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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.

June Currency Outlook

In their June 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 appreciated 2.2% in May against other major currencies The USD saw its best 2-month advance since 2016 with the April and May appreciation After a month that caused bond market…

Trends: The Current Food Trend? No Food

If everyone you know seems to be on a diet, that’s because most of them are. It’s a trend that is likely to continue to boost sales of Spiralizers and other diet-friendly gadgets, retailers say. In fact, 36 percent of American adults are dieting, more than double from 14 percent a year ago, according to the annual Food & Health Survey, released recently by the International…

Making it an Eventful Summer

While retailers like to hold events year-round, summertime, with its pedestrian-friendly weather, is when stores really get creative. Kitchen a la Mode owner Ben Salmon recently took advantage of the street-facing picture window in his South Orange, N.J., store and parked himself beside it with a knife sharpener. “Start your Memorial Day Weekend with an edge” he posted…

Global Retail Intelligence – June

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: June 20 – JD.com Reaches Record Sales During its Annual 6.18 Shopping Event More than 43 million customers visited online pop-up stores and brought sales for the Chinese online retailer to $24.7 bn during the company’s anniversary on June 18. This falls just behind Alibaba.com’s $25.3 bn in sales during the…

Retail Profile: Stock Culinary Goods

Retail Profile: Stock Culinary Goods Location: Providence, R.I. Owner/Founder: Jan Faust Dane Founded: November 2012 Square footage: 900 sq. ft. Stock is the hottest kitchenware/gift store in what has arguably become America’s hippest city. Providence, R.I., long sitting in the shadows of Boston, has been named “America’s favorite city” by Travel + Leisure Magazine and…

Stats: Sales of Housewares Products Rise

U.S. online sales of housewares products increased 18 percent in 2017. That’s according the The NPD Group’s Checkout consumer receipt mining service. On average, nearly a quarter of online buyers purchased housewares in 2017. And when they did, they bought nearly four items online during the year. “E-commerce has changed the way consumers shop for home products,” says Joe…

Housewares Hot Seat Panel: Reclaiming Control in the Digital Jungle

Digital commerce has unlocked dramatic new growth opportunities for housewares, but it also has unleashed new dangers. From the spread of counterfeit products to fake reviews to slashed postal rates on China-direct consumer shipments, the housewares industry is on guard as it works to adapt to a vast digital marketplace without the boundaries, checks and balances of traditional…

The Art of Perception

In what is likely to be the most eye-opening presentation at CHESS, art historian (and former lawyer) Amy E. Herman will train us in new ways to see. Herman applies techniques for analyzing painting, sculpture and photography to real-world needs for acute perception, objective observation and precise communication. Herman’s clients include first responders, military personnel,…

Trends Shaping the Future of the U.S. Retail Landscape

Preparing for the future of your business requires a deep understanding of what’s happening in the present. At IHA’s annual senior-level conference, CHESS presents top experts in their fields who share the latest information that can help industry leaders map their strategies. Don Unser, president of NPD’s retail group, will outline macro trends in the U.S. retail industry…