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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.

Don’t Let Supply Chain Pressure Delay Progress

By Peter Giannetti Skyrocketing freight rates, container shortages, port backlogs and myriad other supply chain snags are all severe symptoms of a prolonged period of high pandemic-era demand for home and housewares, among other products. Suppliers feel helpless, but this is now an unavoidable extra cost of doing business that shows little sign of easing until…

Levi’s And Gap: A Classic Fit For The Home

By Peter Giannetti In case you weren’t paying attention, classic is cool again. The pandemic provided an unexpected opportunity for long-established, and sometimes sagging, brands to reset their relevance to a broad consumer base seeking basic, stable comforts in a refreshed package and presentation fitted to modern sensibilities. It explains why Target and Walmart,…

Container Space Has Reached Crisis Stage

Experts predicted that finding space on containerships was going to be a challenge for shippers during the 2021-22 contract period. However, no one predicated the severity that the space crisis is currently having on supply chains across the US. To make matters worse, the lack of container space has not peaked yet. The space problem is going to get a lot worse before it gets…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – May

May 30 – What's New About Lidl's New CEOMichal Lagunionek, among other newly arriving U.S. execs, brings a strong track record and new support to a job that’s only still beginning, sources say. From: Winsight Grocery Business May 28 – Burlington Stores Ramps Up Merchandising CapabilitiesThe off-price retail company recently signed a lease to double the square footage of its…

Supply Chain Issues Add to Economic Concerns

As the United States looks to sustain its economic recovery to pre-pandemic levels and beyond, there are potential warning signs that this might not go as smoothly as hoped. For example, though job openings climbed to a record 8.1 million in March, pointing to a surging labor demand as the economy reopens, many companies are struggling to fill those positions. Some…

Global Retail Intelligence – May

May 26 - Lisbon-based Startup Announced First Autonomous StoreLisbon-based startup Sensei has announced its first autonomous store opening to the public, in partnership with Portuguese retailer Sonae. Continente, the largest food retailer in Portugal is part of Sonae Group. From Retail Technology Innovation Hub May 26 – Marks & Spencer Reports Revenue…

The Party Is On Again

By Peter Giannetti My wife and I, like everyone, had to forgo many things the past 15 months. One thing our family and friends seemed to miss even more than we did was our annual holiday party. I’m sure it’s not extraordinary as holiday parties go, but it had become an automatic entry on our early December schedule. Its cancelation confirmed just how profoundly upended…

Keynote: Export Business Development: Blue Tiger International

By Peter Giannetti Historic supply chain disruption caused by soaring demand that is outpacing shipping capacity has elevated the dependence by consumer goods exporters on third-party export facilitators, said Thomas Cook, CEO and managing director of Blue Tiger International, a global supply chain consultant and service provider. Cook culminated the three-day Connect…

Market Opportunities – Taiwan, China, Australia/New Zealand and Canada

IHA International Offices and Representatives: Taiwan, China, Australia/New Zealand, Canada On May 19, IHA representatives based in Taiwan, China, Australia/New Zealand and Canada summarized the top five trends in each region. Information on regional responses to global economic challenges and consumer preferences provided valuable guidance for suppliers. Presenters also…