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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.

2019 Global Forum Recap: Reception and IBC 101

Every fall, IHA presents the Global Forum, sponsored by the International Business Council (IBC), a special interest group of International Housewares Association members dedicated to increasing their international business. The 2019 Global Forum, at The Guild Hotel in San Diego, Calif., opened Sunday afternoon at 4:30 pm with greetings from Mark Adkison, IHA’s vice…

Innovative Talent Management Solutions for a Changing Workforce

The 2019 CHESS conference Building for the Future…New Leaders, New Markets, will present nine information-packed presentations by experts in many fields. On September 25, following two fact-filled sessions on current retail trends and the latest regulatory issues in international trade policy, David DeLong will bring attendees back to topics close to home. As president of…

Housewares Charity Foundation Donates to World Central Kitchen for Hurricane Dorian Relief

To assist in the Hurricane Dorian relief efforts in the Bahamas, the Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) has donated $25,000 to World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit led by renowned chef José Andrés. WCK is currently in Nassau delivering nearly 30,000 fresh meals per day to shelters and communities across the northern Bahamas. WCK went to Nassau before Dorian hit the…

Influencer Marketing—How to Find, Use and Measure Effectiveness

The 2019 CHESS conference Building for the Future…New Leaders, New Markets will present two full days of content-rich presentations by experts in many fields. On Sept. 25, Embello’s CEO Laiza Cors and Talent Relations Strategist Anne Sage will share their experience in the dynamic field of influencer marketing, now a critical component for targeted communications with…

IHA Partners with Good360 to Assist in Hurricane Dorian Relief

Housewares suppliers can help residents from the Bahamas to North Carolina recover from Hurricane Dorian by donating needed products to Good360, the International Housewares Association announced today. IHA is partnering once again with Good360 to provide hurricane victims with home products as they rebuild their lives and homes. IHA partnered with Good360 last year to…

Spot Rates Remain Volatile

Ocean container spot rates from Asia to US West Coast ports increased 25.6% for the week ending August 30th. This is welcome news for the carriers who have been battling declining spot rates for much of the peak shipping season. The good news may not last long for the carriers. Industry experts believe this sharp increase in spot rates will quickly fade away unless…

Stats: Meal Kits and Online Grocery Shopping Boost Home Cooking

Any renewed interest in home cooking rather than eating out is good news for kitchenware retailers. And, thanks to the growth in meal kits and online grocery shopping, more people are cooking meals at home these days. In fact, more than half of U.S. adults claim they really enjoy cooking (53%) and more than a third consider the kitchen to be the most important room in…

Trends: Top Cheese

With many gourmet retailers carrying cheese, here’s a rundown of the top cheeses in the recent 2019 American Cheese Society (ACS) Competition, held in Richmond, Va., in August. Beecher’ Handmade Cheese was a big winner taking home five awards. The cheesemaker’s aged clothbound cheese, Flagship Reserve, took first place in the clothbound cheddar category, making it one…

Global Retail Intelligence – August

August 19 – France’s Les Mousquetaires Plans Store Openings in Portugal Intermarché, the banner under which Las Mousquetaire’s stores will operate in Portugal, plans invest €200 million to open 105 stores by 2023, of which €60 million will be invested in 2019 to open 15 new…