IHA Set to Launch B2B Home + Housewares Marketplace
The International Housewares Association (IHA) is partnering with Brandwise to offer a robust, year-round e-commerce opportunity for its members and buyers, IHA announced today. The platform, Connect COMMERCE, will integrate with Connect 365 and help meet the desire of retailers to both discover new products and purchase them directly online.
IHA and Brandwise will offer a live demo of the new Connect COMMERCE platform on February 11, 2021, at 11:00 AM (US Central). Register for the demo at: TheInspiredHomeShow.com/Connect/Connect-Commerce.
Connect 365 is an enhanced and expanded version of IHA’s online marketplace Housewares Connect 365. Connect COMMERCE is an e-commerce market that will enable retailers to place orders for many of the products found on Connect 365 and will give them access to manufacturer-trained salespeople who have local knowledge of retailers’ regions and possibly their stores. The Brandwise Ecosystem, which will power Connect COMMERCE, processes over three million wholesale orders every year and includes access to more than 290,000 retailers.
“We are excited to offer this new e-commerce service to our members and the retail community,” says Derek Miller, IHA president. “For more than a decade, Housewares Connect 365 has been IHA’s online marketplace assisting buyers in finding new products and suppliers. Adding Connect COMMERCE expands the updated platform’s functionality, marrying the robust search and discovery capabilities of the new Connect 365 site with the ability to complete transactions immediately online.”
“As we have had strong partnerships with IHA members for years, establishing this platform is a natural extension of that business,” said Todd Litzman, Brandwise co-founder and CEO. “The current landscape demands new ways for the industry to connect. Partnering with IHA creates an opportunity for all industry stakeholders as it will bring together retailers, suppliers and salespeople in a single, fully-featured online marketplace.”
Connect 365 will be introduced to the industry during Connect SPRING, IHA’s virtual event held March 16-26. The online marketplace features exhibitors in The Inspired Home Show 2021 and will offer visitors an updated user interface, enhanced functionality and refined search capabilities to browse companies, brands and products.
Specific information on Connect COMMERCE is available at TheInspiredHomeShow.com/Connect/Connect-Commerce. Further information on Connect 365 and Connect SPRING is available on The Inspired Home Show’s website at TheInspiredHomeShow.com/Connect.
