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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.

Brothers in Design

by Michelle Hespe Michelle Hespe speaks to Richard Joseph, one of the brothers behind the Joseph Joseph brand, which beautifully fuses form, functionality and fun. In 2003, twin brothers Richard and Antony Joseph launched their now hugely popular design brand, Joseph Joseph. Today, they have 125 employees and offices in the U.K., U.S., Japan, France and Germany. Both…

Retail Profile: Thyme in the Kitchen

Thyme in the Kitchen may be tucked into a historic, Westside neighborhood in Evansville, Ind., but the store pulls in visitors from all over, many of whom are on their way to cities like Nashville some two hours away. The reason? Eye-catching billboards posted along major highways around Evansville, which though a lovely place, is not typically thought of as a destination…

Export 101: Understanding Supply Chains

Your supply chain is an integral part of the international sales process as it impacts both the cost of the item and the time it takes to deliver a product. Although there are several variations, this article will discuss four primary supply chain alternatives: Domestic Warehouse, China-based Warehouse, Direct Import and Foreign Warehouse. For illustrative purposes, let’s…

July Currency Outlook

In their July 2017 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, provides a detailed report including the following topics and sections: In Brief US economic growth outlook downgraded by International Monetary Fund Italy’s election reform failed to pass Prices of WTI Crude sink to 7-month low after North American oil rig…

Creating an Emotive Space

by Terri Winter, co-owner and founder of retail store top3 by design in Australia. Interior design elicits an emotive response. You can feel energized, calm or cocooned in a space based largely on the choice of color. Color Using color and texture can affect the emotions of visitors to your store or to your home. Explore the opportunity to create various moods in…

Security in a Connected-Aplicance World

My washing machine talks to my thermostat. Amazon Alexa talks to my lights and motion sensors talk to my oven. But as these conversations proliferate in my home (and in the cloud), who’s listening in? Big companies? Hackers? More and more consumers are starting to ask these tough questions, demanding that companies provide answers. Or worse— they’re put off by the whole idea…

2017 Global Forum Offers Education on Global Sales

Housewares suppliers new to the international arena or veteran sales executives wanting to grow their global business will benefit from IHA’s 2017 Global Forum, to be held Sept. 17-19 in Miami. Overviews by key housewares buyers and distributors covering India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, Mexico and the United Kingdom along with sessions on critical international business…

Retailers Apply Tips, Info Learned At International Home + Housewares Show

For many independent retailers, the International Home + Housewares Show last March wrapped up the trade show season and with it the chance to meet with vendors, hobnob with other store owners and view exciting product trends. Back at home, retailers are resetting displays, reviewing product assortments and reflecting on how interactions during the International Home +…

Iberian Spirit SS18

by Jenna Galley, Marketing and Insight Assistant, Trend Bible Trend Bible is a home and interiors-dedicated forecasting agency working with leading international brands to help them understand the future of their market. They forecast future trends in the behavior of consumers in a two-to-five year timeframe and analyze how this will impact the home environment. Looking…