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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.

Service Contracts Underway for Asia to US Cargo

Shippers moving containers from Asia to the US are in the midst of very tough service contract negotiations. As anticipated, the carriers are demanding very strict container commitment guidelines, reductions in free time and significant rate increases. Finding sufficient carriers to meet your forecasted container demand has been the biggest challenge for shippers since 2021…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – February

February 26 – Meijer Plans Supplier Diversity Event In MayMeijer in May will host a supplier diversity event, giving businesses nationwide the opportunity to showcase their offerings for interested merchants at the retailer. From: HomeWorld Business February 26 – Qurate Beats Wall Street Q4 Earnings EstimateQurate Retail beat a Wall Street Q4 earnings estimate as sales…

State Legislation Looks to Manufacturers to Fund Recycling Costs

In recent months, a barrage of state-level bills has been introduced throughout the country seeking to generate revenue from product manufacturers for the costs of recycling their products and packaging. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bills seek to extract funding from manufacturers to cover the escalating costs of recycling materials. Traditionally, these…

Peter Giannetti Joins International Housewares Association

Industry veteran will lead news, content and education efforts at the Association ROSEMONT, IL (Feb. 18, 2021) –The International Housewares Association announced today that Peter Giannetti will join the organization as Director, Editorial, Content and Education. In this role, Giannetti will oversee development and delivery of industry-wide content and resources intended to…

Global Retail Intelligence – February

February 17 – Tesco Stores Renamed Across Southeast AsiaCP Group has renamed its Tesco stores across Southeast Asia to Lotus’s. The rebranding follows the USD 10.6 billion acquisition of Tesco’s Asian operations in Thailand and Malaysia in 2020. From Inside Retail February 15 – South Africa’s ShopRite Sees Profits GrowSouth Africa’s ShopRite Holdings announced that profits…

Biden Administration Workplace Rule Changes

One policy area that’s seeing a big shift in Washington, DC, involves workplace rules and regulations. The Biden Administration, along with the Democratic sweep of Georgia’s two Senate seats, will add impetus to legislative and regulatory labor law changes concerning overtime pay; what constitutes a joint-employer; the test to determine an independent contractor vs. an…

IHSA Declares 2020 Refund

The surge in US imports over the last six months has been unprecedented and is causing problems in all facets of the supply chain. Carriers are telling importers to expect this highly volatile market to last through the 2021 Chinese New Year. A few carriers are suggesting this volatility will last through October 2021. Through all the volatility, the support of IHSA’s…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – January

January 29 – Walmart Enhances Media Operation To Connect Brands With CustomersWalmart has renamed the company’s media group Walmart Connect in a move to underscore its expanding ability to connect brands and its 150 million weekly customers. From: HomeWorld Business January 29 – Coca-Cola, Walmart Team up to Deliver Coffee-Flavored Soda Via DroneCompanies testing commercial…

Global Retail Intelligence – January

January 20 – Walmart’s Flipkart Puts Fresh Foods Platform on HoldIndia-based Flipkart has put its plans on hold to establish a fresh food platform to sell directly to consumers. Walmart-owned Flipkart has said that it will be difficult to drive traffic and find synergies with its current ecommerce marketplace. From ET Retail January 19 – Alibaba/Tmall Announces Support for…