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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.

2018 Global Forum Recap: Canadian Tire

Presented By: Doug Young Vice President, Merchandising – Living Division Canadian Tire Retail Doug Young, vice president of merchandising for Canadian Tire Retail, is responsible for merchandising and inventory management for the Living Division, which includes everything for inside the home including Kitchen, Home Décor, Organization, Cleaning, Essentials, Electronics…

2018 Global Forum Recap: Wayfair/CastleGate

Presented by: Evangeline Wiles Head of Account Management, U.S. Suppliers Wayfair/CastleGate Europe Evangeline Wiles has held management roles at Wayfair/CastleGate Europe for more than two years. She leads the account management and customer acquisition teams, helping Wayfair's U.S. suppliers enter the European market by providing a market entry strategy as well as…

Selling Products in the UK: An Update Provided by PR Direct

If you’re looking to sell your products into the UK, here’s an update on how the market operates – and how to capitalise on a consumer audience keen on innovation. PR Direct often hears from international brands how difficult the UK market is. Take heart! It’s not difficult just “different” – even compared to our mainland European cousins (and that’s before Brexit even…

Join the Relief Effort for Hurricane Victims

Victims of Hurricane Michael also will receive assistance from Good360, the charity the International Housewares Association has partnered with to provide hurricane victims with home goods products as they rebuild their lives and homes. Last month IHA announced its partnership with Good360 to help the Carolinas recover from Hurricane Florence. Hurricane Michael made landfall…

Comparing NAFTA to USMCA: What You Should Know

The United States, Canada, and Mexico recently agreed on terms of a new trade deal to replace NAFTA. The agreement will be called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. After more than a year of difficult negotiations, the three countries reached a consensus to create the new trilateral trade deal governing $1.2 trillion in trade, making it the largest trade deal…

October Currency Outlook

In their October 2018 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief The USD finished almost even in September, per the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index Economic consistency and an interest rate hike by the Fed helped the dollar close the month The revised…

Global Retail Intelligence – October

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: October 15 – Amazon Bids on 30% Stake in India’s Spencer’s Retail Amazon has bid $400 M for 30% stake in Kolkata-based grocery chain with 128 stores in over 30 cities in India with 58 large-format, hypermarkets and supermarkets and reported revenues of $282.9 M in FY18. From Inc42 October 15 – Google Plans…

2018 Global Forum Recap: Sodimac Colombia (Homecenter)

Presented by: Marta Cordoba Merchandise Manager, Housewares Division Sodimac Colombia (Homecenter) Marta Cordoba has worked for Sodimac Colombia (Homecenter) for 19 years, where she is the buyer for a wide range of product categories. She leads the team responsible for development of new lines of business and strategies for brick and mortar and online program…

2018 Global Forum Recap: Lakeland

Presented by: Samm Swain Buying and Merchandising Director, Lakeland Samm Swain has been with Lakeland for nine years and was promoted to her current role as buying and merchandise director in 2017. After previous positions at several other significant retail operations, she has 25 years of experience in buying and merchandising, primarily in home and housewares categories,…