The International Housewares Association’s 2024 Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS), set for September 24-25, will explore how industry leaders can turn the challenges of today’s volatile marketplace into a solid strategic foundation for renewed growth.
CHESS 2024 is set for two days of education and networking at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. The conference is designed for chief officers and decision-makers of IHA member companies. This year’s theme — “Prescribing Lasting Relief for Today’s Pain Points” — will explore the resourceful opportunities that today’s business challenges offer.
“The housewares industry’s resilience is once again being tested amid the uncertainty of economic, technological and global disruption during a consequential election year whose outcome, one way or the other, is sure to affect policy and response that directs business strategy and practice in 2025 and beyond,” said Peter Giannetti, editor-in-chief of HomePage News and facilitator of CHESS 2024. “With the goal of helping suppliers cope with these challenges and pain points, CHESS will explore insight and inspiration on how not only to relieve the pain points coming from so many directions but also how to massage such relief into a sustainable recovery that reaffirms the housewares business as a resourceful catalyst for innovation, consumer satisfaction and retail growth.”
CHESS 2024 kicks off with the annual Housewares Hot Seat. During this popular panel discussion, Giannetti will sit down with industry leaders to examine how they are developing and implementing new strategies to tackle the latest market challenges and optimize the next big opportunities.
Other Day 1 sessions include:
IHA Government Affairs Update—IHA’s government affairs representatives, Craig Brightup, CEO, The Brightup Group and Rafe Morrissey, president, Morrissey Strategic Partners, will provide an update on regulatory and legislative issues, including Lacey Act declarations, state and federal PFAS regulations, employee relations, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
The Impact of Ocean Carrier Volatility on Shipping—Ocean carrier rate hikes, shipping delays, and, in some instances, cancellations are again causing supply chain disruptions for IHA members who import products. Craig Akers, executive director of the International Housewares Shippers Association, and Craig Brightup, IHA’s government affairs representative, will answer questions and discuss federal initiatives to address ocean carrier issues.
The State of Retail: How to Leverage Opportunity and Manage Risk—With persistent inflation and other macro headwinds, retailers across all channels continue to fight for a stretched consumer dollar. Executives from Pulse Ratings, IHA’s credit group vendor, will examine the factors driving top-line pressure and steps being taken by several retailers to offset a declining sales base. Presenters: Scott Freidman, chief credit officer, and Jackie Mulligan, vice president, Pulse Ratings.
Rediscovering India: Sourcing Opportunities and On-Ground Realities—The sourcing environment in India is rapidly changing, driven by infrastructure investments, labor upskilling initiatives, technology and a stable, democratic government that is aggressively positioning India as a credible “China+1” alternative. Nishant Verman, CEO of India sourcing agency Bzaar, will examine India’s sourcing potential, challenges and opportunities for the housewares industry.
Day 2 of CHESS opens with IHA’s Government Affairs Update Part 2: The 2024 Election & Policy. Craig Brightup and Rafe Morrissey of IHA’s Government Affairs Office will examine how the outcomes of White House and Congressional races could shape federal policy impacting the housewares business in 2025 and beyond. Topics to be covered include election scenarios and tax, regulatory, energy, retail theft, immigration and trade policies.
Other Day 2 sessions include:
Intellectual Property in the Age of AI—What is generative AI? How is it changing the housewares industry? How will it affect your IP strategy? These questions and others will be answered in this presentation by leading intellectual property attorney Michael Graif of Brown Rudnick on how suppliers can protect and enforce their intellectual property effectively in the age of AI.
Turning Insights Into Action—Does your company act on insights you hear from outside sources? Circana’s Joe Derochowski (pictured above at CHESS 2023) and Lora Morsovillo will review key trends and offer an industry outlook and then illustrate how different functions of a company can act on these insights and leverage them throughout the year. The session will explore key business planning events with inputs into (1) corporate strategy, (2) brand strategy, (3) executing at retail and (4) tracking performance. Presenters: Lora Morsovillo, president, Home Durables Practice, and Joe Derochowski, vice president & home industry advisor, Circana.
Driving Incremental Revenue and Efficiencies with Cutting-Edge Retail Media Measurement— The pressure to invest in retail media networks is intensifying, yet the clarity on performance metrics often remains elusive. This fireside chat-type presentation will explore how housewares industry leaders can leverage advanced measurement techniques to drive significant revenue growth and operational efficiencies. Presenters: Aaron Conant, co-founder & chief digital strategist, BWG Connect, and Meghan Corron, CEO, Clerdata.
CHESS 2024 is sponsored by Oracle Netsuite in collaboration with Myers-Hollam, Creative Planning Business Services and Monk Tree Partners.
To register for CHESS 2024 or for more information on the program, go to https://www.housewares.org/exec-networking/chess/.
