| News for and about the housewares industry |  |
| Industry Update |  |  |
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- Electric mill grinds up variety
Trisa Starline’s electrical gourmet mill is designed to grind up a variety of foods. The gadget features two separate chambers and three different friction plates for tailoring consistency. Gizmodo
(1/28)     
- Appliance makes breakfast sandwich preparation easy
The Hamilton Beach 25475 Breakfast Sandwich Maker is designed to make breakfast sandwich construction simple. The appliance features a sliding cooking plate to help cook and assemble layers of ingredients into a portable package. CNET
(1/28)
| Trends & Innovations | | |
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- De'Longhi reports revenue increases for 2012
The De’Longhi Group reported increased revenues of 7% for 2012, with a 4.8% revenue increase in the fourth quarter despite ongoing economic uncertainty in many of the company’s main markets. The appliance maker also acquired the Braun brand from Procter & Gamble in September, and took over full operational control on Jan. 1. ApplianceMagazine.com
(1/28)
- NRF: Retailers expect smaller 2013 sales rise
A higher payroll tax that is taking a bigger bite of consumers' paychecks, as well as ongoing fiscal confusion in Washington, are expected to lead to the smallest increase in U.S. retail sales since 2010. Sales are expected to grow 3.4% in 2013, down from 4.2% last year and 5.8% in 2011, NRF said Monday. "Many people will be shopping for price more often, and there may be some trading down and reshuffling because of changes that many people are seeing in their paychecks," said President and CEO Matthew Shay. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required)
(1/28), Reuters
(1/28), The Wichita Eagle (Kan.)
(1/28), USA Today
(1/28), Fox Business/Dow Jones Newswires
(1/28)
- How retailers will be spending their tech budgets in 2013
This year will be a transitional one for retail technology, as retailers boost their IT investments in their push to keep up, said analyst Deborah Weinswig. In 2013, Macy's will test RFID technology in its Herald Square shoe department, Belk will spend almost half of its $600 million capital expenditure budget for the next five years on IT, and Saks has added social and mobile components including a live shoe cam to promote its revamped footwear department. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required)
(1/28)
| Finance & Policy | | |
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- Employers praise push for immigration reform
An initiative in Congress to overhaul immigration law is drawing praise from employers, many of whom say the system is broken and hinders hiring. Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith says he is "encouraged by the momentum" for immigration reform. National Council of Farmer Cooperatives President and CEO Charles Conner says the push is the best opportunity "in a generation" to solve farmers' immigration-law problems. Reuters
(1/28), The Washington Post
(1/28), RealClearPolitics
(1/29)
- Analysis: U.S. avoidance of austerity pays off
"A big part of why the U.S. economy is doing better than Europe's is precisely because we did not switch to rapid austerity," said Christina Romer, a former economic adviser to President Barack Obama. The best way to cut the deficit is to limit long-term growth of entitlements, rather than imposing spending cuts that reduce immediate growth, she says. "That is a trade-off which both Mr Obama and the Republicans would be wise to make," according to The Economist. The Economist (tiered subscription model)
(1/26)
| IHA News | | |
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New Product Showcase deadline extended to Feb. 15
The deadline for entries in the New Product Showcase has been extended to Feb. 15. The showcases are located in the Buyers Clubs in each building and open only to buyers and news media to view. A must-see destination for buyers, the showcases also allow buyers to scan products of interest and receive a printout with more information about the item. Don't miss out on this opportunity to put your new products in front of the buyers and media in a secure area. Enter today.
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You’re an IHA member -- benefit from it!
IHA members have access to annual benefits, from business cost-savings programs to networking opportunities to member share groups. The 2013 membership renewal notices will be mailed in mid-February. Don’t lose any benefits -- renew today. Lower your costs on container freight shipping, LTL freight, ground shipping programs and more. Find employees through the housewares Job Center. Other assistance programs include product testing, export assistance, media access through press events and researching global markets through trade missions. Learn more.
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- Friday, January 25, 2013
- Thursday, January 24, 2013
- Wednesday, January 23, 2013
- Tuesday, January 22, 2013
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