international

HECNA: Australia’s Most Powerful Retailers Revealed

This past fall, Australia trade publication, Inside Retail Magazine, published its list of the most powerful retailers and coming out on top was Grant O’Brien of Woolworths. “This year Woolworths’ Grant O’Brein comes in at number one. O’Brien succeeded Michael Luscombe as MD and CEO of Woolworths in October 2011 after previous roles as COO Australian food and petrol, director…

Innovation Insights: An Interview with Jim Klar, Easy2 Technologies

By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs + Services Learn how to develop and launch the right products for the right customer—with the right methods! The four days of the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show will be packed with events as well as educational sessions. To help you plan your time at the Show, we give you a preview of the presentations that will take place in the…

Retail News from Around the World

Big Lots Plans Canadian Departure As Losses Grow As part of its third quarter earnings announcement, Big Lots revealed that it is pulling out of Canada after two years of effort didn't produce the traction the retailer expected. In its earnings announcement, Big Lots posted a consolidated loss from continuing operations of $9.5 million, or 17 cents per diluted share, versus a…

HECNA: The Two Latin Americas

Companies who sell to Latin America or those who wish to in the future will be interested in David Luhnow’s essay in this weekend’s Wall Street Journal entitled “The Two Latin Americas.” As Luhnow says, “There are two Latin Americas right now. The first is a bloc of countries—including Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela—that faces the Atlantic Ocean, mistrusts globalization and…

HECNA Global Forum: Rethinking the 4 P’s

In today’s business-to-business environment, sticking to the traditional four P’s of marketing – product, place, price and promotion- has fostered narrow, product-focused strategies. Those strategies lead marketing and sales teams to stress product attributes that are no longer differentiators but are now simply the cost of market entry. Richard Ettenson, using insights from…

Australian Trade Mission Recap

From November 10-15, twelve IHA-member companies took part in the IHA sponsored Australia Trade Mission in Sydney and Melbourne. Attendees had the opportunity to visit key housewares retail stores and shopping malls to complete a competitive analysis of market opportunities. Meetings also took place with many key retailers including: King of Knives Howards Storage World Hard…

2013 HECNA Global Forum: Registration and Key Details

Registration is underway for the 2013 HECNA Global Forum taking place in Panama City, Panama from September 15-18. Within the agenda are key retailer presentations, networking events and a tabletop tradeshow at which participants will have a chance to showcase their products to Central American buyers. In addition, there will be an optional trip to the Colon Duty Free Trade…

Visit the Global Design Points at #IHHS13!

Global Design Points is a sub-category of the Global Marketplace representing high design and innovation from nations all across the globe. Outstanding craftsmanship and design-focused products are at the center of Global Design Points, strategically positioned throughout the Show. France France is the intersection where innovative products and time honored traditions meet!…

Help us choose the 2013 Industry Breakfast Speaker!

The 2013 International Home + Housewares Show is just FIVE months away! In preparation for the 2013 Show we're asking for help in deciding who should be chosen for our annual Industry Breakfast Speaker. Would you like to see a political figure like Rahm Emanuel or Colin Powell from years past? What about an industry-specific celeb like Martha Stewart? Or maybe a business leader…