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IHA International Housewares Association Industry Education, Tradeshow, Resources + More - IHA All Posts Show Executive Networking CHESS Conference CORE Networking Groups Global Opportunities Connect GLOBAL IBC Global Forum Trade Missions Key Buyer / Market Reports Export 101 Global Retail Intelligence Education Smart Home Gourmet Home Webinars Trends Housewares History Industry Resources U.S. Retail Intelligence IHSA Shippers Association Government Affairs & Legal Inspiration Magazine Design Innovation Inspiration Trends Housewares Industry Insights, Opportunities and Education The CRA and New Regulations Concerns among Democrats in Washington, D.C. that Republicans could win the White House in November has caused Biden Administration officials to accelerate their regulatory agenda. This is driven by their fears that a Republican White House and Congress will use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal many new regulations if they aren’t finalized by the spring or summer of this year. The… CONTINUE READING Lacey Act Reporting Requirements In 1900, Congressman John Lacey sponsored legislation to curb the importation of exotic bird feathers. Lacey Act amendments up to 2008 expanded coverage to fish and animals and established individual and corporate responsibility. The 2008 Farm Bill added wood and plant products, making it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce… CONTINUE READING State Recycled Content Laws Laws requiring certain percentages of post-consumer resin content in plastic packaging are gaining traction in some states. According to the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR), by late 2023, seven states were in various stages of implementing such laws, with existing laws in CA, ME, WA and NJ, and a new law in CT and proposed laws in MD and NY. State laws in effect have scheduled recycled… CONTINUE READING Congress Begins Moving a Bipartisan Tax Bill On January 17, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) announced bipartisan, bicameral tax legislation, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 (TRAFA). To summarize, TRAFA would extend three business tax breaks from 2017’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and expand the child tax credit, with these and other… CONTINUE READING IHA Government Affairs Achievements IHA has had a number of government affairs achievements in the last four years with some of the more notable victories discussed below. New UPU Agreement: The housewares industry realized a victory when the Universal Postal Union (UPU) agreed to revise international postal rates to stop discriminating against U.S. shippers. Founded in 1875, the UPU sets postal rates among member countries and… CONTINUE READING ADA Website Lawsuit Developments The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990 and its primary focus is Title III, which concerns accessibility for those with disabilities in public accommodations and commercial brick and mortar” facilities. But the ensuing arrival of the internet and its new platform for selling products was seized upon by trial lawyers as a target rich environment” for ADA website… CONTINUE READING The Inspired Home Show Looking for news about the upcoming The Inspired Home Show? Visit their blog for recent updates! View the Show Blog Executive Networking 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… CONTINUE READING CHESS 2019 – Housewares Hot Seat: Recruiting the Next Generation of Housewares Leaders Moderated by: Peter Giannetti, Editor-in-Chief, HomeWorld Business Panelists:… CONTINUE READING CHESS 2019: The Art of Business Influence Former stockbroker Mark Jeffries is a popular keynote speaker and moderator/MC for events in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Jeffries has spoken before many business conferences, published two books, is a frequent guest on NBC Today, BBC News and writes for the Huffington Post. He recently launched his… CONTINUE READING More Executive Networking Global Opportunities Global Retail Intelligence – December December 14 – Auchan Declares No Discussions about Tie-Up with Carrefour Previously reported discussions between France’s Auchan and Carrefour to tie-up the two retailers are now reported to be over, with Auchan declaring that there is no contact between the two families that control Auchan… CONTINUE READING Global Retail Intelligence – November November 17 – Moderna Rolls Out Maxi Store Format With 170 stores, located in the Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Puglia regions of Italy, Italy’s Moderna 2020 Rolls Out Maxi Store Format in Pompei. Moderna 2020 is a leading company in the organized retail distribution sector in Southern Italy… CONTINUE READING Supply Chain Spend in 2022 – Setting the Stage By Thomas A. Cook, Managing Director, Blue Tiger International The Covid-19 pandemic brought significant increases in logistics costs and supply chain spend, along with limitations on service both domestically and internationally. Initial predictions pegged the disruption to continue into… CONTINUE READING More Global Opportunities Industry Resources The CRA and New Regulations Concerns among Democrats in Washington, D.C. that Republicans could win the White House in November has caused Biden Administration officials to accelerate their regulatory agenda. This is driven by their fears that a Republican White House and Congress will use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to… CONTINUE READING 2024-25 Ocean Contracts Finalized Service contracts covering containers moving between Asia and the United States have been finalized. It was initially thought that the new service contract rates would remain unchanged or receive slight decreases in some cases. The steady increase in container volume from Asia during the first… CONTINUE READING U.S. Retail Intelligence – May April 30 – Nordstrom Adds Marketplace, Upgrades Digital Experience Marketplace customers will get personalized recommendations and thoughtful curation to make it easier to shop for their favorite brands and discover new ones, Nordstrom indicated. From: HomePage News April 30 – The Save Mart… CONTINUE READING More Industry Resources Education 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… CONTINUE READING Stats: Sustainability Aware Sustainability is on the minds of many consumers and they are bringing the topic to both retailers’ attention and product assortments. Sustainability—the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance, according to research firm The NPD Group’s… CONTINUE READING Trends: CBD Mainstreams We’ve told you this before, but now a new study confirms that Cannabidiol (CBD) continues its mainstream appeal. According to a new NPD Group study, With cannabis becoming legal in more states, it’s impossible to ignore the potential ramifications for the food and… CONTINUE READING More Education Inspiration Magazine Heart of the Community Jamie Butler went from running a kitchen and homewares business from a retro-inspired truck that became a well-known attraction at farmers’ markets, to owning a much-loved store that has community firmly in its heart. by Michelle Hespe Jamie Butler has always loved beautiful and… CONTINUE READING Wings of Success gia Global...