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…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – July

July 1, 2023

June 29 – Best Buy Updates Membership Program in Time for July Deals As the company prepares for its July supply events, Best Buy is rolling out its updated membership program, now in three three tiers designed for customers who want convenience, value and access, as well as protection and support. From: HomePage News June 29 – 2023 Private Label Hall of Fame: Kristin…

Trade Issues Update

July 1, 2023

On June 2, Americans for Free Trade (AFT) sent a letter to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) signed by IHA and 145 other organizations for the May 17 hearing Leveling the Playing Field: How to Counter the Chinese Communist Party’s Economic Aggression. Despite the enmity between Capitol Hill Republicans and Democrats, the Select Committee on the…

Controversial New Process for Regulations

June 1, 2023

On April 6, President Biden issued the Executive Order (EO) “Modernizing Regulatory Review” that will change the process by which federal agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Departments of Transportation and Labor promulgate their regulations. The White House says these changes will improve the process, but administrative law experts believe the new…

Peak Shipping Season Rebound Unlikely

June 1, 2023

Ocean carriers are coming to the realization that the upcoming peak shipping season will likely be a bust. Several carriers have been predicting that the Asia to U.S. market would see a rebound in container shipping during the second half of 2023. It is becoming clear now that the so-called rebound is not going to happen. Industry experts have also backed off previous…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – June

June 1, 2023

May 31 – Albertsons Rebrands 'Signature' Private Label Assortment The grocer is rolling out its Signature SELECT brand that features a new logo and packaging design to stores across the U.S. From: StoreBrands Today May 30 – Walgreens Announces Winners for the 2023 Expressions by Walgreens Art Challenge Walgreens established Expressions to educate, empower and equip young…

Protected: Exciting Changes for The Inspired Home Show 2024

May 8, 2023

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The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023

May 1, 2023

On April 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811) to suspend the federal government’s debt ceiling through either March 31, 2024, or a $1.5 trillion increase when the current $31.4 trillion ceiling runs out, whichever comes first. It’s not unusual for Congress to raise the debt ceiling so Treasury can continue to sell U.S. bonds…

Transpacific Contract Negotiations Finalized

May 1, 2023

The majority of ocean contracts covering containers moving between Asia and the United States have been finalized. The contracts being signed contain rates that are substantially lower than the rates that were finalized in April 2022. The previous two contract cycles saw spot rates skyrocket to record high levels before finally subsiding in the fall of 2022. The new contract…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – May

May 1, 2023

April 28 – Amazon Cites Expanded Home Selection in Reporting Q1 Profit Amazon turned to profits in the first quarter and beat Wall Street earnings and sales estimates with the e-commerce giant noting the contribution of an expanded home assortment led by a new Martha Stewart program. From: HomePage News April 28 – Time Is Right for Growth at Weis Markets $160M cap-ex…

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

U.S. Retail Intelligence – July

Trade Issues Update

Controversial New Process for Regulations

Peak Shipping Season Rebound Unlikely

U.S. Retail Intelligence – June

Protected: Exciting Changes for The Inspired Home Show 2024

The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023

Transpacific Contract Negotiations Finalized

U.S. Retail Intelligence – May

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