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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 2017 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief The Euro reached its best level in 7 months France elected Emmanuel Macron Oil prices remain low after extension of OPEC’s production curtail US performance slowed, although GDP…

HIDC – Logistics Gateway to Europe

The Netherlands is an ideal Gateway to the European market. Many international companies have based their pan-European Distribution Centers in this country, enabling them to offer top-quality service and quick deliveries to their clients throughout the European Union and beyond. The Holland International Distribution Council (HIDC) assists international companies in setting up…

Global Retail Intelligence – June

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: June 29 - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is raising its bet on populous Southeast Asia, a region that is home to more than 600 million consumers. The Chinese internet giant said Wednesday it is plowing an additional $1 billion into Southeast Asia e-commerce firm Lazada Group, raising its stake to 83% from 51%.…

Smart Home: Keeping Connected

Michelle Hespe meets Carley Knobloch (or Carley K, like her blog is called), a digital lifestyle expert, to chat about the Internet of Things and the smart home. As a retailer, you need to embrace this new wave of technology or risk falling behind your competitors. A couple of years ago, most people hadn’t heard of Internet of Things (IoT) or the smart home. Even 12 months ago…

John Lewis: Key UK Retailer Update

As a preview to her presentation during the upcoming IBC Global Forum, the following is a brief on British retailer John Lewis Partnership and Anna Berry, Head of Buying for Gifts, Cook and Dine. John Lewis Partnership has 48 stores throughout the UK as well as their e-commerce business. Together with their sister retailer, Waitrose, annual sales reach over GBP 11 bn, with…

Generations of Inspiration

Michelle Hespe speaks to Patricia Lockhart, owner and director of Uruguay’s award-winning retail store, Bazar La Iberica and its focus on generations of inspiration. Achieving 100 years in business is something worth talking about. But Bazar La Iberica, a family-run retailer operating in a country with only 3 million inhabitants (half of which live on very low income) has…

Shoppers Stop: Key Indian Retailer Update

As a preview to his presentation during the upcoming IBC Global Forum, the following is a brief on Indian retail, Vikram Chitnis and Shoppers Stop, a retailer with an extensive focus on home and housewares. Retail in India continues to expand and develop from traditional “son & pop” shops to organized brick and mortar retail. Organized retail is expected reach $150 bn…

Ocean Freight: Cancellation Fees Related to Overbooking

Steamship lines have complained for years that shippers book more containers than what are required to meet their shipping needs. It is common practice for some shippers to place excess container bookings to protect space only to cancel these bookings prior to the sailing date. Steamship lines claim that for every four containers booked, only three show up for the sailing.…

Smart Thinking for Smart Living

Michelle Hespe catches up with Mike Wolf — a leading U.S. expert on the Internet of Things (IoT) and the evolution of the Smart Home — for a chat about what the future holds, and what is happening in the smart world, right now. It’s hard to comprehend that the first iPhone was released in 2007, and today over 2 billion people are using them. It all happened so…