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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.

May Currency Outlook

In their May 2018 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief First quarter U.S. GDP showed higher level of growth than anticipated The USD appreciated 2.4% in April GBP sunk due to Brexit uncertainties Euro-zone’s economic recovery has reached…

2018 gia Global Honoree – Manufactum

by Michelle Hespe At the 2018 IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) in Chicago, German retailer Manufactum was announced as one of the top five most innovative stores in the world. Here we take a look at what makes this retail store so great, and so grounded. In today’s technology-driven world, where so much of life is lived online, and there’s a distinct lack of human…

Advancements in Smart Security Creating a Safer Smart Home for Consumers

By Brad Russell Recent advances in smart security and safety devices offer consumers new and expanded solutions to help them trade in worry for peace of mind. Companies invested in IoT technologies are leading that effort by producing smart, connected products and services that promise to make the smart home safer than ever. Home security is the most influential market…

Smart Home Mass-Market Adoption: Are We There Yet?

By Lou Lenzi, FIDSA The Consumer Technology Association predicted significant growth in the sales of smart home technologies last year, forecasting 29 million units shipped into the channel in 2017, an impressive 63 percent increase over 2016. Revenue forecasts were equally robust at $3.5 billion, a 57 percent increase over 2016. Such dramatic growth forecasts have met…

Ocean Contract Negotiations

Ocean contract negotiations covering cargo moving from Asia to the United States are nearing completion. The negotiation process has become very cumbersome for shippers due to the lack of communication provided by the carriers. A large part of the lack of communication can be blamed on the recent wave of acquisitions that have taken place in the containership industry. Fewer…

How to Succeed in the Kitchen Without Really Trying

The Joys (and Concerns) Over Assisted Cooking By Carley Knobloch It’s 6:30 p.m., and I’m pulling a juicy roast beef from the oven. The roast is perfectly crusted with rosemary and ringed by caramelized onions and golden potato wedges. I slice into the buttery-soft meat and practically swoon—this dinner deserves a Michelin star. Ambitious for a weeknight dinner? Not if you…

2018 gia Global Honoree – Pollmann sinds 1890

by Michelle Hespe The 128-year-old Dutch retail store, Pollmann sinds 1890, has always had family, personal service and cooking at its heart. Nick and Anke Pollmann, the fourth-generation owners of Pollmann sinds 1890, raised a glass to Nick’s great grandfather, Bernhard Pollmann, at the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) in Chicago this year, to celebrate the store…

Trends: Consumers Cooking at Home

Dining in is becoming more fashionable than dining out. Both of the 800-pound gorillas of generational groups—Boomers and Millennials—have been opting to stay home and cook (or order delivery) rather than spend money at restaurants, according to a couple of studies from The NPD Group. NPD’s latest “Eating Patterns in America” report finds that consumers are making fewer…

2018 gia Global Honoree – Tugó

by Michelle Hespe Becoming one of five Global Honorees in the 2018 IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) in Chicago is another step along what is sure to be a long and prosperous road for Tugó — a retail store with a mantra ‘Great design is for Everyone.’ Adriana Cano, Visual Merchandising Manager from Tugó, and Christian Morales, the store’s Marketing Manager, are nothing…