International Business Council

Homewares Retail, Italian Style: Galleria Fiaba

Michelle Hespe checks out one of Italy’s finest retail stores — Galleria Fiaba — which was one of six Global Honorees at the 2014 gia Global Innovation Awards held in Chicago. The spectacular façade and the name of Galleria Fiaba, which is situated in the historical center of Vittoria, Sicily, reflects the overall store’s approach to retail: to be like a gallery showcasing…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Market Overview – Brazil, Paulo Kruglensky, Etna

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Paulo Krugelsky, CEO of Etna, outlined the Brazilian retailer’s position in its market region. Based in Sao Paulo, Etna has grown rapidly in ten years and now operates 18 outlets in the major cities of 12 Brazilian states. Brazil’s long-term fundamentals are strong and its political and economic…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Eva Krejčová, UTC, Czech Republic

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Eva Krejčová has worked in the trade business since 1991, after she completed her study of economics at Russia’s St. Petersburg State University.As import/export manager at UTC, Ms. Krejčová procures products locally and sells products into the Central and Eastern European region. UTC is the…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Alexander Gorun, CHEF Ltd., Russia

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Moscow-based Alexander Gorun studied international relations in Kharkov, Ukraine at the International Slavic University. In 2004 he receivedhis master’s degree in management from the Moscow Aviation Institute where he then joined its faculty to teach economics and management. Before heading sales for…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Mark Zhang, DUHUB International, China

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Wednesday, June 18, 2014 After an exciting first day of sessions and yesterday’s deep dive into the customer-centered marketing approach presented by Jonathan Knowles,Day 2 of the IBC Global Forum offers five country market overviews from retailers in China, Russia, Brazil, Czech Republic and Australia. Mark Zhang,…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Robert Parker, General Trader Group, Australia

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Robert Parker has been involved in the Australian homewares industry for more than 40 years. He served as president of the Tasmanian Divisionof the Australian Retailers Association and has been a long-time member of the association’s governing National Council. In 2011 when Mr. Parker merged his…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Mark Ladham, Retail Overview Safat Home, Kuwait

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 by Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Mark Ladham, senior general manager of Safat Home’s Home Division, has more than 25 years of retail experience. Safat Home is part ofAlghanim Industries, a privately owned, multi-national enterprise with business operations in multiple sectors including housewares retail in Kuwait. With two large stores…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Jonathan Knowles, Rethinking the 4 P’s — From Selling Products to Selling Solutions (Part II)

by Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator (Jonathan Knowles continued) Participants Share Common Issues and Discover Relevancies in Workshop Exercises After tabulating the morning’s exercise worksheets during the lunch break, Knowles presented a simple analysis at the afternoon session. He commented on different dynamics at companies of varied sizes: smaller companies…

LIVE from the IBC Global Forum: Jonathan Knowles, Rethinking the 4 P’s — From Selling Products to Selling Solutions

by Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator Tuesday, June 17, 2014 IHA’s Global Forum kicked off with Jonathan Knowles’ engaging presentation that updated the traditional 4 P’s of marketing—product, price, place and promotion—for a fresh approach to marketing in today’s global business-to-business environment. Those earlier strategies lead marketing and sales teams to…