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IHA’s blog features informative posts written to keep the housewares industry educated and informed about key strategic issues and IHA member services.

Will 2022 be a Repeat of 2021?

Shippers importing containers from Asia to the US have been faced with record high rate levels and severe congestion leading to supply chain disruptions for the last 18 months. Back in September, industry experts predicted the market would soften after Chinese New Year 2022. Unfortunately, those predictions are not coming true. It now appears evident that the first two…

ADA Website Lawsuits Continue

When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the focus of Title III in the law was, and still is, providing accessibility for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations and commercial facilities. Framers saw Title III’s language exclusively in terms of “brick and mortar” and the internet wasn’t contemplated then. …

Two IHA-Backed Bipartisan Bills Moving Through Congress

On Dec. 8, 2021, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 or OSRA 21 (H.R. 4996) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on a strongly bipartisan vote of 364 - 60. The bill had 96 cosponsors consisting of 48 Democrats and 48 Republicans by the time of the vote and it was also encouraging that the National Association of Manufacturers declared its support for the bill…

Supply Chain Concerns Will Dominate 2022

Shippers were hoping 2022 would bring some much needed relief to the U.S. supply chain. Unfortunately, early economic indicators are showing the current supply chain difficulties will last well into 2022. Some industry analysts are predicting that 2022 could actually be worse than 2021 for some importers. Record consumer demand in the Asia to U.S. market continues to be the…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – December

December 29 – Hy-Vee Boosts Posts New Retail Security Team Members in Stores Officers will serve as resource to shoppers and employees in various Midwest markets. From: Progressive Grocer December 28 – Piggly Wigley Midwest Expands in Wisconsin The Wisconsin-based grocer finalized an agreement to transition Burreson’s Foods to a Piggly Wigley Midwest franchisee. From:…

Global Retail Intelligence – December

December 14 – Auchan Declares No Discussions about Tie-Up with Carrefour Previously reported discussions between France’s Auchan and Carrefour to tie-up the two retailers are now reported to be over, with Auchan declaring that there is no contact between the two families that control Auchan (AUCH.UL) and Carrefour (CARR.PA). From Reuters December 14 – UK’s Marks &…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – November

November 29 – Walmart CFO to Step Down in January 2023; Company Starts Search for Successor The retail giant announced that executive VP and CFO Brett Biggs will step down on January 31, 2023, after 22 years with the retailer. From: Chain Store Age November 26 – Giant Food to Open a New Store in Manassas, Va. The nearly 60,000-square-foot store at 10864 Sudley Manor Dr.…

Rates Expected to Remain at Inflated Levels in 2022

It is conceivable that spot ocean rates will slowly decline through December 31, 2021. While this is welcome news for shippers, the decline is likely to be short lived. In order to sustain reduction in rates, there needs to be major changes in the Asia to U.S. market. The recent reduction in rates is being attributed to temporary production issues in Asia. Blackouts due to…

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…