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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.

Global Retail Intelligence – September

September 15 – Auchan to Invest in Urban Development of Retail OutletsFrance’s Auchan aims to increase market share in urban centers by investing heavily in both proximity and digital services. From European Supermarket Magazine September 9 – Australia’s Myer Partners with AmazonAustralians are now able to buy items on Amazon and have them sent to their nearest…

Seven New Directors Elected to IHA Board of Directors

ROSEMONT, ILL. (Sept. 14, 2020)—Seven new directors have been elected to the board of directors of the International Housewares Association (IHA), the full-service trade association for the housewares industry. They are: Kim Cole, CEO, Gleener Inc.; Kristine Malkoski, business unit CEO, Foods, Newell Brands; Tom McMahon, president, Jura Inc.; Robert Michelson, president &…

2020 IBC Global Forum Offers Buyer Connections, Networking Through Virtual Education Series

ROSEMONT, ILL (Sept. 10, 2020)—The 2020 IBC Global Forum, the annual gathering of the International Housewares Association’s International Business Council (IBC), will be held Sept. 22-24 as a series of virtual education sessions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The live-streamed event will offer housewares suppliers new to the international arena or veteran sales executives…

US Imports Expected to Remain Strong Through October

The surge in US imports from Asia is causing supply chain challenges for shippers. The challenges come at a time when shippers are desperately trying to replenish their depleted inventories. The surge in imports is expected to last through the end of October. Some logistics experts are predicting the surge could last through the end of the year before the market…

Pre-Election COVID Legislation

Congress passed five bills through early summer to address the pandemic, with the biggest being the $2.2 trillion CARES Act (“COVID 3”), which initiated the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and was enacted on March 27. Seven weeks later, House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) passed the House Democrats’ COVID 4 bill, the $3 trillion HEROES Act, but Senate Republicans weren’t biting…

Global Retail Intelligence – August

August 21 – Chinese Online Retailer Pindoudou Announces First Quarter Growth Strong second quarter growth with increase in revenue of 67% year-on-year was announced by Chinese online retailer, Pindoudou. The retailer credits growth with increased active monthly users which reached 568.8 million for the quarter, representing a 55% increase over last year. …

Container Spot Rates Reach Record Highs

There appears to be no end in sight to the recent surge in spot rates on containers moving from Asia to the United States. The market has seen six straight weeks of spot rate increases buoyed by increased demand. The August 1, 2020 spot rate to move a container from Asia to US West Coast ports has reached a 10-year high of $3,167. This represents a 121% increase over the August…

COVID Liability Protection and OSHA

For Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and congressional Republicans, the “COVID 4” bill that Congress and the White House hope to pass by early August must contain liability protection from frivolous lawsuits for businesses, medical workers, schools and other entities. According to the Daily Mail, more than 770 COVID-based lawsuits had been filed by May 4 against…

Global Retail Intelligence – July

July 20 – Walmart Canada Announces Major Investment Walmart Canada has announced that it will invest CAD 3.5 billion on growth acceleration and customer experience over the next 5 years. Among the investment plans announced are renovations to 150 stores, a digitally connected shopping experience, growth in ecommerce scope, renovation of an existing distribution center and…