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…

Influencer Marketing

Influencer Marketing—How to Find, Use and Measure Effectiveness

The 2019 CHESS conference Building for the Future…New Leaders, New Markets will present two full days of content-rich presentations by experts in many fields. On Sept. 25, Embello’s CEO Laiza Cors and Talent Relations Strategist Anne Sage will share their experience in the dynamic field of influencer marketing, now a critical component for targeted communications with…

CHESS 2017 Recap: Influencer Marketing

What is an “Influencer”? And how can your brand benefit from influencing them? Melissa Maker and Chad Reynolds, the creators of Clean My Space, and Gemma Stafford and Kevin Kurtz, the creators of Bigger Bolder Baking, outlined for CHESS attendees how social media celebrities can assist housewares marketers in reaching key audiences to help build their brands. Melissa Maker…

Influencer Marketing: Word of Mouth Marketing Begins with Trust

Earning trust is more difficult than ever given the number of brands and media competing for your customers’ attention. Traditionally, brands have relied on expensive marketing campaigns involving TV and print elements, but with the development of the internet, new marketing opportunities have emerged. Customers are increasingly relying on peer reviews and recommendations…

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