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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.

Connect Fall, IHA’s Virtual Industry Event, Features Sessions on Shifting Lifestyle Trends, Critical Business Developments

ROSEMONT, IL (Oct. 5, 2022) – Connect FALL, an IHA virtual event, is set for Oct. 11-13 with exclusive, in-depth content designed to bring the housewares industry together around critical industry education. Session topics include opportunities in inflationary times; consumer lifestyle trends; an update on PFAS chemicals regulations and housewares; trends influencing…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – September

September 30 – Walmart Insists Distribution Can Handle the Holidays The Walmart supply chain has been challenged, the company admitted in a blog post, but the company has been able to deal with congestion and inflation so that it is ready for the holiday season. From: HomePage News September 30 – Qurate Names Veteran Supply Chain Exec Barnhart COO\ Qurate Retail Group…

Tariff Update

In early September, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced it had received comments from a number of entities supporting a continuation of the Section 301 tariffs on products produced in China. This culminates the first phase of USTR’s statutorily mandated “review of necessity” for Sec. 301 tariffs before they expire after four years. However, by September’s end, USTR…

Ocean Rates Reflecting Weak Demand

The fourth quarter of 2022 is shaping up to be a challenging time for both carriers and shippers. This same time last year, shippers were faced with record high rate levels and lack of space on containerships. Carriers were flush with cash and able to choose the cargo they wanted to manage. As we enter Q4 2022, the Asia to U.S. market has taken a 180-degree turn. Container…

Three Housewares Executives Elected to IHA Board of Directors

ROSEMONT, ILL. (Sept. 19, 2022)—Three 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. They are: Scott Felsenthal, CEO, Whitmor, Inc.; Sal Gabbay, CEO, Gibson Homewares; and Michael Hayes, chief customer officer, Newell Brands. Their three-year terms begin…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – August

August 31 – Hy-Vee to Hold Next Quarterly ‘Best of Local Brands’ Summit This year, Hy-Vee is focused on identifying suppliers with diverse backgrounds and urges minority-owned and women-owned businesses to apply for the quarterly summits From: Progressive Grocer August 31 – Dollar General Makes Additional Leadership Changes Dollar General announced several leadership…

Ocean Rates are Officially on the Decline

There is no longer denying that the Asia to U.S. market is showing signs of weakness. Major retailers have distribution centers that are already at capacity, so purchase orders are being delayed or cancelled altogether. Usually during the months of September and October, shippers are forced to pay peak season surcharges to secure space on vessels. That will not be the case…

Federal Spending, Taxes, Inflation and Interest Rates

According to many economists, a major contributor to inflation in the U.S. economy is federal spending. Congress had already spent $3 trillion in 2020 responding to the pandemic when Democrats took the reins and passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan in March 2021. This was done despite warnings from economists including former Obama officials who feared more big…

Supply Chain Variables Cloud the Future

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA22, S. 3580) signed on June 16 by President Joe Biden is a major step toward fixing supply chain problems that involve ocean carrier practices. An immediate benefit for trucking firms and shippers is that OSRA now requires 13 specific items of information on carriers’ invoices and failure to include such information relieves the need…