IHA NEWS
IHA NEWS
Newsletter of the International Federation of Hardware and House wares Associations, 225 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7UB, Great Britain. Tel: +44 121 446 6688 Fax: +44 121 446 5215 E-mail: Web site:
Issue No.19March 2006
1
IHA NEWS
Join us for
the 49th IHA Congress in
Shanghai
Zhang Dongli,
President of the 49th IHA Congress and
Chairman of the China National Hardware Association
sends this message of welcome to potential delegates…
“On behalf of the China National Hardware Association, I am greatly honoured to invite all members of the IHA to come to Shanghai to attend the 49th IHA Congress in September 2006.
“Shanghai, as the biggest city in China, is also an international trade centre. It is justly proud to be the major seaport of Southern China, with the Yangtze River flowing through the centre of the city, and thousands of lakes and rivers in the surrounding area.
“In this city of 13 million people you will be welcomed with unique traditional Chinese hospitality. Let us meet in this great country to experience the 5,000 years of history and culture, to enjoy 20 years of successful economic reform and development, to discuss the hardware trade, manufacture and distribution, development issues, and to open a spectacular new era against the background of world economic globalisation.
Continued on page 2
UK CONTINGENT
Christopher Patterson, UK permanent representative to the IHA, will accompany an estimated 50-strong contingent from the BHF Group to the Congress.
“The programme drawn up by the China National Hardware Association offers a unique opportunity to combine business with visits to the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Ming Tomb and many more,” he says. “It’s just too good a prospect to miss.”
FROM PARIS
TO SHANGHAI
In 2005, the IHA’s most important event was the European symposium held in Paris during the BATIMAT show in November.
There, we were convinced that it is in the best interests of the IHA to support lobbying in Brussels through EuroCommerce, where Jonathan Swift is our representative. We all understand clearly that our mutual input must be delivered a long time – often years - before a decision is taken.
During our meetings we constantly promoted the benefits of participating in the Shanghai Congress this September.
The Congress offers a valuable opportunity to meet people from other countries and to exchange ideas on our business. But it also provides a chance to visit the Shanghai hardware show, which nowadays is a must, and the spectacular new "Hardware City" that Jonathan Swift and myself were privileged to preview last October.
I very much look forward to seeing all of you in the incredible city of Shanghai in September.
Olivier Blondet, Chairman
Continued from page 1
“No matter which country and what cultural background you are from, we believe the events we have arranged will ensure you have a wonderful and unforgettable time, and will bring you valuable new opportunities for international trade."
Proposed itinerary
23 Sept. Participants arrival and registration.
24 Sept. Morning: IHA Managing Committee meeting. Afternoon: IHA Council meeting.
25 Sept. IHA Congress with speakers from China and Australia.
26 Sept. IHA Congress and General Assembly meeting with speakers from China, Germany Australia and North America. Shanghai Half Day City Tour.
27 Sept. Full day visit to China International Hardware Exhibition.
28 Sept. Morning: visit to Shanghai Hardware Business City. Afternoon: sightseeing
29 Sept. Optional post-Congress tours.
Further information can be obtained from the CNHA (see list of IHA members on page 3 for details) or the designated travel service handling the arrangements, China CYTS M.L.C.E Service.(
Decision making in Europe
Jonathan Swift reports on the IHA EU Symposium held in Paris last November
The event was organised to coincide with the annual Managing Committee meeting of IHA, the principal business of which was to finalise and approve the details of the 49th International Congress to be held in Shanghai from 24-28 September.
The Symposium was designed to understand and recognise a route to decision-making within Europe, principally the Commission and the Parliament.
"The European Fact" attracted delegates from around the world. In addition to Europe, delegates from China and Australia were in attendance, to take an overview of the institutions of Europe, to recognise the commercial, social and economic significance of its institutions, how the decisions are made and how they are imposed on the member states.
The new opportunities from Eastern Europe, tariffs and barriers and the relationships with the rest of the world were illustrated with examples. These were as diverse as ‘bra wars’ and the Polish economic expansion.
BHF Group Past-President Chris Patterson illustrated the work of the Group’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee with a presentation about our relationship with manufacturers and other retailers in composing our priority list of concern and issues likely to affect us.
Distillation of this “shopping list” through the British Retail Consortium and the representative message delivered by BRC Brussels gave critical example of the necessity for trade representation. Plus the importance of the EuroCommerce lobby, which unifies, as far as it reasonably can, a pan-European view among retailers.
We were able to see in the course of one day a very real and practical demonstration of the strategy and policy work that gives a perspective on the Eurocrats.
Increasingly, those of us present were drawn to conclude that whatever we think of our European opportunity, the Symposium demonstrated an unequivocal need for clear expression.
It offered the new entrants to Europe an opportunity to participate in the structures that are already in place.
Also, it helped the professional lobbying of the hardware trade with co-operation, objectivity and a constructive approach to detail.
New Hardware Show in Canada
An offshoot of the American National Hardware Show is being exported to Canada, where for the first time it will be open for business in the Toronto Congress Centre on 17 and 18 October.
IHA MEMBERS IN 2006
Australia
HFA Secretariat, 180 Hay Street, East Perth, WA 6004, PO Box 6209.
President: Trevor Cochrane.
National Secretary: Brian Reynolds
Phone: +61 8 9365 7510 Fax: +61 8 9365 7550 e-mail:
Members: 1818
China
China National Hardware Association Room 903/905, Suite C Building 5# Baiziyuan No. 16 Baiziwan Road Chaoyang District Beijing, CHINA 100022
President: Zhang Dong Li
Vice Chairman: Shi Seng Lan
Phone: +86 10 87732925/27 Fax: +86 10 87732936
e-mail: website:
Members: 3,000
Denmark
Dansk Isenkram Forening, Vester Farimagsgade 19, Postbox 500, DK-1506 Copenhagen V
Director: Soren Vestereng
Phone: + 45-33-74 61 15 fax: + 45-33-74 61 80
e-mail: website:
Members: 550
Finland
Finnish Hardware Association, Mannerheimintie, 76B, FIN-00250 Helsinki
Director: Kari Kulmala
Phone: + 358-9-4315 6480 Fax: + 358-9-4315 6481 e-mail:
Members: 260
France
Confédération Française De La Quincaillerie (CFQ), 91 rue de Miromesnil, F- 75008 Paris
President: Jean-Paul Maurin
Phone: + 331-4-561 99 44 Fax: + 331-4-225 77 52 e-mail:
Members: 406
Germany
ZHH, Zentralverband Hartwarehandel, e.V., Eichendorffstr. 3, D-40474 Düsseldorf
Director: Thomas Dammann
Phone: + 49-211-470-50-11 Fax: + 49-211-470-50-19
e-mail: website:
Members: 1100
Great Britain
British Hardware Federation, 225 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7UB, U.K.
Managing Director: Jonathan Swift
Phone: + 44-121-446 6688 Fax: + 44-121-446 5215
e-mail: website:
Members: 4000
Ireland
Irish Hardware & Building Materials Association, Elmville, Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14, Eire
Director: Jim Goulding
Phone: + 353-1-298- 09 69 Fax: + 353-1-298 61 03
e-mail:
website:
Members: 600
Italy
Assofermet, 20121 Milano - M1, Corso Venezia, 47-49
Director: Maurizio Ferrario. Deputy Director: Luca Carbonoli
Phone: + 390-2-76008-807 Fax: + 390-2-781-027
e-mail: website:
Members: 179
Japan
Japan DIY Industry Association, Shinkanda Building, 1-8-5 Kajicho, Chiyodaku, Tokyo 101-0044, Japan
Secretary General: Michiaki Yamamoto
Phone: + 81-3-3256 4475 Fax: + 81-3-3256 4457
e-mail: website:
Members: 650 (Retail: 100, Industry: 550)
Netherlands
Vertaz, brancheorganisatie technische handel
Adriaan Geokooplaan 5 / 2517 JX Den Haag. Postbus 29822 / 2502 LV Den Haag
Chairman: Mr. E.L.W.M. Zwager
Secretary General: Mr Henry J J Kruiper
Phone: + 31 70 338 46 61 Fax: + 31 70 351 27 77
e-mail: website:
Members: 148
Norway
Jernvaregrossistenes Landesforening, Drammensveien 30, Postboks 2866 Solli, 0230 Oslo
Secretary General: Paul Eilertsen
Phone: + 47 22 44 78 73 Fax: + 47 22 44 87 47
Members: 10
Pakistan
Pakistan Hardware Merchants Association
47 Nishter Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Circle Chairman: Tahir Manzoor
Secretary: Ghulam Sarwar
Phone: +92 42 7631182 Fax: +92 42 7641369
Members: 200
Spain
FEDAFE, C/Duquesa de Parcent, 6-40 29001, Malaga, Espana
Secretary General: Ms Maria Victoria Aragon
Phone: +34 952.22.88.44 Fax: + 34952.22.88.92
e-mail: website:
Sweden
Sveriges Bygg- och Järnhandlareförbund, Box 17559, S - 118 91 Stockholm
Director: Jan Roth
Phone: + 46 8 505 970 70 Fax: + 46 8 505 970 75
e-mail: website:
Members: 334
Switzerland
Verband des Schweizerschen Eisenwaren-und Haushaltartikelhandles (VSE), Neugutstrasse 12, Postfach 27, CH - 8304 Wallisellen
Präsident: Hanspeter Sahli
Secretary General: Christoph Rotermund, lic. rer. publ. HSG
Phone: + 41-1-878 70 50 Fax: +41-1-878 70 55
e-mail: website:
Members: 466
Continued on page 4
Continued from page 3
U.S.A.
National Retail Hardware Association, 5822 West 74th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46278
Managing Director: John P Hammond
Phone: + 1-317-290 0338 Fax: + 1-317-328 4354
e-mail: website:
Members: 15000
MANAGING COMMITTEE
President 2004-2006,
Zhang Dongli, China.
Chairman, Olivier Blondet, France.
Treasurer, Mark Fahey, Australia.
Blair Douglas, USA.
Paul Kellerwessel, Germany.
Chris Patterson, UK.
Jorgen Brandt
Secretary General, Jonathan Swift, United Kingdom. Personal Assistant, Sheila Goodson.
Phone: + 44-121-446 6688
Fax: + 44-121-446 5215
e-mail: .
uk website:
exhibitions and events in 2006
5-9 April. Ideal Home & Garden Show, SECC, Glasgow, Scotland.
21 April. BHF Group annual general meeting. Cardiff, Wales. Call 0121 446 6688.
21-24 April. Hong Kong Houseware Fair, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.
9-11 May. International Hardware Show and Gourmet Housewares Show, Las Vegas, USA.
16-23 May. BHF Group National Conference, Chania, Crete. Call 0121 446 6688.
21-24 May. Pulse, Earls Court, London. Call 020 7370 8843.
6-8 June. Gift & Homeware International, Melbourne Exhibition * Convention Centre, Australia.
13-14 June. Exclusively Housewares, Business Design Centre, London. Call 01604 622023.
16-19 July. Home & Gift Harrogate, Harrogate, UK. Call 020 7370 8843.
24-26 August. Japan DIY Homecenter Show 2006. Makuhari Messe, Japan.
27-30 August. Autumn Fair, RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin 4.
3-6 September. Autumn Fair. NEC, Birmingham. Trade Promotion Services Ltd. 020 8277 5480.
3-6 September. Housewares 2006. Trade Promotion Services Ltd. 020 8277 5480.
4-6 September. Spoga & Gofa, Cologne, Germany. Call 020 8681 8166.
10-12 September. Top Drawer Autumn, Olympia, London. Call 020 7370 8843.
17-19 September. GLEE 2006. Trade Promotion Services Ltd. 020 8277 5837.
17-19 September. Scotland’s Autumn Gift Fair (SAGF), Hall 3, SECC, Glasgow. Call 020 7370 8843.
24-28 September. 49th IHA Congress, Shanghai International Convention Centre, Shanghai, China.
Managing Committee, Managing Directors, Council and 49th Congress.
2007
7 –10 March. Ferroforma (International Hardware Exhibition) and Bricoforma (International DIY Exhibition). Bilbao Exhibition Centre, Spain.
To have your event listed, please send details to
BHF GROUP NAMES SUCCESSOR
Alan Hawkins, 53, has been approved by BHF Group’s Board of Management as Group Managing Director designate. He will succeed Jonathan Swift, who resigns his executive responsibilities at theend of the BHF National Conference on May 28, 2006.
A chartered accountant, Alan joined BHF as Financial Director in 1985 with the prime responsibility of running its subsidiary Finance Company.
He was appointed Deputy Managing Director in 1988 and Managing Director of BHF Finance.
Married to Madeline, with two grown-up sons, Alan’s spare time interests include rugby, eating out, reading and “mowing the grass at the weekend.”
DIY fair in
Italy again
Bricolare is the name of a new DIY fair that will open to both trade visitors and the public for the first time in Milan from 18 to 23 April 2007.
Organised by Expo CTS, the company that has a 51 per cent share in Fiera Milano, it will offer informative events for the trade, as well as courses and demonstrations for consumers, in addition to the actual display of products.
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
DIY Week (UK)
17 February 2006
INSIDE AUSTRALIAN HARDWARE, Summer 2005
1