International Housewares Association

Perfectly Porland

Porland of Turkey, one of the five gia Global Honorees this year, has a long, rich and colorful history. We look into what makes this manufacturer and retailer of porcelain stand out from the rest. by Michelle Hespe Porland’s logo features a ballerina executing a perfect pirouette. This elegant symbol conveys both beauty and strength, reflecting the grounding philosophy of this manufacturer and retailer of porcelain. The word…

CHESS 2019 – Retail’s Seismic Shift: Understanding the Forces Changing Housewares Consumers

Presented by: Michael Dart, Partner, Consumer/Retail Practice, A.T. Kearney Retail specialist and visionary, Michael Dart advises retail and consumer companies on how best to navigate retail’s seismic shifts. He combines his economics and finance training from Oxford University and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with more than 25 years of experience consulting with A.T. Kearney and Bain & Co. to provide a unique…

Global Retail Intelligence – April

April 14 – JD.com Creates Offline Catering Supply Chain SolutionJD.com with Juqi, a dinning chain in Beijing, announced a supply chain cooperation, positioning JD.com as the first platform in China capable of providing a one-stop supply chain solution covering both the full category of food and materials supply, and integrated warehousing and distribution services. Through the cooperation, JD will also provide intelligent inventory…

Navigating The Wild West of Ocean Shipping

by Dave Akers, IHSA "Good Judgment comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgment." — Will Rogers Here is how the modern shipping business mirrors the Wild West: 1. The “Gold Rush” Boom and Bust Cycles The Old West was defined by the gold rush with sudden, explosive wealth that created overnight millionaires, followed by devastating busts that left ghost towns behind. Shipping operates on the exact same…

IHA Plans Sourcing Mission to Vietnam

To help members investigate alternatives to sourcing from China, the International Housewares Association will hold a sourcing mission to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next year. The 2020 Vietnam Sourcing Mission will be offered in two sessions: April 20-22 or April 23-25. Each session is limited to just six companies to provide a high level of service and allow for private meetings and factory tours. The dates were chosen to allow…

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 afford to install and use—or, if necessary, skimp on…

Lacey Act Reporting Requirements

April 3, 2024

In 1900, Congressman John Lacey sponsored legislation to curb the importation of exotic bird feathers. Lacey Act amendments up to 2008 expanded coverage to fish and animals and established individual and corporate responsibility. The 2008 Farm Bill added wood and plant products, making it unlawful to “import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – April

April 1, 2024

March 29 – West Elm’s New iOS Mobile App Customizes Shopping Experience The app is available for free in the App Store. West Elm, a Williams-Sonoma banner. From: HomePage News March 29 – Lands’ End Lays Off 10% of Corporate Workforce The layoffs came as Lands’ End faced growing losses and declining sales in the fourth quarter. From: Retail Dive March 29 – Report:…

Rhetoric Heats up Over Potential Strike at U.S. Ports

March 1, 2024

The threat of a potential strike at U.S. ports has traditionally been centered around West Coast ports. That is no longer the case. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), which represents East and Gulf Coast ports, is warning of a potential strike unless key issues can be resolved. Wages and automation appear to be the key issues that need to be resolved to avert a…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – March

March 1, 2024

February 29 – How Sam’s Club Is Transforming the Customer Experience The retailer is embracing technology applications in its quest to make shopping and working even easier, including robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI). From: Progressive Grocer February 29 – Dollar General Reaches 20,000 Stores with New Texas Location DG Markets are a…

State Recycled Content Laws

March 1, 2024

Laws requiring certain percentages of post-consumer resin content in plastic packaging are gaining traction in some states. According to the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR), by late 2023, seven states were in various stages of implementing such laws, with existing laws in CA, ME, WA and NJ, and a new law in CT and proposed laws in MD and NY. State laws in effect…

Congress Begins Moving a Bipartisan Tax Bill

February 1, 2024

On January 17, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) announced bipartisan, bicameral tax legislation, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (TRAFA). To summarize, TRAFA would extend three business tax breaks from 2017’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and expand the child tax credit, with…

IHSA Begins Ocean Contract Negotiations

February 1, 2024

The ocean shipping market continues to be very unstable as it has been since the beginning of the pandemic. In a short three-year period, shippers have been exposed to record high-rate levels, record low-rate levels, severe space limitations and fractured supply chains. The instability in the Red Sea is the latest hurdle that shippers must now overcome. The majority of…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – February

February 1, 2024

January 30 – Dollar General Surpasses Milestone of 5,000 Stores Nationwide Offering Fresh Produce. Dollar General has surpassed its latest milestone, now offering fresh produce options in more than 5,000 stores across the country. From: Drugstore News January 30 – Lowe’s Taps TikTok to Connect with Existing and Potential Employees The Lowe’s TikTok account includes more…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – January

January 11, 2024

December 29 – Holiday Spending Up 3% Over Last Year Retail holiday spending during the 2023 holiday season rose just over 3% year over year, according to data from Mastercard SpendingPulse. From: Hardware Retailing December 27 – Container Store Names Chief Digital Officer; Senior VP of Stores The Container Store has made two additions to its executive leadership team.…

Perfectly Porland

CHESS 2019 – Retail’s Seismic Shift: Understanding the Forces Changing Housewares Consumers

Global Retail Intelligence – April

Navigating The Wild West of Ocean Shipping

IHA Plans Sourcing Mission to Vietnam

Guide to Effective Retail Store Design

Lacey Act Reporting Requirements

U.S. Retail Intelligence – April

Rhetoric Heats up Over Potential Strike at U.S. Ports

U.S. Retail Intelligence – March

State Recycled Content Laws

Congress Begins Moving a Bipartisan Tax Bill

IHSA Begins Ocean Contract Negotiations

U.S. Retail Intelligence – February

U.S. Retail Intelligence – January

Connect With IHA

Connect With The Inspired Home