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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: London Drugs

Presented by: James Norris, Merchandise Manager London Drugs Vancouver, BC James Norris has been with London Drugs for 29 years, serving as a store manager for 12 years before rising to merchandise manager. He is responsible for non-electric housewares, hardware, laundry, cleaning, smart home and connected fitness. London Drugs was founded as a corner drug store in…

CHESS 2018 Recap: How Brands Must Evolve to Thrive in the Digital Age

Presented by: Sucharita Kodali, vice president and principal analyst, e-business and channel strategy, Forrester Research Kodali studies retailers and brands in the rapidly evolving retail landscape. She offered proprietary Forrester Research data and insight about digital business strategy, omni-channel retailing and consumer trends. She outlined technologies that affect…

Blogging the Way to Sales

Goodbye newspaper ads. For many retailers blogging has become the new way to reach consumers. And for good reason. Companies who blog receive 97 percent more links to their websites, according to Hubspot. Blogs have also been rated as the fifth most trusted source for accurate information and (with quality content) help extend a store’s brand with a personal touch. Here are…

CHESS 2018 Recap: Trends Facing the Future of the U.S. Retail Landscape

Don Unser The NPD Group, Inc. Trends Shaping the Future of the U.S. Retail Landscape Don Unser prefaced his remarks by noting that he would present a trend outline with supporting data for the U.S. retail market, while at the same time some of these same concepts are playing out in other regions of the world. U.S. Economic Conditions and Industry Trends Unser summarized…

2018 Global Forum Recap: Thunderbird School of Global Management

Richard Ettenson, Ph.D., Professor and Keickhefer Fellow of Global Marketing and Brand Strategy at Thunderbird School of Global Management, offered a two-part Executive Education session that outlined key topics to consider when entering global markets. He engaged participants with questions and encouraged conversations, and included stories about successes and failures in…

Retail Profile: Now You’re Cooking

Retailer: Now You're Cooking Location: Bath, Maine Founded: 2000 Owners: Mike and Betsy Fear Square footage: 3,000 sq ft Rent or own: Rent When Mike and Betsy Fear first started thinking about opening a kitchenware store in this historic coastal Maine city, they sat down with the late kitchenware guru Bob Coviello, the founder of the H.T.I. Buying Group, at Coviello’s…

Tariffs Impacting Supply Chains

The threat of tariffs from China are causing inventories in the US to spike. Shippers importing from China have been pulling holiday cargo ahead since June to avoid potential tariffs. The latest threat of a 25% tariff scheduled to be implemented January 1, 2019 has both shippers and warehouse operators concerned. Distribution facilities that specialize in handling import…

2018 Global Forum Recap: IBC General Meeting

On the second day of the 2018 Global Forum, Mark Adkison, IHA’s Vice President, International, preceded the IBC General Meeting to update the membership on access to member resources found in the IBC Member Portal. Following these updates, Giancarlo Barzotti, IBC’s President, highlighted upcoming global programs offered to IHA’s membership, presented awards and acknowledged the…

2018 Global Forum Recap: Networking Dinner

Monday, September 24, 2018 marked day one of the 2018 IBC Global Forum. IBC president Giancarlo Barzotti welcomed participants and introduced the IBC Board of Directors. Paul Michalowski, IBC program chair, outlined the schedule for the two-day conference and invited participants to get acquainted by introducing themselves and their companies. The group included CEOs and…