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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.

September Currency Outlook

In their September 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 returned to gains, climbing .5% in August against the other major currencies Commodity markets are suffering from instability and the MSCI Emerging Market Currency Index is down…

Global Retail Intelligence – September

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: September 18 – India’s Aditya Birla Shows Signs of Recovery Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail formed from a merger of Madura Garments Lifestyle Retail and Pantaloons Fashion and Retail Ltd, has been struggling since its creation. In the first two fiscal years after the merger the stock gained just 7%, however,…

Four New Directors Elected to IHA Board Of Directors

Four 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. The new directors are: Scott Henrikson, president, Dexas International; Darrin Johnston, managing director, Meyer Corporation; Lisa W. Knierim, president & CEO - Americas, Villeroy & Boch;…

Regulatory Update, Housewares Hot Seat Panel Announced For CHESS 2018

The most recent round of proposed tariffs on imports from China affecting $200 billion of goods and impacting the housewares industry for both finished product and raw materials may be imposed soon now that the public comment period is finished. In a just-added session for the 2018 Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS), John G. Murphy, senior vice president of…

Strong Demand Powers Rate Increases

Rates continue to escalate in the Eastbound Transpacific market. Strong demand, reduction of capacity, and the threat of tariffs are all contributing factors that are causing the high rates shippers are being forced to pay to move their cargo from Asia to the United States. Ocean rates to both the US East Coast and US West Coast are 53% higher than they were this time last…

Low Chinese Shipping Rates Severely Undercut American Businesses

An international postal agreement has been tipping the scales in favor of Chinese merchants for decades, allowing the e-commerce market to continue to become the domain of the Chinese at the expense of U.S. companies and taxpayers. The USPS is part of an arcane arrangement with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which is the postal arm of the United Nations. This arrangement…

Stats: Generation Z Gears Up

How does Generation Z stack up as future consumers? According to a recent Mintel report, Generation Z (ages 12-22) is likely to be health conscious, interested in cooking and craving international cuisine. You can thank their parents. Traits of this lifestyle group include: Influenced by parents who are “on the lookout for sugar”— 25 percent of teens aged 15-17 say they…

Meet Home and Housewares Suppliers in Toronto

The International Housewares Association (IHA), manager of the International Home + Housewares Show in partnership with Canada’s HomeStyle Magazine, invite all Canadian home and housewares distributors and retailers to a buyer reception on September 25. The event will feature a Tabletop Trade Show, allowing buyers to meet home and housewares product suppliers while enjoying…

President Trump Issues Memorandum Ordering Level Playing Field for Terminal Dues Charges

On August 23, President Donald Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum addressing the issue of terminal dues, recognizing the damage they are doing to American business, offering a policy for reform and timeline for progress and recommendations if sufficient progress is not made by the deadline, including the possibility of self-declared rates. Terminal dues are below-cost…