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…

2019 International Home + Housewares Show

Retailers Search for Trends

As market season peaks with the upcoming International Home + Housewares Show, buyers are putting on their forecasting glasses and searching for the trends that will let them stock stores with merchandise consumers won’t be able to resist. It is a tall task, from finding the right gadget to deciding whether to add a small electric appliance to the mix to wondering whether…

A Smarter Tomorrow: Designing a Connected Home with Meaning

IHA got acquainted with Kelly Clark and Edward Laganis of Smart Design to learn about how designers create connected devices that best fit the needs of people as they live in their homes, which they will describe at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will include…

Breaking Down the Walls of Innovation: Secrets to Meaningful Product Development

IHA chatted with designer Rob Van Varick of the noted Michael Graves design firm to learn about how to discover opportunities for true innovation in new products, which he will discuss at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will include design innovation, smart home,…

Creating SEO-Focused Content for Brands

IHA recently caught up with Jenny Guy and Stephie Predmore from Mediavine, speakers at our upcoming event, The Inspired Home Influencer Conference, which will kick off the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. Mediavine offers full service ad management including display ad optimization, video monetization and sponsored influencer marketing for 4,300 + publishers with a…

How to Pitch Brands and Accurately Price Your Work

IHA recently caught up with Anne Sage, a speaker at our upcoming event, The Inspired Home Influencer Conference, which will kick off the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. Anne has been blogging since 2008 with her signature smart yet stylish approach to fashion, interiors, entertaining and more. Be sure to check out her site: annsage.com What do you look for in…

Understanding & Refining Your Niche

IHA recently caught up with Beth Le Manach, a speaker at our upcoming event, The Inspired Home Influencer Conference, which will kick off the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. Beth has been cooking and entertaining for over 25 years, and runs a successful site, Entertaining with Beth. Her cooking philosophy is “minimal effort for maximum impact”, which translates into…

Health and Wellness in the Age of Instagram

IHA chatted with registered dietician and certified personal trainer Kim Kirchherr to get a taste of her multi-layered perspectives about food and healthy lifestyles that she will present at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics will include design innovation, smart home, digital…

The American Living Survey: Five Years of Design and Lifestyle Trends

IHA chatted with Rick Babick and Janine Michalek of Design Research, LLC to learn about their research on kitchen design trends, which they will analyze at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will include design innovation, smart home, digital commerce, and global…

Specialty Shop Retailing: How You Can Succeed in Today’s Market

IHA visited with Carol Schroeder, author and co-owner of Orange Tree Imports, to learn about her tips for specialty shop success, which she will discuss at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show. At the Show, the Innovation Theater will feature 21 presentations over four days. Topics discussed will include design innovation, smart home, digital commerce, and global…

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