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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.

Guide to Effective Retail Store Design

by Martin M. Pegler If RETAILING is your chosen path of livelihood, here are some simple guidelines you might like to consider when planning your retail store. 1. Let There Be Light! Without the proper light the merchandise cannot be seen or judged, colors cannot be appreciated, coordinates cannot be assembled, nor buying decisions made. Let your light be the best you can…

Stats: Chocolate, The Perfect Gift

Even retailers who focus on mostly hard goods, stock at least some specialty chocolate. Whether merchandised as an impulse purchase at the cash register, championed through a much wider display or included as part of a gift basket, retailers know that chocolate sells, and not only on Valentine’s Day. The overall U.S. market for confectionary products boasts sales of $36…

Inspiring the Industry: Katrina Markoff

by Michelle Hespe Katrina Markoff is a highly-creative chocolatier and the founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, a Chicago-based chocolate maker that inspires people to open their minds and travel the world through chocolate. As is the case with most successful business ventures, there was a defining moment that created the seed from which Vosges Haut-Chocolat would grow…

2018 Global Powers of Retail Report Released

In the 2018 Global Powers of Retail Report, newly produced by Deloitte as a collaboration with STORES magazine, authors explore the transformative environment that is enabling consumers to shop however, wherever, whenever and for whatever they want. This disruption of traditional business models has resulted in significant change in retail markets, while delivering rapid growth…

Trends: Looking Inside America’s Kitchen

Consumers, time strapped as they are, still want to make fresh meals at home. In fact, U.S. consumers have a renewed interest in cooking freshly prepared meals, according to a recent survey by the NPD Group, which also found that those same consumers don’t want to spend more time at the stove. It is a conundrum that NPD says influences how people set up their home kitchens…

February Currency Outlook

In their February 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 was at its lowest since 2011 The Euro surged by 3.3%, reaching its best level in 3 years The Bank of Canada increased Interest Rates and the Canadian Dollar had a four-month…

IHA’s 2018 Student Design Competition Winners Announced

Innovative Product Concepts Solve Social Problems, Tie into Home, Health and Hydration Trends in 2018 IHA Student Design Competition Winners to be Showcased at 2018 International Home + Housewares Show, March 10-13, Chicago Health, safety and hydration were key themes of winning entries in the 2018 International Housewares Association’s 25th Annual Student Design…

Looks Matter: Protecting & Enforcing IP in Product & Packaging Design

IHA caught up with Christopher Carani, noted intellectual property attorney, to learn about latest developments in patent and appearance IP protection – a topic of critical importance in our industry, which he will discuss at the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will…

Global Retail Intelligence – February

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: February 28 – Amazon Japan Asks Suppliers to Share Shipping Costs Amazon Japan has set a flat rate for food suppliers of 2% and 1-5% for other suppliers. These “cooperation payments” are said to help defray the cost of sales system upgrades as well as other expenses. From Nikki Asian Review February 27 –…