collectively poised to return to profitability for 2017. The anxiety that shippers experienced in 2016 regarding bankruptcies and acquisitions is no longer dominating the headlines. While stability is welcome news for the industry, there are concerns about whether the carriers will be able to sustain stability.…

House Considering Tax Reform, Manufacturers / Consumer Goods Suppliers Must Engage

Bold tax reform is making its way through Congress thanks to the efforts of manufacturers and consumer goods suppliers making their voices heard. Following last week’s 24-16 vote of approval from the House Ways & Means Committee, a House floor vote on tax reform is imminent this week. Last week, suppliers let committee members know that tax reform was a priority, but now…

IHSA Declares Rebate Dividend

IHSA has declared a rebate dividend of $173,572 for the period June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017, which coincides with IHSA’s fiscal year. IHSA is pleased to report that the declared rebate amount is 20.5% larger than last year. The rebate will be distributed among eligible association members during the month of November 2017. IHSA is proud of the fact that they continue to…