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 – April

April 4, 2023

March 31 – Easter 2023 Spending Expected to Reach Record $24B With an influx in spending, this Easter Sunday is anticipated to be the biggest one yet. From: Progressive Grocer March 30 – Kohl’s Receives Prestigious Sustainability Award from Government The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star program has presented the department store retailer with the…

West Coast Ports Still Operating Without a Contract

April 1, 2023

Contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) ports remain at a standstill. After 10 months of negotiations, there has been very little progress in resolving key issues such as automation and wages. The PMA recently called out the ILWU for intentional work slowdowns causing delays at the ports…

Proposed PFAS Standards from the U.S. EPA

April 1, 2023

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken steps to set maximum levels for certain polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in public drinking-water systems, and to designate certain PFAS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or CERCLA (the Superfund law). PFAS are chemicals that have…

New Container Vessels Pose a Problem for the Carriers

March 1, 2023

Ocean carriers have a problem on their hands. Aside from a lackluster Asia to U.S. shipping market, carriers are about to be inundated with brand new containerships. This couldn’t happen at a worse time for the carriers. They are already being forced to slash freight rates to unprofitable levels in an effort to fill container vessels already deployed. Adding additional capacity…

IHA Submits Comments to USTR Tariff Review

February 1, 2023

As required by the Trade Act of 1974, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) must conduct a “necessity review” of the Section 301 tariffs on some $350 billion of products from China (Lists 1, 2, 3 and 4a) or the tariffs automatically sunset after four years. However, the Trade Act is somewhat vague on how a review should be done, giving USTR a fair amount of latitude in carrying…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – February

February 1, 2023

January 31 – Dollar General President/CFO Plans to Retire in June John Garratt, president and CFO at Dollar General Corp., has announced his intent to retire, effective June 2. From: Progressive Grocer January 30 – Tops Completes $1.4M Remodel in New York In December, Tops unveiled a $1.8 million store renovation in Canandaigua, N.Y. Last fall, the retailer also welcomed…

Asia to U.S. Contract Negotiations Begin

February 1, 2023

Shippers have begun the annual ritual better known as contract negotiations. There is one major difference in this year’s negotiations compared to the last two years. Shippers head into the negotiations with the leverage. The current Asia to U.S. market is weak. That point cannot be disputed. Spot rates have plummeted and plenty of space is available to shippers. Once the…

Take Control of Your Supply Chain Challenges

January 26, 2023

Supply chain challenges are expected to continue in 2023. Are you aware that IHA provides its members a tool to address these challenges? The tool, made available only to IHA members, is your industry shippers association otherwise known as International Housewares Shippers Association (IHSA). Carriers always recognize leverage. Shippers with the most leverage consistently…

Significant Trade and Shipping Regulatory Actions

November 30, 2022

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is required by statute to conduct a “necessity review” of Section 301 tariffs, which in this case concern tariffs placed on some $300-$350 billion of products from China (Lists 1, 2, 3 and 4a). Former President Donald Trump started imposing the duties in 2018 under Sec. 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which automatically expire after four…

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 – April

West Coast Ports Still Operating Without a Contract

Proposed PFAS Standards from the U.S. EPA

New Container Vessels Pose a Problem for the Carriers

IHA Submits Comments to USTR Tariff Review

U.S. Retail Intelligence – February

Asia to U.S. Contract Negotiations Begin

Take Control of Your Supply Chain Challenges

Significant Trade and Shipping Regulatory Actions

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