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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.

Trends: Generation Z Becoming Creative Cooks

Just when you thought you had figured out what Millennials want, comes Generation Z. This future generation of housewares shoppers, ages 12-22, is diverse and tech-savvy according to a newly released survey from Mintel, and is likely to “impact the future of the food and drink industry” by increasing the reach of international cuisine, eating healthy and raising the bar for…

Proposed Tariffs To Have Greater Impact On Housewares Industry

The list of tariffs affecting the housewares industry will have a greater impact on home and housewares products with the proposed tariff rate recently increased to 25 percent from the original 10 percent announced by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The list includes more than 6,000 tariff subheadings, affecting $200 billion of goods imported from China. “The…

Gain More Than Education at the IBC Global Forum

Although one key component of the IBC Global Forum is the education received through the retailer and distributor presentations, there are several other tangible benefits to attending this annual event. The 2018 IBC Global Forum will feature a Tabletop Trade Show as exclusive opportunity for attendees to expand their network and grow sales. This component to the Global Forum…

IBC 101: International Essentials

As a preview to the presentation during the upcoming IBC Global Forum, the following is a brief on the IBC 101: International Essentials workshop: The IBC Global Forum serves to provide attendees with practical, pragmatic resources to assist in developing resources that ultimately help support global sales. An important component to the Global Forum are the suppliers who…

August Currency Outlook

In their August 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 lost .5% of its value, ending its appreciation run that had been ongoing for three months Tensions over proposed tariffs added pressure to the strength of the USD, but it stayed…

Looking for Labor

One of the biggest challenges facing retailers in a growing economy is a shortage of workers. Independent kitchenware retailers are no different. In one of the tightest labor markets in years, stores around the country are struggling to hire and keep staff and many find the experience frustrating, especially as the summer was nearing. “The employment situation around here is…

Global Retail Intelligence – August

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: August 16 – Mexico’s Elektra Announces Online Shopping to Compete with Amazon Mexican department store chain Elektra announced it will launch an on-line shopping portal to compete with Amazon. Elektra’s marketplace will launch with 25 consumer products business partner brands and the goal of expanding to…

Tariffs Update: Impacts of Proposed Tariffs on Housewares Suppliers

As a preview to the upcoming IBC Global Forum, to follow is additional information on the session focusing on the latest tariff actions unfolding in Washington DC presented by Jonathan Gold, Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy, for the National Retail Federation: Jonathan Gold of the National Retail Federation (NRF) will provide an update on the latest tariff…

Sodimac: Key Colombia Retailer Update

As a preview into the upcoming IBC Global Forum, to follow is additional information on the retail overview session presented by Marta Córdoba Vélez, Assistant Commercial Manager of Sodimac (Homecenter) Colombia: With more than 240 stores in Latin America, Sodimac has nearly 40 stores in Colombia. Sodimac is owned by Chilean retailer, Falabella, which operates stores in…